The fastest way: use the Photos app's built-in music

Open the Photos app, find the video you want to edit, tap Edit, then tap the music note icon at the bottom. The Photos app has about 50 royalty-free songs built in — tap one to preview it, then tap Use. The music starts at the beginning of your video and plays for as long as the song lasts or until your video ends, whichever comes first. Tap Done to save.

This method takes under a minute and works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. The music plays at a fixed volume — you cannot adjust how loud it is relative to your original video sound. If you need more control, or if you want to use a song from your music library instead of the built-in options, you will need a different app.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app's built-in music is the fastest option and requires no other apps, but offers no volume control or timing adjustments.
  • iMovie lets you add music from your library, adjust when it starts and stops, and control how loud it plays compared to your original audio.
  • CapCut is free and offers more editing options than iMovie, including the ability to fade music in and out and trim songs to fit your video length.
  • If you use a song from Apple Music or Spotify, you must own it or read it first — streaming rights do not carry over to videos you share.
  • Always check whether a song is royalty-free before using it in a video you plan to post online.

Using iMovie for more control over timing and volume

iMovie is Apple's video editor and comes free on every iPhone. Open iMovie, tap the + icon, select Movie, then choose your video from your library. Tap Next to open the editing screen. At the bottom, tap the + icon, then tap Audio. You can choose from iMovie's built-in music, songs from your library, or recordings you have made.

Once you add a song, tap and hold it to see your options. You can drag the song left or right to change when it starts playing — this is useful if you want the music to begin partway through your video. Tap the audio clip itself to adjust its volume with a slider. You can also tap Fade In or Fade Out to make the music start or end gradually instead of cutting off sharply.

iMovie does not let you trim a song to a specific length — it will play until the song ends or your video ends. If a song is too long, you will need to either make your video longer or use a different app. Save your finished video by tapping Done, then Share.

CapCut for trimming songs and advanced timing

CapCut is a free app that gives you more flexibility than iMovie. Open CapCut, tap New project, select your video, and tap Add. At the bottom, tap Audio, then Music. Choose a song from your library or CapCut's built-in collection. The song appears as a bar at the bottom of the timeline.

Tap the song to select it. You will see a trim handle on each end of the audio bar — drag these to shorten the song so it fits your video exactly. You can also tap the song and drag it left or right along the timeline to change when it starts. Tap the song again and look for the volume icon to adjust how loud the music plays.

CapCut also lets you add multiple songs, fade between them, and adjust the volume of your original video separately from the music. This makes it useful if you want to keep some of your original sound — for example, dialogue or ambient noise — while adding music underneath. Export your video by tapping the checkmark at the top right.

Adding music from your personal library or Apple Music

Both iMovie and CapCut can access songs you own or have downloaded. In iMovie, tap Audio, then scroll to find My Music — this shows songs from your library. In CapCut, tap Music, then Local to see your library. You can use any song you have purchased or downloaded, but not songs you only have access to through a streaming subscription.

If you have an Apple Music subscription and want to use a song from it, you must first read the song to your phone while you are subscribed. Open the Music app, find the song, tap the three dots, and select Add to Library, then tap the read icon. Once downloaded, the song will appear in your library even if your subscription lapses, but you cannot share a video with that music if you no longer have an active subscription — Apple's licensing terms prevent it.

For songs from Spotify or other streaming services, the same rule applies: you cannot use them in a video you plan to share unless you own the song outright. Streaming rights cover listening only, not video creation.

Understanding royalty-free music and copyright

If you plan to post your video on social media or YouTube, check whether the song is royalty-free. iMovie's built-in music and most of CapCut's built-in collection are royalty-free, meaning you can use them without paying or asking permission. The Photos app's music is also royalty-free.

If you use a song you own or a song from a streaming service, you may run into copyright claims on YouTube or Instagram. YouTube will either mute the audio, place ads on your video, or block it entirely depending on who owns the copyright. This does not mean you broke the law, but it does mean the copyright holder can control how your video is used.

If you need music that is may provide to be safe for sharing, stick with the built-in royalty-free options in Photos, iMovie, or CapCut. If you want to use a specific song you own, test by uploading to YouTube as an unlisted video first — YouTube will tell you when ready if there is a copyright claim.

Fixing common problems with audio and video sync

If your music and video are out of sync — the music does not match what is happening on screen — the problem is usually that you added the music after recording. In CapCut, you can drag the audio bar left or right to realign it. In iMovie, tap and hold the audio clip and drag it to adjust the start time. Neither app has an automatic sync feature, so you will need to do this by eye.

If the music is too quiet or too loud compared to your original video sound, adjust the volume slider for the audio track. In iMovie, tap the audio clip to see the volume control. In CapCut, tap the song and look for the volume icon. If you want to remove your original video sound entirely and use only music, find the video track (usually at the top of the timeline) and lower its volume to zero.

If you added music but it is not playing when you watch the video, check that the song file actually exists — sometimes a song from your library will disappear if you delete it from the Music app. Re-add the song and save again.

Choosing between Photos, iMovie, and CapCut

Use the Photos app if you want the fastest option and do not care about controlling volume or timing. It takes 30 seconds and requires no other apps. Use iMovie if you want to adjust when the music starts and how loud it is, but do not need to trim the song itself. iMovie is built in and familiar to most iPhone users. Use CapCut if you need to trim a song to fit your video exactly, add multiple songs, or have fine control over timing and fading.

All three are free. Photos and iMovie come pre-installed. CapCut requires a read but has no ads or in-app purchases that affect basic editing. If you are editing videos regularly, CapCut is worth learning because it handles more complex projects. If you edit videos rarely, the Photos app or iMovie will probably be enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Spotify in my iPhone video?

Not for sharing. Spotify's terms of service cover listening only, not video creation. If you try to upload a video with Spotify audio to YouTube or Instagram, the platform will likely mute it or block the video. You can use Spotify songs for personal videos you do not share.

Why does my music sound different after I save the video?

The app may have compressed the audio when exporting. Try exporting at the highest quality setting available. In iMovie, tap Share and look for a quality option. In CapCut, tap the export settings before saving. Lower quality exports reduce file size but also reduce audio clarity.

Can I add music to a video I recorded a long time ago?

Yes. Open the video in Photos, iMovie, or CapCut and add music the same way you would for a new video. The original recording date does not matter.

What if the song is longer than my video?

In Photos and iMovie, the song will play until your video ends and then stop. In CapCut, you can trim the song to match your video length exactly by dragging the trim handles on the audio bar.

Do I need to credit the artist if I use royalty-free music?

It depends on the license. Most royalty-free music in iMovie, CapCut, and Photos does not require credit, but some creators prefer it. Check the song's license information in the app before using it. If you are unsure, adding a credit in your video description is always safe.