The fastest way to add music to your iPhone video
Open iMovie on your iPhone, tap the project you want to edit, then tap the clip where you want music to start. Tap the plus icon at the bottom, select Audio, choose a song from your library or from iMovie's built-in tracks, and tap it. The music will layer over your video — you can trim it, adjust its volume, or move it to a different spot by dragging.
iMovie gives you three sources for audio: songs already on your phone, iMovie's royalty-free music library, and sound effects. Each one works the same way once you open the Audio menu. If you want background music that doesn't interfere with your video's original sound, you can lower the music volume and raise the video volume independently.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the plus icon in the editing toolbar, select Audio, and choose from your phone's music library, iMovie's built-in tracks, or sound effects.
- You can adjust the volume of music and video separately, so background music doesn't drown out dialogue or natural sound.
- Drag the music clip left or right on the timeline to change where it starts and stops, or trim it by dragging its edges.
- iMovie's royalty-free music is safe to use in videos you share publicly without worrying about copyright claims.
Adding music from your phone's library
If you have songs saved in the Music app on your iPhone, iMovie can pull from them directly. Open your project, tap the clip where you want the music to begin, then tap the plus icon and select Audio. Scroll down to My Music and you'll see every song on your phone organized by artist and album.
Tap the song you want. iMovie will place it at the beginning of that clip. If the song is longer than your video, it will play past the end — you'll need to trim it. If the song is shorter than your video, it will stop playing and your video will continue silently unless you add another audio clip.
Using iMovie's built-in music and sound effects
iMovie includes a library of royalty-free music and sound effects you can use without worrying about copyright. These tracks are organized by mood and length, so you can find something that fits your video's tone. Open the Audio menu, tap iMovie Music or Sound Effects, and browse by category — dramatic, upbeat, cinematic, and others.
The built-in tracks are shorter than most songs in your library, usually between 30 seconds and three minutes. This makes them useful for videos that don't need a full song. You can loop a track by adding it multiple times, or combine it with your own music by adding another audio clip after the first one ends.
Adjusting volume and balancing audio
When you add music, it often plays at the same volume as your video's original sound — dialogue, wind, or camera noise. To hear both clearly, tap the music clip on the timeline, then tap the volume icon that appears. Drag the slider left to lower the music volume, or right to raise it.
You can also adjust your video's original sound separately. Tap the video clip itself (not the music), tap the volume icon, and adjust that slider. This lets you keep dialogue at full volume while music plays quietly underneath. If your video has no dialogue and you want music only, you can lower the video volume all the way to zero.
Moving and trimming music clips
Music doesn't have to start at the beginning of your video. Tap and hold the music clip on the timeline, then drag it left or right to change where it starts. Drag it left to make it start earlier, or right to make it start later. Release your finger when the music is positioned where you want it.
To shorten a music clip, tap it on the timeline, then drag one of the edges inward. Drag the left edge right to cut off the beginning, or drag the right edge left to cut off the end. This is useful when a song is longer than your video, or when you want only a specific part of a track to play.
Replacing or removing music
If you add music and then change your mind, tap the music clip on the timeline and tap the trash icon. The music will disappear and your video will play with only its original sound. You can then add different music using the same steps as before.
To replace music without deleting it first, just add a new audio clip. iMovie will layer it on top of the existing music. If you want only the new music to play, lower the volume of the old clip to zero, or delete it and add the new one.
Exporting video with music
Once your music is added and positioned the way you want it, you need to save the video. Tap the share icon (usually an arrow pointing out of a box), then choose where you want to save it — Photos, Files, or directly to social media. iMovie will process the video with the music included and save it to your chosen location.
The export process takes longer when your video is longer or your phone is older. A three-minute video typically takes one to five minutes to export. During export, keep your phone unlocked and don't open other apps — closing iMovie or switching apps can interrupt the process and force you to start over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Spotify or Apple Music songs in iMovie?
Songs from streaming services are protected by copyright and can't be added to iMovie directly. You can only use music that's downloaded and saved in your phone's Music app. If you own a song on iTunes or Apple Music, read it first, then add it to iMovie.
What happens if I add music longer than my video?
The music will keep playing past the end of your video. You need to trim it by dragging the right edge of the music clip on the timeline to the left, stopping it where your video ends. Otherwise, the exported video will be longer than you expect.
Can I add multiple songs to one video?
Yes. Add the first song, then tap the plus icon again and add a second song. Position them end-to-end on the timeline so one starts when the other stops, or overlap them and adjust their volumes so both play at once. You can add as many audio clips as you want.
Why is my music playing but I can't hear my video's original sound?
The music volume is probably too high, or the video volume is turned all the way down. Tap the video clip, tap the volume icon, and drag the slider to the right to raise it. Then tap the music clip and lower its volume if needed so both play together.
Do I need internet to use iMovie's built-in music?
No. iMovie's royalty-free tracks are stored on your phone, so you can add them anytime. You don't need an internet connection to access them, though you will need internet to export and share your video online.