Yes, you can add music to YouTube Shorts videos. You can add any music, however you have to be careful with YouTube’s copyright policies.
This guide shows you how to do add songs + prevent any issues.
How to Add Music to YouTube Shorts
This is the best way to add music to YouTube Shorts: Open the app > Upload or Record a video > Click “Add sound” and choose a song.
Alternatively, use SendShort to add any sound.
Let’s go into detail.
1. In the YouTube app
Answer: Launch the YouTube app and upload/record a Short, then tap “Add sound” at the top. Tap a song to add it to the Short.
- Launch the YouTube mobile app
- Upload or Record a Short
- Tap “Add sound” at the top of the screen
- Search for a song
- Tap the song to add it
- Save changes
You’d follow the same process if you’re using a tablet instead of a phone.
Huge Issue with This Method
If you want to monetize your Shorts, you can’t use any song — like we did above. That’s because:
- Artists always copyright their music…
- So using them possibly results into a copyright claim
- Or worse, a copyright strike
This is all damaging to your YouTube channel.
Instead, you want to use copyright-free music that’s not boring (like the generic YouTube Non-Copyright audios in their library).
We’ve got you covered with the next method.
Super relevant guide: YouTube’s guide for Shorts monetization.
2. In SendShort.ai
Answer: Create a free SendShort.ai account and upload your YouTube Short. In the “Elements” tab, go to “Audios” and import your custom music.
SendShort lets you upload custom and copyright-free music to your Shorts.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Go to SendShort.ai → Create a free account
- Upload a YouTube Short
- Click “Elements” and go to “Audios“
- Import any music (or audio file)
- Choose where to add it on the video
- Save changes
Export your Short and upload it to YouTube.
FAQs
1. Can I add background music to my YouTube shorts?
Yes, you can add background music to your YouTube Shorts through the YouTube app’s editing tools, which include a music library for selecting and adding tracks to your video.
2. How to add music in Shorts without copyright?
You can add music in Shorts without copyright in 2 methods: either YouTube’s copyright-free audio library or SendShort’s free video editor.
In SendShort you can import any copyright-free songs and add them to your Shorts.
2. Can I use YouTube Music in YouTube Shorts?
Yes, you can use YouTube Music in YouTube Shorts — in fact, every popular song you find YouTube’s editing tools is actually hosted on YouTube Music.
Here’s what that screen looks like:
Makes sense though, right?
Two different services helping each other as they’re both made by YouTube.
Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort