Where to find and add music in Canva

Canva lets you add background music or sound effects to designs that include video or animation. Open your design, then look for the Audio button in the left sidebar — it sits below the Elements and Uploads sections. Click it, and you'll see Canva's music library organized by mood, genre, and length.

Search for a track by typing a word like "upbeat" or "calm" into the search box, or browse by category. Once you find a track you want, click it to add it to your timeline at the bottom of the screen. The music will appear as a colored bar on the timeline, and you can drag it to start at any point in your video or animation.

Not all Canva designs support audio — you need a design that includes video elements, animations, or a video template. Static image designs won't play sound. If you're working with a video or animated template, the audio button will be active and ready to use.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Audio button in the left sidebar to open Canva's music library, which contains thousands of tracks organized by mood and genre.
  • Audio only works in designs that include video or animation — static image designs cannot play sound.
  • Drag the music track on the timeline to control when it starts and how long it plays during your design.
  • Canva's free plan includes a selection of royalty-free music, and paid plans unlock additional tracks.
  • You can layer multiple audio tracks, adjust volume for each one, and mute sections you don't want to hear.

Adjusting volume and timing for your audio track

Once a track is on your timeline, you control how loud it plays and when it starts. Right-click the colored audio bar on the timeline and select Volume to adjust how loud the music is relative to any other sounds in your design. You can also drag the left or right edge of the audio bar to trim it — this shortens how much of the track plays without deleting it.

If your design is longer than the music track, the audio will stop when it reaches the end. You can add the same track again by clicking Audio and selecting it a second time, or choose a different track to fill the remaining time. Canva will stack multiple audio tracks on the timeline, and you can adjust the volume of each one independently.

Using Canva's free music versus paid options

Canva's free plan includes thousands of royalty-free music tracks that you can use without paying extra or crediting the artist. These tracks are safe to use in any project — commercial, personal, or public. The free library covers most common moods and genres, so you'll usually find something that fits your design.

Canva's paid plans (Pro and Teams) unlock additional premium tracks that aren't available to free users. If you see a track you want but it's marked as premium, you'll need to upgrade your plan to use it. You can preview any track before adding it to your design by clicking the play button next to its name.

Downloading your design with audio included

When you're ready to save your work, click the read button in the top right corner. Choose your file format — MP4 is the standard choice for video designs with audio, and it will include both your visuals and the music you added. The read may take a minute or two depending on the length of your design.

If you read as a static image format like PNG or JPG, the audio will not be included — only the video formats (MP4 and MOV) preserve sound. Make sure you're downloading as a video file if you want to keep the music in your final design.

Troubleshooting audio that won't play or appears muted

If you added music but don't hear it when you preview your design, check three things first. Open the timeline at the bottom and look for the audio bar — if it's grayed out or has a mute icon, click it to unmute. Next, check the volume slider on that same audio bar; it may be turned all the way down. Finally, make sure your design actually contains video or animation; audio won't play on a static image no matter what you do.

If the audio bar is missing entirely from the timeline, the track may not have been added successfully. Try clicking Audio again and selecting the track once more. If Canva shows an error message, try refreshing the page and attempting the add again — temporary connection issues sometimes prevent audio from uploading to your timeline.

Adding sound effects instead of background music

The Audio button also contains sound effects — short clips like applause, bells, whooshes, or notification sounds. These work the same way as music tracks: click Audio, search for an effect, and click it to add it to your timeline. Sound effects are useful for emphasizing moments in your video, like adding a "ding" when text appears or a "pop" when an element animates in.

You can layer sound effects on top of background music. If your background music is too loud and drowns out the effect, lower the music's volume so both sounds are audible. Each audio element on the timeline can be adjusted independently, so you have full control over what the viewer hears at any moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload my own music instead of using Canva's library?

Yes. Click the Uploads section in the left sidebar, then upload an audio file from your computer. Canva accepts MP3, WAV, and other common audio formats. Once uploaded, your file appears in the Uploads section and you can add it to your timeline the same way you would a Canva track. Make sure you own the rights to any music you upload.

What happens if I use copyrighted music I don't own?

Canva's library contains only royalty-free music, so you won't have copyright issues with those tracks. If you upload your own music or use a track from another source, you're responsible for owning or having permission to use it. Using copyrighted music without permission can result in your video being removed from platforms like YouTube or your account being flagged.

Can I adjust the volume of just one part of a music track?

Not directly — Canva's volume control applies to the entire audio clip. If you need to make one section quieter, you can trim the track into two separate pieces by adding it twice and adjusting where each one starts and stops, then set different volumes for each piece. This takes more steps but gives you precise control over volume changes.

Does the audio file size make my design harder to read?

Audio does increase the file size of your downloaded video, but not dramatically. An MP4 video with music typically ranges from 10 to 50 MB depending on the length and quality. Most internet connections can read this in seconds, and the file is small enough to email or upload to social media platforms.