The basic way to add music to your CapCut project

Open CapCut and load the video you want to edit. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Audio button — it looks like a musical note. You will see three options: Music, Sound Effects, and Voice. Tap Music to browse songs.

CapCut's built-in library has thousands of royalty-free songs organized by mood, genre, and length. Scroll through the list, tap a song to preview it, and when you find one you want, tap the plus icon next to it. The song will appear as a new track on your timeline at the bottom of the screen, starting at the point where your playhead sits.

If the song is longer than your video, it will play past the end — you can trim it by dragging the right edge of the audio track inward. If you want the song to start partway through your video instead of at the beginning, drag the entire audio track to the right on the timeline until it lines up where you want it.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the Audio button at the bottom, then Music, to open CapCut's built-in song library without leaving the app.
  • You can add your own audio files by tapping the upload icon in the Music tab, which accepts MP3, WAV, and other common formats.
  • Trim songs by dragging the edges of the audio track, and move them left or right on the timeline to sync with your video.
  • Adjust volume by tapping the audio track and using the volume slider, or fade music in and out by adding keyframes.
  • All songs in CapCut's library are royalty-free, so you can post videos with them on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram without copyright strikes.

Uploading your own music files

If you want to use a song that is not in CapCut's library, you can upload your own. In the Music tab, look for the upload icon — usually an arrow pointing upward or a plus sign in a box. Tap it and select a song from your phone's files. CapCut accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, and FLAC files.

Once the file uploads, it appears in your Music library under a section labeled Local or My Music, depending on your version of CapCut. You can add it to your project the same way you add a built-in song: tap the plus icon, and it lands on your timeline. Your uploaded songs stay in the library so you can reuse them in future projects without uploading again.

Be aware that if you upload a song you do not own the rights to, you are responsible for any copyright issues if you post the video publicly. CapCut will not flag it during editing, but YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms may mute the audio or claim the video after you upload it.

Adjusting volume and syncing music to your video

Once a song is on your timeline, tap it to select it. A menu will appear with options including Volume. Drag the volume slider left to make the song quieter or right to make it louder. You can also lower the volume of your original video audio so the music stands out more — tap your video track and adjust its volume the same way.

To sync music with specific moments in your video, use the Keyframe feature. Tap the audio track, then look for a keyframe icon (usually three dots or a curve symbol). Tap it at the exact moment you want the volume to change — for example, when a beat drops or when someone starts speaking. Move the playhead to a different point in time, tap keyframe again, and adjust the volume. CapCut will fade smoothly between the two volume levels.

If your song and video are out of sync, drag the audio track left or right on the timeline until they line up. You can also trim the beginning or end of the song by dragging its edges inward, which is useful if the intro is too long or if the song extends past where your video ends.

Using CapCut's sound effects alongside music

You can layer sound effects on top of your music track. Tap the Audio button again and select Sound Effects instead of Music. Browse the library — effects are organized by category like "Whoosh", "Notification", "Applause", and "Nature" — and tap the plus icon to add one. It will appear as a separate track above or below your music.

Sound effects are usually short (one to three seconds), so they work best at specific moments: a door slam when someone enters a room, a laugh track after a joke, or a notification sound when text appears on screen. Drag the effect to the exact frame where you want it to play, then adjust its volume so it does not overpower your music or dialogue.

You can add as many sound effects as you want, and each one sits on its own track. This lets you layer multiple effects at the same moment if your project calls for it — for example, a whoosh sound plus a notification sound when something transitions on screen.

Fading music in and out

To make your song fade in smoothly at the start instead of playing at full volume when ready, tap the audio track and look for a Fade option. Some versions of CapCut show this as a button; others require you to use keyframes. If you see a Fade button, tap it and choose Fade In. Set how long you want the fade to last — usually one to two seconds works well.

Do the same at the end of the song: tap the audio track, select Fade, and choose Fade Out. This prevents the music from stopping abruptly, which sounds jarring to viewers. If your version of CapCut does not have a dedicated Fade button, use keyframes instead: place one keyframe at the start of the song with volume at zero, move forward two seconds and place another keyframe at full volume. At the end, reverse the process — full volume, then zero volume two seconds later.

Removing or replacing a song

If you add a song and decide you do not want it, tap the audio track on your timeline to select it, then tap the Delete or Trash icon. The song disappears from your project when ready, but it stays in your CapCut library so you can add it again later if you change your mind.

To replace a song without deleting it first, straightforward add a new song to your timeline. Both will play at the same time unless you adjust their volumes or move one to a different part of the timeline. If you want only one song, delete the old one after adding the new one, or lower the old one's volume to zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music in CapCut?

CapCut's built-in library is royalty-free, so you can use those songs anywhere without copyright issues. If you upload your own music, you are responsible for owning or having permission to use it. Posting a video with unlicensed copyrighted music may result in muting, removal, or a copyright strike on platforms like YouTube.

Why does my music sound out of sync with my video?

This usually happens if the audio track is not positioned correctly on the timeline. Drag the entire audio track left or right until the music aligns with the moments you want it to match. If the problem persists, try trimming the beginning of the song — sometimes a long intro causes the beat to land later than expected.

Can I add multiple songs to one video?

Yes. Add the first song, then tap Audio and Music again to add a second song. It will appear on a new track. You can position them so one plays after the other, or overlap them and adjust their volumes so both play at once. Arrange them on the timeline however your project needs.

What audio formats does CapCut accept?

CapCut accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, and AAC files. If you have a song in a different format, you can convert it using a free online tool or a media player app, then upload the converted version to CapCut.

How do I make the music louder than the original video sound?

Tap the music track and increase its volume using the volume slider. Then tap your video track and lower its volume. This makes the music stand out while keeping dialogue or background sounds audible. Use keyframes if you want the balance to change at different points in your video.