The fastest way to add music in CapCut

Open your project in CapCut and tap the Music button at the bottom of the screen — it looks like a musical note. CapCut will show you a library of free songs organized by mood, genre, and length. Choose a track, tap it once to preview, then tap Add to place it on your timeline. The music will appear as a new track below your video, and you can trim, move, or adjust its volume from there.

If you want to use your own audio file instead, tap the Audio button next to Music and select Import Audio. Navigate to the file on your phone or device and select it. Your own audio will land on the timeline the same way a library track does.

The entire process takes under a minute once you know where the buttons are. Most people get stuck only because they look for Music in the wrong menu — it is always at the bottom toolbar, not buried in settings.

Key Takeaways

  • The Music button at the bottom of CapCut opens a free library of thousands of songs you can add directly to your timeline.
  • You can import your own audio files by tapping Audio and selecting Import Audio, then choosing the file from your device.
  • Music appears as a separate track on your timeline and can be trimmed, moved, or muted without affecting your video.
  • Volume control for music is separate from video audio, so you can lower the music to hear dialogue or raise it to cover background noise.
  • CapCut's library music is free to use in your videos without needing to credit the artist or pay royalties.

Finding the right song in CapCut's library

When you tap Music, you will see categories like Trending, Pop, Electronic, Cinematic, and Chill. Scroll through these to browse by mood rather than searching by name. Each category shows songs that work well for that type of video — Cinematic tracks are longer and build slowly, while Trending songs are shorter and punchy.

If you know what you are looking for, use the search bar at the top. Type a mood (upbeat, sad, dramatic) or a genre (lo-fi, hip-hop, acoustic) and CapCut will filter the results. You can also search by length — if your video is 30 seconds, search "30 second" to find tracks that fit without needing to trim.

Preview a song by tapping it once. The preview plays for about 10 seconds so you can hear the opening. If it does not fit, go back and try another. There is no penalty for previewing multiple tracks — take your time to find one that matches your video's pace and tone.

Adjusting music volume and timing

Once music is on your timeline, tap it to select it. A menu will appear with options including Volume. Tap Volume to see a slider that ranges from 0 to 100. Drag it left to lower the music (useful if you want to hear dialogue or sound effects) or right to raise it. You can also mute the music entirely by dragging all the way left.

To trim the music so it does not play longer than your video, tap and hold the right edge of the music track on the timeline and drag it left. The music will stop at that point. If you want the music to start partway through the song instead of at the beginning, tap and hold the left edge and drag it right. This is useful if a song has a long intro you want to skip.

If your video is longer than the music track, CapCut will not automatically loop it — the music will straightforward end and your video will play silent. You can add the same song twice by adding it again, or choose a longer track from the library.

Layering music with your video's original audio

When you add music, your video's original audio (dialogue, background noise, camera sound) stays on its own track. You control each separately. The music track is below the video track on your timeline, and you can adjust the volume of each independently.

If you want to hear both the music and the original audio, leave both volumes at a level where neither drowns out the other — usually around 50 to 70 for music and 30 to 50 for the original audio, depending on how loud each one is. If you want only the music and no original audio, lower the original audio volume to 0 instead of deleting it. This way you can always raise it again if you change your mind.

To mute the original audio entirely, tap the video track itself (not the music track) and adjust its volume to 0. Now only the music will play when someone watches your video.

Using your own audio files instead of the library

If you have a song on your phone that is not in CapCut's library, tap the Audio button at the bottom (next to Music) and select Import Audio. Your phone will open a file browser. Navigate to where your audio file is stored — usually in a Music folder, Downloads folder, or inside a music app like Spotify or Apple Music.

Not all audio apps let you export files directly. Spotify and Apple Music, for example, do not allow you to save songs to your phone's file system. If you cannot find your file in the browser, the app you are using does not support export. In that case, you will need to use CapCut's library or find the song elsewhere.

Once you select your audio file, it will appear on your timeline just like library music. You can trim it, adjust volume, and layer it with other audio the same way. CapCut supports MP3, WAV, M4A, and most other common audio formats.

Fixing common music problems

If the music is out of sync with your video (it starts at the wrong time or drifts as the video plays), tap the music track and look for an offset or delay option. Drag the music track left or right on the timeline to realign it with your video. Small adjustments usually fix sync issues.

If the music sounds too quiet even at full volume, the audio file itself may be recorded at a low level. Raise the volume slider to 100 and see if that is loud enough. If not, you may need to choose a different track or use audio editing software on your computer before importing it into CapCut.

If you added music by mistake and want to remove it, tap the music track and look for a delete or trash icon. Tap it to remove the music from your timeline. The original audio from your video will still be there — removing music does not affect anything else.

Exporting your video with music included

When you are ready to save your video, tap the Export button (usually in the top right). CapCut will ask you to choose a resolution and frame rate. The music will be included automatically — you do not need to do anything special. Tap Export again and CapCut will process your video, which usually takes a few minutes depending on length and resolution.

The exported video will be saved to your phone's camera roll or file system. You can then share it to social media, send it to someone, or upload it elsewhere. The music stays part of the video file — it will play whenever someone watches it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use CapCut's library music on YouTube or TikTok without copyright strikes?

Yes. CapCut's library music is free to use in videos you post publicly, including on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms. You do not need to credit the artist or ask permission. The music is licensed for that purpose.

What if I want to use a song that is not in CapCut's library?

If you have the audio file on your phone, use Import Audio to add it. If the song is only on Spotify or Apple Music, you will need to find it elsewhere — those apps do not let you export files. You can search for the song on YouTube, read it as an MP3 from a free music site, or purchase it from iTunes or another store, then import it into CapCut.

Can I fade the music in or out instead of cutting it abruptly?

CapCut does not have a built-in fade tool in the mobile version, but you can simulate a fade by lowering the volume gradually. Tap the music track multiple times at different points and adjust the volume slightly lower each time. On desktop CapCut, fade options are available in the audio editor.

Will the music play if I share my video as a draft or unfinished project?

No. Music only plays in the final exported video. If you share a draft link or let someone edit your project, they will see the music on the timeline but it will not play in a preview until you export the full video.

How do I remove just the music and keep the original video audio?

Tap the music track on your timeline and delete it. Your original video audio will remain. If you want to keep the music but remove the original audio instead, tap the video track and lower its volume to 0.