Music has the power to add emotion, rhythm and smooth transitions to any video. You might want to add music to a video because you’re trying to get into content creation and want to use trending music on your Instagram Reels or TikToks. Music can also help transform any video into promotional or professional content.  

Adding Music to Videos 

Anyone from video editors to content creators to those working in post production for film can benefit from learning how to add music to videos. If you’re someone who already has experience in video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro or similar software, you might want to learn how to add background music to a video clip right from your phone so you can edit on the go.

If you want to become an Instagram influencer, learning how to add music over a video is something that will help you better engage your audience and add a touch of your personal style. Or you might just be here because you want to add music to the background of a birthday video for someone you love. No matter the reason why you want to add this new skill to your creative repertoire, adding music to videos can help mask unwanted sounds, boost engagement and even establish brand identity. 

How to Add Music to Videos On Windows 10

If your computer operates on Windows 10, you can easily add music to any video without needing to download any additional video editing software. Within your photo app, you can make multiple changes to your video including adding music. You can add music by following these steps:

  1. Open Photos.
  2. Click the blue icon at the top that says “Create.”
  3. Scroll through the list of options until you reach “Select Custom Video With Music.”
  4. Check the box in the top, right corner of the video you want to use to select it.
  5. Click the “Add” button in the top, right corner.
  6. Click “Add Music” at the top.
  7. Go through your music to select a custom track, use the Recommended music options, or search online to find the right song to add.
  8. Select the music file to add it to the video.
  9. Press “Done.”
  10. Save the video to the right folder.

How To Add Music To A Video On iPhone

Being able to add music to your videos on the go can be game-changing if you’re a travel blogger or just live an active lifestyle. If you have an iPhone, you will need to have the iMovie app to add music to your videos but a lot of iPhones already have iMovie installed when purchased. To add music to a video on your iPhone using iMovie, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open your project in iMovie.
  2. Tap the Add Media button.
  3. Tap “Add Audio.”
  4. Choose Soundtracks, My Music, or another folder for music.
  5. Tap to add the song and then the Add Audio button.

How To Add Music To A Video On Mac OS

While being able to edit your videos on the go can be beneficial for busy video editors, editing on a computer can provide a more enjoyable editing experience with its larger screen, faster software speeds, and the ability to edit with a keyboard and mouse. Here are the steps you can follow to add music to a video when using Mac OS:

  1. Open iMovie and open the movie project you want to work on.
  2. In the top browser list, select “Audio.”
  3. In the sidebar, select “Music” or “GarageBand.”
  4. Choose the song or music clip you wish to add.
  5. Position or trim the song, add fade-ins and outs, and add other effects to enhance your video.
  6. Save the project.

How To Add Music To Online Videos

The audio page is open up to a sound called “Original Audio” within the Instagram app. The creator and number of reels are visible as well as the “Save Audio” button. At the bottom of the screen, three reels that have used this sound are visible.
Still from Skillshare class Short Form Video: Create Viral Videos for Instagram Reels and Tik Tok by Sean DaltonWhen looking for music on TikTok or Instagram, you can watch other videos that have used the same song, which might provide some helpful inspiration.

Making videos online isn’t only for those who want to become influencers or generate community around their brand. Adding music to videos can be a fun way to reminisce on a recent trip, celebrate someone you love or express your creativity in a unique way.  

  • YouTube
    • YouTube has a library of royalty-free music you can add to your videos within YouTube Studio. You can browse by genre, instrument and more and add it to your video as needed. 
  • YouTube has a library of royalty-free music you can add to your videos within YouTube Studio. You can browse by genre, instrument and more and add it to your video as needed. 
  • Twitch
    • You can add music to your videos on Twitch by using Soundtrack by Twitch, which is Twitch’s library of royalty-free music. 
  • You can add music to your videos on Twitch by using Soundtrack by Twitch, which is Twitch’s library of royalty-free music. 
  • TikTok
    • TikTok has a huge library of music that you can add to your videos. You can access the music from your saved sounds or by searching through the sound library.
  • TikTok has a huge library of music that you can add to your videos. You can access the music from your saved sounds or by searching through the sound library.
  • Instagram
    • Similarly to TikTok, Instagram has a library of music and sounds you can add to your videos. You can search for music from the explore page or while making a Reel.
  • Similarly to TikTok, Instagram has a library of music and sounds you can add to your videos. You can search for music from the explore page or while making a Reel.
  • YouTube has a library of royalty-free music you can add to your videos within YouTube Studio. You can browse by genre, instrument and more and add it to your video as needed. 
  • You can add music to your videos on Twitch by using Soundtrack by Twitch, which is Twitch’s library of royalty-free music. 
  • TikTok has a huge library of music that you can add to your videos. You can access the music from your saved sounds or by searching through the sound library.
  • Similarly to TikTok, Instagram has a library of music and sounds you can add to your videos. You can search for music from the explore page or while making a Reel.

How To Add Music To A Video On Android

While Android doesn’t have any built-in video editors, you can download an editing app from the Google Play store. Android users often use apps like InShot, Splice and YouCut to help them add music to their videos from their phones. When looking through other video editing apps, you can consider general features, export options and pricing.

How To Find The Right Song

Songs are covered by copyright laws which means you can’t add just any song to your videos. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube you can use any song from their sound and song libraries as long as you’re using them for personal use. You can also find public domain and royalty-free on platforms Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Free Music Archive.

If you’re looking to add music to your videos for your brand, you should make sure any music is approved for commercial use. If not, you might get the music removed from your video or even in legal trouble. 

Turn Your Videos Into Something Special

No matter where you choose to edit your videos or what songs you decide to add to them, take this next week to have fun and explore a few different options. If you want to be a content creator, try making a video in both TikTok and Instagram and see which you’re most comfortable in. You can also explore some of the royalty-free music platforms and see if you come across any music that would work well for your video’s aesthetic, energy or overall objective. If you need more guidance when it comes to video editing, Skillshare has the best class selection for learning how to edit videos.

Written By
Calli Zarpas

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.

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