The two ways to add music to a Facebook video

You can add music to a Facebook video in two places: while you are uploading the video, or after it is already posted. The upload method is faster and gives you more control over which part of the song plays. The after-posting method works if you forgot to add music the first time, but Facebook's music library may not have every song you want.

Facebook's music library has thousands of songs you can use without copyright strikes. These songs are cleared for use on the platform. If you try to upload a video with music you do not own the rights to — a popular song from Spotify or Apple Music, for example — Facebook will either mute the audio, block the video in certain countries, or claim the rights and show ads on your video. Using Facebook's library avoids all three problems.

Key Takeaways

  • Upload a video without sound first, then add music from Facebook's library during the upload process to keep full control over timing and volume.
  • Facebook's music library contains thousands of songs cleared for use, but does not include most mainstream artists or current chart hits.
  • If you add music after posting, go to the video, click the three dots, select Edit, and choose Add Music from the menu.
  • You can trim the music to start and end at specific points, and adjust the volume so your original audio (if any) is still heard.
  • Videos with music get more views and engagement than videos without, but only if the music matches the video's mood and pacing.

Adding music while you upload a video

Start by opening Facebook on a computer or the Facebook app on your phone. Click the photo/video icon in the status bar at the top of your feed, or go to your profile and click the Photo/Video button. Select the video file from your device. Do not add music to the video file itself before uploading — upload the raw video with just the original audio (or no audio at all).

After you select the file, Facebook will show you an editing screen. Look for the Music icon — it looks like a musical note. Click it. Facebook will open its music library and show you songs sorted by mood, genre, and length. Search for a song by name, or browse by category like "Upbeat," "Emotional," or "Background." Once you find a song, click it to preview how it sounds with your video.

After you add the song, you can trim it. Click the trim icon (usually two vertical lines with arrows) to set the start and end points. This is useful if the song is longer than your video, or if you want only a specific part of the song to play. You can also adjust the volume slider so the music does not drown out any original audio from your video — for example, if someone is speaking, you might lower the music to 50 percent so both are audible.

Once you are happy with the music and timing, finish uploading the video as you normally would. Add a caption, choose who can see it, and click Post or Share.

Adding music to a video you already posted

If your video is already on Facebook and you want to add music now, go to the video on your timeline or profile. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the video. A menu will appear. Select Edit or Edit Post (the exact wording depends on your device and Facebook version).

In the editing screen, look for the Music option. Click it to open Facebook's music library. Search for or browse a song the same way you would during upload. Select the song, trim it if needed, and adjust the volume. Click Save or Done to explore the music to the posted video.

One limitation: if your video already has audio (like someone talking or background noise), adding music afterward will layer it on top rather than replace it. If the original audio is too loud, the music may be hard to hear. In this case, it is better to delete the video and re-upload it with music added during the upload process, where you have more control over volume levels.

What songs are available in Facebook's music library

Facebook's music library includes independent artists, royalty-free music, and some licensed tracks from smaller labels. You will find a lot of background music, instrumental tracks, and songs from emerging artists. The library is strongest in genres like electronic, ambient, lo-fi, and indie.

What you will not find: most songs from major record labels, current chart hits, or songs by famous artists. If you search for a popular song and it does not appear, it is because Facebook does not have the rights to license it for user videos. Trying to upload a video with that song anyway will trigger Facebook's copyright detection, which may mute the audio, restrict where the video can be seen, or allow the copyright holder to earn money from your video.

If you have a specific song in mind and it is not in the library, you have two options: choose a different song from the library that has a similar mood, or upload the video without music and accept that Facebook may restrict it or claim the rights.

Adjusting music volume and timing

When you add music, you can control exactly when it starts and stops. Use the trim tool to set the start point (where the music begins) and the end point (where it stops). This is useful if a song is three minutes long but your video is only 15 seconds — you can trim the music to play just the first 15 seconds, or jump to the chorus if the intro is too slow.

The volume slider lets you balance the music against any original audio in your video. If your video has dialogue, set the music to 30 to 50 percent so people can still hear what is being said. If your video has no original audio, you can set the music to 100 percent. Experiment by playing the preview — you will hear how it sounds before you save.

On mobile, these controls may be smaller or arranged differently, but the function is the same. Look for icons that look like a musical note (music), two vertical lines (trim), and a speaker (volume).

Why music matters for video engagement

Videos with music get more views, shares, and comments than videos without. Music sets the mood, makes the video feel more polished, and keeps people watching longer. A video of someone cooking is more engaging with upbeat background music. A video of a sunset is more moving with calm, emotional music.

The key is matching the music to the video's content and pacing. Fast music works for action, quick cuts, or comedy. Slow music works for emotional moments, tutorials, or nature footage. If the music does not fit, it distracts rather than enhances.

Facebook's algorithm also favors videos with music — they tend to be watched longer and shared more, which pushes them higher in the feed. This is another reason to add music even if you are not sure it is necessary.

Troubleshooting music problems

If you add music but it does not play when you watch the video, check your device's volume and make sure the video is not muted. On Facebook, videos often start muted by default — click the speaker icon to unmute. If the music still does not play, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app.

If you added music from Facebook's library but the video was later restricted or muted, it is usually because Facebook detected copyrighted audio in your original video file — not the music you added. This happens when you upload a video that already has a song, movie clip, or TV show audio in it. To fix this, delete the video and re-upload it without the copyrighted audio, then add music from Facebook's library during upload.

If you want to remove music you added, go back to Edit, click the Music option, and select Remove Music or None. Save the changes and the music will be deleted from the posted video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Spotify or Apple Music in my Facebook video?

Not without risking copyright issues. If you upload a video with a Spotify or Apple Music song, Facebook will detect it and either mute the audio, block the video in some countries, or allow the copyright holder to earn money from your video. Use Facebook's music library instead, where all songs are cleared for use.

What if the song I want is not in Facebook's music library?

Search for a similar song by mood or genre. If nothing works, upload the video without music. You can always add music later by editing the post. Alternatively, if you own the rights to the song or have permission from the copyright holder, you can upload the video with that audio, but Facebook may still restrict it.

Can I add music to a video someone else posted?

No. You can only add or edit music on videos you posted yourself. If you want to share someone else's video with different music, you will need to read it, add your own music, and re-upload it as a new video.

Does adding music change the video quality or file size?

No. The music is added by Facebook's servers after you upload, not by your device. Your video quality and file size stay the same.

Can I add multiple songs to one video?

Facebook's built-in tools let you add one song per video. If you want multiple songs, you would need to edit the video file on your computer before uploading — use a video editor like iMovie, Windows Photos, or DaVinci Resolve to layer multiple songs, then upload the finished file to Facebook.