The three ways to add music to Facebook
You can add music to a Facebook post in three ways: using Facebook's built-in music library, uploading a video that contains audio, or embedding a song from Spotify or another streaming service. The method you choose depends on what you want to share and who you want to hear it.
The easiest route for most people is Facebook's music sticker, which lets you pick a song from millions of tracks and attach it to a photo or text post. If you want to share a video you made yourself, you can upload it with its original audio. If you want to link to a specific song on Spotify or Apple Music, you can embed that directly so people can listen or follow the link.
Each method has different privacy implications. A music sticker is visible to whoever can see your post. A video with audio plays for anyone who can view it. An embedded link shows the song title and artist but doesn't play audio automatically — people have to click through to the streaming service.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook's music sticker is the fastest way to add a song to a photo or text post, and you search for the track by title or artist name.
- Videos you upload keep their original audio, but Facebook may mute them if the audio contains copyrighted material you don't have rights to.
- Embedding a Spotify or Apple Music link shows the song title and artist but requires people to click through to listen.
- Anyone who can see your post can see or hear the music you add, so check your post privacy settings if you want to limit who sees it.
How to add a music sticker to a photo or text post
Open Facebook and start a new post. Click the photo icon to add a photo, or just write text in the post box. Once you have your photo or text ready, look for the sticker icon — it usually looks like a smiley face or a square with a plus sign, depending on whether you are on mobile or desktop.
Tap or click the sticker icon and scroll down until you see "Music" in the list. Tap it. A search box will appear. Type the song title, artist name, or album name. Facebook will show you matching results. Tap the song you want. The sticker will appear on your post showing the album cover, song title, and artist name. You can resize it or move it around before you post.
Once you post, anyone who can see your post will see the music sticker. They can tap it to listen to a preview or follow the link to a streaming service. The sticker does not play audio automatically — it is a link, not an embedded player.
How to upload a video with audio
If you have recorded a video on your phone or computer that already has music or sound in it, you can upload it directly to Facebook. Click the photo icon in your post box and select the video file from your device. Facebook will upload the video with all its original audio.
Be aware that Facebook scans videos for copyrighted music. If your video contains a song you do not own the rights to, Facebook may mute the audio, add a copyright notice, or restrict who can watch the video. If the audio is your own recording, music you created, or music you have permission to use, it will usually stay unmuted.
Once the video uploads, you can add a caption, choose who can see it, and post it. The video will play with sound for anyone who can view it. If you want to control the volume or mute it yourself before posting, most phones and computers let you edit the video before upload.
How to embed a song from Spotify or Apple Music
If you want to share a specific song from Spotify, Apple Music, or another streaming service, you can paste the link directly into your post. Open the streaming app, find the song you want to share, and tap the share button. Select "Copy Link" or "Share to Facebook" depending on what the app offers.
If you copied the link, go back to Facebook, paste it into your post box, and post. Facebook will automatically create a preview card showing the song title, artist, album cover, and a play button. People can click the card to listen on the streaming service. If you selected "Share to Facebook" from the app, it will open Facebook and pre-fill the post for you.
This method does not embed an audio player on Facebook itself — it creates a link. People have to click through to the streaming service to listen. This is useful if you want to recommend a song without playing audio directly on your timeline.
What happens when Facebook detects copyrighted music
Facebook uses automated tools to identify copyrighted music in videos. If your video contains a song you do not own, Facebook may take one of several actions: mute the audio entirely, add a copyright notice to the video, restrict the video to certain countries, or allow the copyright holder to earn money from views of your video.
You will usually see a notification telling you what happened. If the audio was muted, you can appeal if you believe you have the right to use the music. If you want to avoid this, use royalty-free music, music you created yourself, or music from Facebook's own library.
Music stickers and embedded links do not trigger this issue because they link to licensed content on streaming services. The copyright holder has already been paid through the streaming service.
Privacy and who can see the music you add
The music you add to a post is visible to whoever can see the post itself. If your post is set to "Public," anyone on Facebook can see the music sticker or video. If it is set to "Friends Only," only your friends can see it. If it is set to "Only Me," no one else can see it.
Check your post privacy settings before you post. Click the audience selector (usually a globe icon or a dropdown menu) and choose who you want to see the post. This controls who sees the music sticker, the video, or the embedded link.
Keep in mind that even if you set a post to "Friends Only," your friends can share it with others, and the music will be visible in the shared version. If you want tighter control over who hears something, a private message or a closed group is more find than a post.
Troubleshooting: music sticker not showing up
If you do not see the music sticker option, check that you are using the current version of Facebook. Older versions of the app may not have the music feature. Go to your app store and update Facebook to the latest version.
If the sticker option is there but the song you want does not appear in search results, it may not be in Facebook's music library. Try searching by artist name instead of the full song title, or try a different song. Facebook's library is large but not complete — some independent or very new releases may not be available.
If you are on a desktop computer and cannot find the sticker option, try using the mobile app instead. The music sticker feature works best on phones and tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a post I already published?
No, you cannot add a music sticker to an existing post. You have to create a new post with the music sticker. You can delete the old post and create a new one, or just post the music separately. Videos and embedded links can be added to a new post at any time.
Will people hear music automatically when they scroll past my post?
No. Music stickers and embedded links do not play automatically — people have to tap them. Videos may play with sound if the person has their phone volume on and has not muted video playback in their settings. Most people have video sound muted by default on social media.
What if the song I want is not in Facebook's music library?
If the song does not appear in the music sticker search, you can still share it by uploading a video with that audio, or by copying a link from Spotify or Apple Music and pasting it into your post. The embedded link method works for any song available on a streaming service.
Does adding music to my post affect my privacy settings?
No. The music itself does not change who can see your post. Your post privacy setting controls who sees the music. If your post is public, the music is public. If your post is friends-only, the music is friends-only.
Can I get in trouble for adding copyrighted music to a video?
Facebook handles copyright claims automatically. If your video contains copyrighted music, Facebook may mute it or let the copyright holder earn money from it, but you will not face legal action from Facebook itself. The copyright holder may claim the video, but that is between them and Facebook, not between them and you directly.