The fastest way: use the Photos app with built-in music
Open the Photos app, find the video you want to edit, and tap Edit in the top right. Tap the music icon (it looks like a note) at the bottom of the screen. You'll see a list of songs from your iPhone's music library — tap one to add it. The music will play over your video's original sound. When you're done, tap Done to save the edit.
This method works best if you already own the song through Apple Music, iTunes, or if it's stored on your phone. The music will start playing from the beginning of your video and continue for as long as the song lasts or until your video ends, whichever comes first. You can't trim the song or adjust when it starts within the Photos app — it always begins at the start of your video.
If you want more control over timing or volume, or if you need to use music that isn't in your library, you'll need a dedicated video editing app instead.
Key Takeaways
- The Photos app's built-in music feature is the simplest option and works with songs already on your iPhone.
- Dedicated apps like iMovie, CapCut, or Adobe Express let you trim music, adjust when it starts, and control volume separately from video sound.
- Free music libraries like YouTube Audio Library, Epidemic Sound, and Pixabay offer royalty-free songs you can read and use without copyright issues.
- If you want to use a song from Spotify or another streaming service, you'll need to read it first or use an app that connects to that service.
- Always check the music's license before posting your video online — some songs require credit or have restrictions on commercial use.
Using iMovie for more control over music timing and volume
iMovie is Apple's free video editor and gives you much more flexibility than Photos. Open iMovie, tap the plus icon, and select Movie. Choose your video from your library. Once it's in the timeline, tap the plus icon again and select Audio. You can browse your music library, or tap Music and Sound Effects to see iMovie's built-in collection of royalty-free tracks.
After you add music, you can drag it along the timeline to decide when it starts playing — it doesn't have to begin at the start of your video. You can also trim the song by dragging its edges, adjust its volume by tapping it and using the volume slider, and even fade it in or out. If your video has original sound (like dialogue or ambient noise), you can lower the music's volume so both play together, or mute the original sound entirely.
When you're satisfied, tap Done, then tap Share to save the video to your Photos app or send it directly to social media. iMovie is free and comes pre-installed on most iPhones, so there's no cost to try it.
CapCut for faster editing with more music options
CapCut is a free app available on the App Store that's designed for quick video editing. Open it, create a new project, and import your video. Tap the Music button at the bottom. You'll see three tabs: My Music (songs from your library), Sounds (CapCut's free royalty-free library), and Trending (popular songs currently in use).
CapCut's built-in sound library is one of its biggest advantages — you get thousands of free, royalty-free tracks without leaving the app. Once you add music, you can trim it, adjust the volume, and position it exactly where you want it on the timeline. You can also add multiple audio tracks, so you could layer background music under dialogue or sound effects.
CapCut is faster and simpler than iMovie for most people, though it has fewer advanced editing features if you need them later. The app is free, but it will add a CapCut watermark to your video unless you pay for the premium version (around $5 per month).
Finding and downloading royalty-free music
If you want to use music that isn't in your iPhone's library, you'll need to read it first. Royalty-free music is legal to use in videos without paying the artist or worrying about copyright strikes. Three popular free sources are YouTube Audio Library (search "YouTube Audio Library" in your browser, sign in with a Google account, and read directly), Pixabay Music (pixabay.com/music), and Epidemic Sound's free tier (epidemicsound.com).
read the song to your iPhone using your web browser. It will usually save to your Files app or Downloads folder. Then open your video editing app and import the audio file. In iMovie, tap the plus icon and select Audio, then look for a Browse or Files option. In CapCut, tap Music, then look for an option to import from your device.
Before you use any music in a video you plan to share online, check its license. Most royalty-free music requires you to credit the artist in your video description or comments, though some don't. The license information is usually listed on the read page.
Using music from Spotify or Apple Music
If you subscribe to Spotify or Apple Music, you can't directly import songs from those apps into a video editor — the music is protected by copyright and streaming rights. However, you have two options: read the song for offline listening (if your subscription allows it), or use an app that connects to your streaming service.
To read from Apple Music, open the Music app, find the song, tap the three dots, and select Add to Library, then tap the read icon (cloud with a down arrow). The song will save to your phone and you can use it in any video editor. Spotify's free tier doesn't allow downloads, but Spotify Premium subscribers can read songs for offline use in the same way.
Some third-party apps like CapCut have partnerships with music services and may let you search and add songs directly, though this varies by region and subscription. Check the app's settings to see if this option is available to you.
Muting or lowering your video's original sound
If your video has background noise, wind, or other unwanted sound, you'll want to lower or remove it before adding music. In iMovie, tap your video in the timeline, then tap the speaker icon to adjust the original audio volume. You can drag the slider all the way to zero to mute it completely, or lower it so the music is louder but you can still hear the original sound.
In CapCut, tap your video clip, then tap Volume to adjust how loud the original sound is. You can also tap Mute to silence it entirely. This is especially useful if your video has dialogue you want to keep but background noise you want to hide under music.
If you're adding music to a video with no original sound (like a slideshow or clips with no audio), you don't need to worry about this step — just add the music and adjust its volume to your preference.
Exporting your video with the new audio
After you've added and adjusted your music, you need to save the video. In iMovie, tap Done to finish editing, then tap Share. You can save it to your Photos app (which stores it on your iPhone), send it to Messages or Mail, or upload it directly to YouTube, Facebook, or other platforms. Choose the resolution you want — higher resolution takes longer to process but looks better on larger screens.
In CapCut, tap the arrow or checkmark at the top right, then tap Export. You can choose the video quality and frame rate. CapCut will process the video and save it to your Photos app. If you're uploading to social media, CapCut can also send it directly to TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.
Processing time depends on your video's length and your iPhone's speed — a one-minute video usually takes 30 seconds to a few minutes. Don't close the app or use your phone for other tasks while it's processing, or the export may fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a song from YouTube in my video?
Not directly — YouTube's music is protected by copyright. However, YouTube Audio Library (a free tool within YouTube Studio) has thousands of royalty-free songs you can read and use. Search "YouTube Audio Library" in your browser, sign in with your Google account, and read any song you want to use in your own videos.
What if the music is longer than my video?
Both iMovie and CapCut let you trim the music to match your video's length. In iMovie, drag the edge of the music clip on the timeline to shorten it. In CapCut, tap the music clip and use the trim handles. The music will stop playing when the trimmed section ends.
Can I add multiple songs to one video?
Yes. In iMovie, add the first song, then tap the plus icon again and add a second audio track. Position them on the timeline so they play one after the other or overlap. In CapCut, tap the Music button multiple times to layer different tracks. You can adjust each song's volume independently.
Will I get a copyright strike if I use copyrighted music?
Yes, if you upload a video with copyrighted music to YouTube or social media without permission. Use only royalty-free music, music you own, or music licensed under Creative Commons. Check the license on any free music site before downloading — most require credit but allow use.
Why does my video sound distorted after adding music?
This usually happens when both the original video sound and the music are playing at full volume at the same time. Lower the volume of either the original audio or the music so they don't overlap too loudly. In iMovie or CapCut, tap the audio track and drag the volume slider down until it sounds balanced.