The fastest way: use the Photos app with built-in music
Open the video in your Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the music note icon at the bottom. 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 starting from wherever you tap in the timeline. When you're done, tap Done and then Save.
This method works best if you already own the songs on your phone or have them in Apple Music. The audio will replace any original sound from the video, so if you want to keep both the video's original audio and add music on top, this isn't the right choice. You can't adjust the volume of the music relative to the original sound, and you can't trim where the music starts or stops within the edit screen itself.
Key Takeaways
- The Photos app's built-in music feature is the simplest option and requires no extra apps, but it replaces your video's original audio entirely.
- iMovie lets you layer music over your original audio, adjust volumes separately, and trim the music to fit your video length.
- You can add music from your phone's library, Apple Music, or songs you've downloaded — but not from streaming services like Spotify unless you read them first.
- If your video is longer than your song, the music will loop or stop at the end depending on which app you use.
- Always check that you have the right to use a song before posting your video online, especially if it's copyrighted music.
Using iMovie for more control over audio
iMovie is free on the App Store and gives you much more flexibility than Photos. Open iMovie, create a new project, and import your video. Tap the + button at the bottom, then Audio. You'll see three tabs: Music (songs from your library), Sound Effects, and Recorded (audio you've recorded yourself).
Choose your song and tap it to add it to the timeline. Unlike Photos, iMovie lets you keep your video's original audio and layer music on top of it. You can adjust the volume of each separately by tapping the audio track and using the volume slider. You can also trim the music by dragging the edges of the audio clip in the timeline, so if your song is longer than your video, you can cut it to fit.
iMovie also lets you add multiple audio tracks — for example, background music plus a voiceover. When you're finished, tap Done, then tap the share icon to save or export your video.
Where your music comes from and what you can use
Your iPhone's music library includes songs you've purchased from iTunes, songs you've added from your computer, and songs from Apple Music if you have a subscription. Both Photos and iMovie can access all of these. If you use Spotify, YouTube Music, or another streaming service, those songs won't show up in either app unless you've downloaded them for offline listening — and even then, only if the app allows it.
If you want to use a song that's not on your phone, you have two options: buy it from iTunes and read it, or read it from another source and add it to your phone's files. Adding files from outside sources is more complicated and depends on where the file came from. The simplest route is to buy or stream the song through Apple Music, then use it directly.
Before you post a video with copyrighted music online — to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or anywhere else — check whether you have permission to use that song. Many platforms will mute the audio or take down the video if the music is copyrighted and you don't have a license. Some artists allow personal use but not commercial use. If you're unsure, use royalty-free music or music marked as Creative Commons instead.
What happens if your song is shorter than your video
In the Photos app, if your video is longer than your song, the music will stop playing when the song ends and your video will continue in silence. You'll need to either choose a longer song, trim your video to match the song length, or use iMovie instead.
In iMovie, you have the same problem, but you can fix it more easily. You can add the same song twice by dragging it to the timeline again, or you can add a different song after the first one ends. You can also trim your video to match your song length by selecting the video clip and dragging its edges.
Trimming and timing your music to match your video
In iMovie, tap the audio track you added, then tap and hold on the right edge of the audio clip in the timeline. Drag left to shorten the music so it ends when your video ends. You can also tap the left edge and drag right to make the music start later in the video, which is useful if you want your video to play silently for a few seconds before the music kicks in.
In the Photos app, you can't trim the music within the edit screen. If you need the music to start or stop at a specific moment, iMovie is the better choice. You can also use iMovie to fade the music in or out by tapping the audio track and adjusting the fade handles at the edges of the clip.
Exporting and saving your finished video
In Photos, tap Done after you've added your music, then tap Save. The edited video replaces your original in your library. If you want to keep both versions, tap Save as New Clip instead.
In iMovie, tap Done to finish editing, then tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up). You can save it to your Photos app, send it via email or Messages, or upload it directly to YouTube, Facebook, or other platforms. iMovie will ask you what quality you want — higher quality takes longer to export but looks better.
When to use each app
Use the Photos app if you want the fastest, simplest option and you don't mind losing your video's original audio. It takes about 30 seconds and requires no learning curve.
Use iMovie if you want to keep your video's original sound and layer music on top of it, if you need to trim the music to fit your video, if you want to adjust the volume of the music separately, or if you want to add multiple audio tracks. It takes a few minutes longer but gives you much more control.
If you need effects like fade-in and fade-out, color grading, or text overlays, iMovie handles all of those too. If you need even more advanced features — like keyframing, audio ducking, or multi-layer editing — you'd need to move to a paid app like Adobe Premiere Rush or Final Cut Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music from Spotify to my iPhone video?
Not directly. Spotify songs won't appear in Photos or iMovie unless you've downloaded them for offline listening, and even then, Spotify's app doesn't always make those files available to other apps. The easiest way is to buy the song from iTunes, add it to Apple Music, or use a royalty-free music site instead.
What if I want to keep the original sound and add music on top?
Use iMovie. The Photos app replaces your original audio entirely. In iMovie, add your video first, then add the music as a separate audio track. You can adjust the volume of each track independently so you hear both.
Will my video get taken down if I use copyrighted music?
It depends on the platform and the copyright holder. YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok scan for copyrighted music and may mute the audio, block the video in certain countries, or take it down entirely. Some copyright holders allow personal use but not commercial use. If you're posting publicly, use royalty-free music or music licensed under Creative Commons to be safe.
Can I add music to a video I already posted?
No. You have to edit the video on your phone, add the music, and save the new version before you post it. Once it's uploaded, you'd have to delete the old post and upload the new one.
What's the difference between trimming and fading music?
Trimming cuts the music off at a specific point — it stops abruptly. Fading gradually lowers the volume until it's silent, which sounds more polished. iMovie lets you do both. Tap the audio track, then drag the small triangle at the edge of the clip to fade, or drag the edge itself to trim.