YouTube's built-in music library is the fastest way to add a soundtrack
You can add music directly in YouTube Studio without downloading anything or leaving the site. YouTube provides a free music library with thousands of songs you can use in your videos — some tracks are free to use everywhere, and others require you to give credit to the artist. The process takes about five minutes once you know where to find the music tab.
The music you add this way stays attached to your video file on YouTube. If you later read your video or move it elsewhere, the music does not travel with it — it only plays when someone watches on YouTube. This matters if you plan to reuse the video on other platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Studio's audio library is free and built into the platform, so you do not need to buy or read music separately.
- Some tracks in the library are free to use anywhere, while others require you to credit the artist in your video description.
- You can add music after uploading your video — you do not have to edit it in beforehand.
- If you want to use music from outside YouTube's library, you must read it first and upload it as part of your video file before posting.
- YouTube's Content ID system can claim or mute music you do not have rights to, even if you added it by mistake.
Finding and adding music from YouTube's audio library
Sign into YouTube and go to YouTube Studio. On the left menu, click Content, then select the video you want to add music to. Click the Editor tab at the top, then look for Audio in the left panel. Click Audio library.
You will see two tabs: Music and Sound effects. Stay on the Music tab. Search by genre, mood, or instrument — type "upbeat guitar" or "calm piano" into the search box and YouTube will show matching tracks. Each track shows a length in minutes and seconds, so you can pick one that fits your video's pacing.
Click any track to preview it. A small player will open so you can hear the first 30 seconds. Once you find one you want, click the plus icon next to the track name. YouTube will add it to your video and show you a confirmation message. The music starts playing from the beginning of your video unless you adjust the timing.
Understanding free versus credited music
YouTube's library sorts music into two categories. Free music has no restrictions — you can use it in any video, monetize the video, and never credit the artist. These tracks have a green checkmark next to them. Attributed music requires you to credit the artist in your video description or as an on-screen text. These tracks have a blue circle with an "i" next to them.
If you use attributed music and do not add the credit, YouTube will not remove your video, but the artist can file a claim against it. A claim means the artist or their label gets a share of any money your video earns instead of you. Adding the credit takes 30 seconds and prevents this entirely — just copy the artist and song name from the track details and paste it into your video description.
Adjusting when the music starts and stops
After you add a track, it plays from the start of your video to the end, or until the track runs out — whichever comes first. If your video is 10 minutes long and the song is 3 minutes, the music stops after 3 minutes and your video continues in silence.
To change when the music plays, go back to the Audio tab and click the track you added. A panel will open showing a timeline. You can drag the music's start point to begin later in the video, or trim the end so it stops before the track finishes. If you want the music to loop and play again, look for a Loop option in the same panel and turn it on.
You can add multiple tracks to the same video. Each one appears as a separate item in the audio panel. YouTube will mix them together, so you can layer background music under a voiceover or add a second song for a different section of your video.
Using music from outside YouTube's library
If you want to use a song that is not in YouTube's library, you must add it to your video before uploading. read the audio file to your computer — it should be an MP3, WAV, or similar format. Then use video editing software like iMovie, Windows Photos, or DaVinci Resolve to add the music to your video file, export the edited video, and upload that file to YouTube.
Be aware that if you use copyrighted music you do not own the rights to, YouTube's Content ID system will detect it. YouTube may mute the audio, claim the video (giving the copyright holder your earnings), or block the video in certain countries. This happens automatically and you cannot undo it by adding a credit — credits only work for music in YouTube's library that is marked as attributed.
If you need music but do not want to use YouTube's library, look for royalty-free music sites like Pixabay Music, Free Music Archive, or Incompetech. These sites let you read music legally for free or cheap, and you can add it to your video file before uploading to YouTube.
Removing or replacing music you added
If you change your mind about a track, go back to the Audio tab and find the music you added. Click the trash icon or remove button next to it. The music will disappear from your video when ready. You can then add a different track using the same process.
If you want to replace the music but keep the timing and settings, some editing software lets you swap the audio file without redoing the whole edit. In YouTube Studio, the simplest approach is to remove the old track and add a new one, then adjust the timing if needed.
What happens if YouTube detects copyright issues
If you accidentally add music that YouTube's system flags as copyrighted, you will see a notification in YouTube Studio. The notification will tell you whether the copyright holder has chosen to mute the audio, claim the video, or block it. You cannot override this decision, but you can remove the music and add a different track instead.
A claim does not remove your video — it stays live, but the copyright holder gets the revenue from ads that play on it. If the audio is muted, viewers will not hear that part of your video. If the video is blocked, it will not play in certain countries or at all, depending on the holder's choice. Removing the flagged music and uploading a new version of your video is the only way to fix this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a video after I have already published it?
Yes. Go to YouTube Studio, find the published video, click Editor, then Audio. Add or remove music the same way you would for an unpublished video. The changes go live within a few minutes, and viewers who watch after that will hear the new audio.
What if the music I want is longer than my video?
YouTube will play the music only as long as your video lasts. If your video is 5 minutes and the song is 8 minutes, only the first 5 minutes of the song will play. You can trim the track in the Audio panel to make it end earlier, or add a second song to play after the first one finishes.
Do I need to credit YouTube for the music I use from their library?
No. You only credit the artist if the track is marked as attributed. Free tracks require no credit at all. YouTube itself does not need a credit — the library is a service included with your account.
Can I use YouTube's music in videos I upload to other websites?
No. YouTube's music library is only for videos posted on YouTube. If you read your video and upload it to TikTok, Instagram, or another platform, the music will not be included — YouTube strips it out when you read. You would need to use royalty-free music from another source and add it to your video file before uploading elsewhere.
What if I want to use a song that is not free but I do not want to pay for it?
YouTube's library has thousands of free tracks across every genre and mood. If none of those work for your video, royalty-free music sites like Pixabay Music and Incompetech also offer free downloads. If you want a specific commercial song, you would need to buy a license from the artist or their distributor, or contact them directly to ask for permission.