Adding audio to a Canva video takes three steps: upload or choose your audio, place it on the timeline, and adjust the volume

Open your video project in Canva. Click the Audio tab on the left sidebar — it sits below the Elements and Uploads tabs. From there you can either search Canva's music library, upload your own audio file, or record yourself speaking directly into the editor. Once you've chosen your audio, drag it onto the timeline at the bottom of the screen where your video clips sit. The audio will sync to play alongside your video, and you can trim it, move it, or adjust its volume without touching the video itself.

The audio stays on a separate track from your video, which means you can layer multiple audio files, fade one in while another fades out, or mute the original sound from a video clip while keeping the new audio you added. This separation is what makes audio editing in Canva straightforward — you're not re-recording or re-exporting anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Canva's Audio tab gives you access to a music library, the ability to upload your own files, and a built-in recording tool for voiceovers.
  • Audio sits on its own timeline track, so you can adjust it independently of your video without affecting the video itself.
  • You can trim audio by dragging the edges of the audio block on the timeline, and you can move it left or right to change when it starts playing.
  • Volume controls let you fade audio in and out, or mute the original sound from a video clip while keeping your new audio.

Finding and choosing audio in Canva's library

Click the Audio tab on the left sidebar. You'll see a search box at the top and categories below it — Trending, Upbeat, Calm, Cinematic, and others. Type a word like "corporate" or "happy" to narrow the results, or scroll through a category to browse. Each track shows its length in seconds, so you can see at a glance whether a 2-minute song will fit your 30-second video.

When you find a track you want, click it once to preview it — the audio will play so you can hear it before you commit. Click it again to add it to your timeline. Canva's library is free to use in videos you create, though some tracks may have usage restrictions depending on where you plan to share the video. If you're posting to YouTube or your own website, nearly all tracks work. If you're licensing the video to a client or selling it, check the track's license details before using it.

Uploading your own audio files

If you have a music file, podcast clip, or voiceover recording on your computer, you can upload it directly. Click the Audio tab, then look for an Upload button or link — it's usually near the search box. Click it and select your file from your computer. Canva accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, and OGG formats. The upload usually takes a few seconds depending on the file size.

Once uploaded, your file appears in the Audio tab under a section labeled "Your uploads" or similar. You can use it as many times as you want in the same project or in future projects. If you upload a file you don't want anymore, you can delete it from your uploads — this doesn't affect any videos where you've already used it.

Recording a voiceover directly in Canva

For a quick voiceover, you don't need to record separately and upload. Click the Audio tab, then look for a Record button or microphone icon. Click it to open the recording tool. Canva will ask for permission to use your microphone — allow it. Then click the red record button and speak. When you're done, click stop. You'll hear a playback of what you recorded so you can decide whether to keep it or try again.

If you keep the recording, it gets added to your timeline when ready. If you want to re-record, click the microphone icon again and start over — the old recording disappears. This is useful for adding quick instructions, introductions, or narration without leaving Canva to use a separate recording app.

Placing audio on the timeline and syncing it to your video

Your timeline sits at the bottom of the Canva editor. It shows your video clips as blocks, with a ruler above showing time in seconds. When you click an audio track from the library or your uploads, it appears as a new block on the timeline, usually below your video clips. The audio starts playing at the point where you placed it.

If you want the audio to start at the very beginning of your video, drag the audio block all the way to the left until it aligns with the start of your first video clip. If you want it to start partway through — for example, after a 3-second intro — drag it to the right until it lines up with the 3-second mark on the ruler. You can have multiple audio tracks playing at the same time; they'll all play together when you preview or export the video.

Trimming, moving, and removing audio

To trim audio — cut out the beginning or end — hover over the left or right edge of the audio block on the timeline until your cursor changes to a resize arrow. Then drag inward. Dragging the left edge forward skips the beginning of the audio. Dragging the right edge backward cuts off the end. The audio still plays from wherever you've trimmed it to, so if you trim the first 5 seconds, the audio starts at the 5-second mark of the original file.

To move audio without trimming it, click the audio block and drag it left or right on the timeline. This changes when the audio starts playing relative to your video, but doesn't change the audio itself. To remove audio entirely, click the audio block and press Delete or look for a trash icon that appears when the block is selected.

Adjusting volume and adding fades

Click the audio block on the timeline to select it. A panel usually appears on the right side of the screen with volume controls. You'll see a slider — drag it left to make the audio quieter, right to make it louder. Some versions of Canva also show a percentage, so you can see whether you're at 100% volume or 50%.

To fade audio in or out, look for fade controls in the same panel. A fade-in makes the audio start silent and gradually get louder over a few seconds. A fade-out does the opposite — the audio gradually gets quieter until it's silent. These are useful when you're layering multiple audio tracks or when you want the video to end smoothly instead of cutting off abruptly. You can usually set how long the fade lasts — 1 second, 2 seconds, or longer.

If your video has original audio (like dialogue or ambient sound from a video clip) and you want to mute it while keeping your new audio, click the video clip itself and look for a mute or volume control. Muting the video clip leaves your added audio untouched.

Previewing and exporting your video with audio

Before you export, click the play button in the center of the editor to preview your video. Watch and listen to make sure the audio is at the right volume, starts at the right time, and doesn't overlap awkwardly with any dialogue or sound from your video clips. If something needs adjusting, pause the preview and make the change on the timeline.

When you're ready to export, click the read or Export button — the location varies depending on your Canva version. Choose your video format (usually MP4) and quality (1080p is standard). Canva will process the video with the audio embedded. The read usually takes a minute or two depending on your video length and your internet speed. Once it's done, the video file appears in your computer's Downloads folder with both the video and audio combined into a single file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music from my own collection?

Yes, you can upload your own audio files. However, if the music is copyrighted and you plan to share the video publicly on YouTube or social media, the copyright holder may claim the video or block it in certain regions. Canva's library tracks are cleared for most uses, so they're safer if you're unsure about copyright.

What if the audio is longer than my video?

The audio will keep playing even after your video ends, which usually isn't what you want. Trim the audio by dragging its right edge on the timeline to match the length of your video, or fade it out a few seconds before the video ends so it doesn't abruptly stop.

Can I adjust the volume of just one part of the audio?

Not in a single audio block — Canva's volume control applies to the entire track. If you need to make one section quieter, you can split the audio into two blocks by trimming, then adjust each block's volume separately. Some users upload the audio to a separate editor first to make detailed volume changes, then re-import it.

Why is my audio out of sync with the video?

This usually happens if you moved the audio block accidentally or if the audio file itself has a delay built in. Check the timeline to make sure the audio block starts where you intended. If it's still off, try removing the audio and re-adding it, or trim a small amount from the beginning of the audio to shift it forward.

Do I need Canva Pro to add audio?

No. Canva's free version includes the Audio tab, the music library, and the ability to upload and record audio. Canva Pro gives you access to more music tracks and some additional editing features, but basic audio adding works in the free version.