The fastest way to add music in CapCut

Open your video in CapCut, tap the Music button at the bottom of the screen, then choose a track from the library or upload your own. CapCut will place the audio on a separate track below your video, and you can trim it, adjust the volume, or move it to start at any point. The whole process takes under a minute for most videos.

CapCut comes with thousands of royalty-free songs built in, so you do not need to find music elsewhere unless you want something specific. If you already have an audio file on your phone, you can import it instead by tapping Upload in the Music menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap Music at the bottom, pick a track from the library, and CapCut places it on a separate audio track automatically.
  • You can trim music to match your video length, fade it in or out, and adjust volume without affecting your video's sound.
  • CapCut's built-in library includes thousands of royalty-free songs you can use without worrying about copyright strikes.
  • If you upload your own audio file, you keep full control over when it plays and how loud it is relative to your video's original sound.

Finding and selecting music from CapCut's library

When you tap Music, CapCut shows you trending tracks first, but you can search by mood, genre, or instrument. Tap the search icon and type what you want — "upbeat", "sad", "piano", "electronic" — and the app filters the results. Each track shows its length, so you can pick one that roughly matches your video before you add it.

Listen to a preview by tapping the play button next to any track. This matters because the same mood tag can include very different songs, and hearing five seconds tells you whether it fits your video's tone. Once you find one you like, tap it to add it to your timeline.

If you want to use the same song across multiple videos, you can favorite it by tapping the heart icon. Your favorites appear at the top of the Music menu next time you open it, so you do not have to search again.

Uploading your own music files

Tap Music, then tap Upload at the top of the menu. CapCut opens your phone's file manager and lets you pick an MP3, WAV, or M4A file from your storage. Once you select it, the file appears in your Music library and you can add it to your video the same way you would add a built-in track.

Uploaded files stay in your CapCut library, so if you use the same song in another video later, you can find it without uploading again. This is useful if you have a personal recording, a podcast clip, or a song you bought from another source that you want to include.

Keep in mind that if you upload a song you do not own the rights to, you are responsible for making sure you have permission to use it. CapCut will not flag copyright issues during editing, but YouTube, TikTok, or other platforms where you post the video might mute or block it later.

Adjusting music timing, volume, and fading

Once music is on your timeline, tap it to open the editing menu. You can drag the edges of the music track left or right to trim it — this cuts off the beginning or end without affecting the rest of your video. You can also tap and drag the entire track along the timeline to move where it starts, so the music can begin at any moment in your video.

To change the volume, tap the music track and look for the volume slider. Drag it left to make the music quieter or right to make it louder. If your video has original sound (like dialogue or ambient noise), you can lower the music volume so both play at the same time without one drowning out the other.

For a smoother sound, tap the music track and look for Fade In and Fade Out options. These gradually raise the volume at the start and lower it at the end, so the music does not cut off abruptly. Most videos benefit from at least a fade-out at the end.

Layering multiple music tracks

You can add more than one song to the same video by tapping Music again and selecting a second track. CapCut places it on a separate audio track below the first one, and both play at the same time. This is useful if you want background music under dialogue or if you want to transition from one song to another.

When you have multiple music tracks, you control each one separately. You can adjust the volume of each track independently, so one can be loud and another quiet, or you can fade one out while the other fades in to create a smooth transition between songs.

If the two tracks overlap and you want them to play one after the other instead, trim the first track so it ends before the second one starts, or move the second track further along the timeline. CapCut shows you the exact timing of each track, so you can line them up precisely.

Handling copyright and platform restrictions

CapCut's built-in library is safe to use everywhere — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms will not flag or mute these songs because they are royalty-free. This means the artist or copyright holder has already given permission for people to use them in videos.

If you upload your own music, the platform where you post the video will check it against their copyright database. YouTube and TikTok both do this automatically. If the song is copyrighted and you do not own it, the platform may mute the audio, block the video in certain countries, or place ads on it and give the revenue to the copyright holder instead of you.

To stay safe, use CapCut's library for videos you plan to share publicly. If you have a personal recording or a song you know you have rights to, uploading it is fine — just be aware that the platform will scan it.

Troubleshooting common music problems

If the music does not play when you preview your video, check that the volume slider is not all the way down. Tap the music track and make sure the volume is set to at least 50 percent. Also check that the music track actually covers the part of the video you are watching — if you trimmed it or moved it, it might start or end before the section you are looking at.

If the music sounds out of sync with your video, you may have accidentally moved the track on the timeline. Tap the music and drag it back to where you want it to start. CapCut shows you the exact frame where the music begins, so you can line it up with a specific moment in your video.

If you cannot find a song you uploaded before, check that you are in the right project. Uploaded files stay in the project where you added them — they do not automatically appear in new projects. You can upload the same file again in a different project, or you can copy the music track from the first project and paste it into the second one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music from Spotify or Apple Music in CapCut?

No. Songs from streaming services are protected by copyright, and uploading them to CapCut does not change that. If you post a video with that music, the platform will likely mute it or block the video. Stick to CapCut's built-in library or music you own the rights to.

What audio formats does CapCut accept when I upload my own music?

CapCut accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, and AAC files. If you have music in a different format, you can convert it using a free online tool or a phone app before uploading it to CapCut.

Can I adjust the speed of the music to match my video?

CapCut does not have a built-in speed control for audio tracks. If your music is too fast or slow for your video, you can trim it shorter or longer, or you can adjust your video's playback speed instead to match the music.

How do I remove music from my video after I add it?

Tap the music track on the timeline and look for a delete or trash icon. Tap it to remove the track completely. Your video's original sound will still be there — removing the music track only removes the added audio.

Can I export my video with the music included?

Yes. When you tap Export, CapCut saves the video with all audio tracks mixed together — your original sound, the music, and any other audio you added. The exported file includes everything you hear in the preview.