The simplest way to add music to a video on iPhone
Open the Photos app, find the video you want to edit, tap Edit in the top right, then tap the music note icon at the bottom. Choose a song from Apple Music, your library, or the built-in sounds, and tap Add Music. The song will play over your video starting from wherever you tap the timeline. When you're done, tap Done and then Save Video to keep the changes.
This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later and takes about two minutes. The music replaces the original sound from your video — you cannot keep both at the same time using this built-in editor. If you need to layer music over the original audio, you'll need a third-party app instead.
Key Takeaways
- The Photos app's built-in editor lets you add music from Apple Music, your library, or iPhone sounds without downloading another app.
- Music you add will replace your video's original audio, so you cannot keep both the original sound and new music together this way.
- You can trim the music to fit your video length and adjust when it starts by dragging on the timeline.
- If you want to layer music over the original audio or use music from outside your library, you need an app like iMovie or CapCut instead.
Finding and selecting music from your iPhone library
When you tap the music note icon in the Photos editor, the first tab shows Recents — songs you've added to videos before. Swipe left to see Apple Music, which gives you access to millions of songs if you have an Apple Music subscription. Below that is My Music, which pulls from songs you've downloaded to your iPhone or added to your library.
If you don't see a song you want, you can search by typing the artist or song name in the search box at the top. Apple Music songs will play a 30-second preview when you tap them, so you can hear how they sound with your video before committing. Songs from your own library play when ready without preview.
The built-in sounds tab at the bottom includes straightforward loops and ambient noise — useful if you want background sound without a full song. These are short clips that repeat to fill your video length.
Adjusting where the music starts and how long it plays
After you add a song, you'll see a timeline at the bottom showing your video and the music track below it. The music starts playing at the beginning of your video by default. To change when it starts, tap and drag the music track left or right on the timeline until the song begins at the moment you want.
To make the music shorter, drag the right edge of the music track inward. This doesn't cut the song itself — it just stops the music from playing at that point. If your video is 15 seconds long but your song is three minutes, you'll want to drag the right edge to the 15-second mark so the music ends when your video ends.
You can also tap the song itself to see volume controls. Drag the slider to make the music louder or quieter. If you set the volume to zero, the music will be silent but still technically there — useful if you want to keep the original video audio instead.
Why your original video sound disappears when you add music
The Photos app's editor is designed to replace audio, not layer it. When you add music, the original sound from your video (voices, background noise, whatever was recorded) gets muted automatically. This is a limitation of the built-in tool — it's straightforward but not flexible.
If you need to keep both the original audio and add music on top, you have two options. You can use a third-party app like iMovie (free, made by Apple) or CapCut (free, made by ByteDance), both of which let you add multiple audio tracks. Or you can export your video with the music added, then use a different app to layer the original sound back in — but this is more work than just using the right app from the start.
Using iMovie if you need more control over audio
iMovie is Apple's free video editor and handles audio differently than Photos. Open iMovie, create a new project, and import your video. Tap the audio icon (looks like a speaker) at the bottom, then tap Audio. You'll see the same music sources as Photos — Apple Music, your library, and built-in sounds.
The difference is that iMovie lets you add multiple audio tracks. You can keep your original video sound and add music on top of it, then adjust the volume of each separately. You can also trim music more precisely, fade it in and out, and add sound effects alongside music.
iMovie takes longer to learn than the Photos editor, but if you're adding music to videos regularly or need to keep the original audio, it's worth the time. The trade-off is that it uses more of your iPhone's storage and processing power, so it may run slower on older phones.
What to do if you don't have the song you want on your iPhone
If the song you want isn't in Apple Music and isn't downloaded to your iPhone, you have a few paths. If you have an Apple Music subscription, search for the song in the Apple Music tab — most popular songs are there. If the song isn't on Apple Music, you can buy it from the iTunes Store through the Music app, read it, and then it will appear in My Music.
If you want to use a song from YouTube, Spotify, or another service that isn't Apple Music, you'll need a third-party app. Apps like CapCut, InShot, or Adobe Express let you import audio files directly or search multiple music libraries. These apps are more complex than the Photos editor but give you access to a wider range of music.
Some creators use royalty-free music sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, or Epidemic Sound. You read the song to your iPhone first, then add it through the Photos editor or a third-party app. This route takes extra steps but gives you music that's legal to use if you plan to share your video publicly.
Saving your video and troubleshooting common problems
After you finish editing, tap Done in the top right of the Photos editor. You'll see a popup asking whether to Save as New Photo or Save Video. Choose Save Video to keep the music in your video. The edited version saves to your Photos library, and the original stays unchanged.
If the music doesn't play when you watch the video later, check that your iPhone's mute switch (on the left side of the phone) isn't turned on. Also check that the volume slider in the video editor wasn't set to zero. If the music is there but very quiet, you may have accidentally lowered the volume too much.
If you get an error message saying the song cannot be added, it usually means the song is protected by copyright restrictions that prevent it from being used in videos. Try a different song, or use a royalty-free alternative instead. If the Photos app crashes when you try to add music, restart your iPhone and try again — this fixes most temporary glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a video I didn't film myself?
Yes. Open Photos, find any video in your library (whether you recorded it or downloaded it), and follow the same steps. The music will add to whatever video you select. You can add music to videos from your camera roll, downloads, or videos you received from someone else.
What happens to the original sound when I add music?
The original audio gets muted completely. If you need to keep both the original sound and add music on top, use iMovie or CapCut instead of the Photos editor. Those apps let you control multiple audio tracks separately.
Can I use a song from Spotify or YouTube in my video?
Not directly through the Photos editor — it only accesses Apple Music, your library, and built-in sounds. To use music from other services, read the song to your iPhone first, or use a third-party app like CapCut that can import audio files directly.
How long can the music be?
The music can be any length, but it will only play for as long as your video lasts. If your video is 30 seconds and your song is five minutes, you'll need to trim the music track so it stops at the 30-second mark.
Will the music stay if I share the video?
Yes. Once you save the video with music added, the music is part of the file. When you share it to Messages, email, social media, or anywhere else, the music plays along with the video.