Adding music to a Canva slideshow takes three steps: upload or choose a track, place it on your slide timeline, and adjust the volume or timing

Canva's music feature lets you add background audio to any slideshow without leaving the editor. You can use Canva's built-in music library, upload your own audio file, or add music to individual slides or the entire presentation. The music plays when someone views your slideshow in full-screen mode or downloads it as a video file.

The process works the same whether you are building a presentation for work, a photo montage for a wedding, or a social media video. Canva handles the audio sync automatically — you do not need separate editing software.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Audio tab in Canva's left sidebar, search for a track or upload your own file, and drag it onto the slide timeline at the bottom of the editor.
  • Music added to the slide timeline plays for the entire duration of that slide, and you can trim or adjust the volume using the audio controls.
  • Canva's music library includes royalty-free tracks sorted by mood, genre, and length, so you can preview before adding.
  • Downloaded slideshows with music export as video files (MP4), not static images, so the audio plays when someone opens the file.
  • If you upload your own audio, Canva accepts MP3, WAV, and M4A files up to 5 minutes long per track.

Finding and adding music from Canva's library

Click the Audio tab in the left sidebar of the Canva editor. You will see a search bar and a list of categories: Mood, Genre, and Trending. Type a keyword like "upbeat" or "jazz" to narrow the results, or browse by category. Each track shows a play button — click it to hear a preview before you add it.

Once you find a track you want, click it. Canva automatically places the audio on your slide's timeline at the bottom of the screen. The audio appears as a colored bar labeled with the track name. If you are on slide 3 of 10, the music starts when that slide appears and plays for the full length of the slide or until the track ends, whichever comes first.

You can add multiple tracks to the same slide, but they will play at the same time and may overlap. Most slideshows work better with one track per slide or one track for the entire presentation.

Uploading your own audio files

If you have a recording, podcast clip, or song file on your computer, you can upload it instead of using Canva's library. Click the Audio tab, then look for an Upload audio button or link (usually near the top of the panel). Click it and select an MP3, WAV, or M4A file from your computer.

Canva accepts audio files up to 5 minutes long. If your file is longer, you will need to trim it in a separate audio editor before uploading. Once the file uploads, it appears in your Audio tab under a section labeled "Your uploads" and works the same way as library tracks — click it to add it to your slide timeline.

Uploaded files stay in your Canva account, so you can reuse them in other presentations without uploading again.

Adjusting volume, timing, and length

After you add music to a slide, click the audio bar on the timeline to select it. A menu appears with controls for volume and trim. The Volume slider lets you lower the audio if it is too loud or raise it if it is too quiet. The Trim option lets you cut the beginning or end of the track so it does not play the full length.

To trim, click the trim button and drag the edges of the audio bar left or right. The gray area shows the part that will not play. This is useful if you want a 30-second intro but the track is 2 minutes long, or if you want to cut out silence at the end.

If a slide is 5 seconds long but your music track is 2 minutes, the audio will continue playing into the next slide. Canva does not automatically stop the music when the slide changes — you have to trim it or move to a different slide to interrupt it.

Adding music to the entire presentation instead of individual slides

If you want background music for your whole slideshow, add the track to your first slide, then extend it across all slides by adjusting the trim. Alternatively, some presentations work better with different music on different slides — for example, an upbeat track for the opening and a calm track for the closing.

To switch music between slides, add one track to slide 1 and trim it to end before slide 2 starts. Then add a different track to slide 2. When someone views the slideshow, the first track plays during slide 1, stops, and the second track starts on slide 2.

You can also mute individual slides by removing the audio from the timeline. Click the audio bar and press Delete or click a remove button if one appears.

How music plays when you share or read your slideshow

Music only plays when you view the slideshow in full-screen mode or read it as a video file. If someone views the slides one at a time in edit mode or as a static image, they will not hear the audio.

To read your slideshow with music, click the read button in the top right of the editor and select Video (MP4) as the file type. Canva will process the slideshow and create a video file that includes all the music, animations, and slide transitions. This file can be large (10 MB to 100 MB depending on length and quality), so it may take a minute or two to read.

If you share a link to your Canva presentation instead of downloading it, viewers can play it in full-screen mode through Canva's website, and the music will play there too.

Troubleshooting music that does not play or sounds wrong

If you added music but do not hear it when you play the slideshow, check that you are viewing it in full-screen mode. Press the play button in the bottom left of the editor and make sure your computer volume is turned up. If the slideshow is still silent, click the audio bar on the timeline and check that the volume slider is not all the way down.

If the music sounds distorted or cuts off abruptly, the audio file may be corrupted or the trim settings may be cutting off the end. Try uploading the file again or using a different audio file. If you are using a Canva library track, try removing it and adding it again.

If you downloaded the slideshow as a video and the music does not play in your video player, make sure you downloaded it as MP4 format, not as a static image file. Some older video players do not support MP4 files — try opening the file in a different player like VLC or Windows Media Player.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music in my Canva slideshow?

Canva's built-in music library is royalty-free, meaning you can use those tracks without paying extra or worrying about copyright. If you upload your own audio, you are responsible for making sure you have the right to use it. Using copyrighted music without permission can get your video removed from social media or result in a copyright claim.

What happens if my music is longer than my slideshow?

The music will keep playing even after the last slide ends. To stop it at the right time, trim the audio bar on the timeline so it ends before or at the same time as your last slide. You can see exactly where the slideshow ends by looking at the timeline ruler at the top.

Can I fade the music in or out?

Canva does not have a built-in fade tool for audio. You can lower the volume gradually by adjusting the volume slider, but there is no automatic fade effect. If you need a smooth fade, trim the audio or use a separate audio editor to add fade effects before uploading the file to Canva.

Does the music play if I share my slideshow as a link?

Yes, if someone opens your Canva link and plays the slideshow in full-screen mode, the music will play. If they view the slides in edit mode or as a static preview, the audio will not play. Downloading as MP4 is the most reliable way to share a slideshow with music.

Can I add music to a Canva video or just slideshows?

You can add music to Canva videos the same way — use the Audio tab, search or upload a track, and drag it onto the timeline. The process is identical whether you are building a slideshow, a video, or a presentation.