How to Add Music to a Video in 2026: Complete Guide

Want to add background music to your videos?
Whether you’re creating content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or personal projects, the right soundtrack transforms bland clips into engaging stories.

This comprehensive guide covers the best methods to add music to videos in 2026 — from quick mobile solutions to professional desktop tools.

Quick Answer: Best Ways to Add Music to Videos

Now let’s dive into step-by-step guides for each method.

Method 1: Add Music with CapCut (Mobile & Desktop)

CapCut is the most popular free video editor in 2026, trusted by millions of TikTok and Instagram creators.

On Mobile (iPhone & Android):

1. Download CapCut from App Store or Google Play
2. Tap “New project” and select your video
3. Tap “Audio” at the bottom toolbar
4. Choose a music source:
   • Sounds — Browse CapCut’s royalty-free library
   • Device — Upload music from your phone
   • Extracted — Pull audio from another video
5. Trim and adjust the music timeline to match your video
6. Adjust volume — Balance between original video audio and music
7. Add fade in/out for professional transitions
8. Export your video

On Desktop (Windows & Mac):

1. Download CapCut for desktop from capcut.com
2. Create new project and import your video
3. Click “Audio” tab in the left panel
4. Add music from library or upload your own
5. Drag music track to timeline
6. Sync with video and adjust volume levels
7. Export in your preferred quality

Pro tip: CapCut’s auto-sync feature can match music beats to your video cuts automatically.

Method 2: Add Music with iMovie (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

iMovie comes free on all Apple devices and offers excellent audio control.

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Open iMovie app
2. Create a new Movie project
3. Import your video from Photos
4. Tap the “+” button in the timeline
5. Select “Audio”
6. Choose a source:
   • Soundtracks — Built-in background music
   • Sound Effects — Royalty-free effects
   • Songs — Import from Apple Music or Files
7. Tap the music track and adjust:
   • Volume — Lower original audio if needed
   • Trim — Cut music to match video length
   • Fade — Smooth audio transitions
8. Tap “Done” and export

On Mac:

1. Open iMovie
2. Create new project and import video
3. Click “Audio” button in toolbar
4. Browse iTunes, Sound Effects, or GarageBand
5. Drag music to timeline below video
6. Adjust volume and trim as needed
7. Export your final video

Method 3: Add Music with InShot (Mobile)

InShot is perfect for quick social media edits with music.

Steps:

1. Download InShot (App Store or Google Play)
2. Tap “Video” and select your clip
3. Tap “Music” icon
4. Add music from:
   • Tracks — InShot’s library (filtered by mood/genre)
   • My Music — Your phone’s music library
   • iTunes (if available)
   • Record — Voice or live audio
5. Trim music to fit your video
6. Adjust volume — Mix with original audio
7. Apply effects — Fade, speed, filters
8. Export (watch an ad for free HD export, or pay to remove ads)

Method 4: Add Music with DaVinci Resolve (Desktop — Professional)

For professional projects, DaVinci Resolve is the industry-standard free editor.

Steps:

1. Download DaVinci Resolve (free) from blackmagicdesign.com
2. Create new project
3. Import video to Media Pool
4. Drag video to timeline
5. Import music files to Media Pool
6. Drag music to audio track in timeline
7. Adjust audio levels in the mixer
8. Apply audio effects (EQ, compression, fade) in Fairlight page
9. Sync music with video markers
10. Export via Deliver page

Best for: YouTube videos, professional commercials, wedding videos, documentaries.

Method 5: Add Music with Windows Clipchamp (Built-In on Windows 11)

Clipchamp comes pre-installed on Windows 11 and integrates with OneDrive.

Steps:

1. Open Clipchamp (search in Start menu)
2. Create new video
3. Import your video from PC or OneDrive
4. Drag video to timeline
5. Click “Music & SFX” in left toolbar
6. Browse libraries:
   • Music — Royalty-free tracks by genre/mood
   • Your files — Upload custom music
7. Add to timeline
8. Adjust volume and trim to match video
9. Export to your PC

Method 6: Online Video Editors (No Installation)

Several browser-based tools let you add music without downloading apps:

Popular Options:

• Kapwing (kapwing.com) — Clean interface, free tier
• Clideo (clideo.com) — Simple, fast, watermark on free version
• VEED.io (veed.io) — Auto-subtitles + music
• FlexClip (flexclip.com) — Stock music library included

Typical Workflow:

1. Visit the online editor
2. Upload your video
3. Add audio track (upload or choose from library)
4. Adjust timing and volume
5. Download finished video (may have watermark on free plans)

Note: These tools are convenient but often limit resolution or add watermarks unless you subscribe.

Where to Find Royalty-Free Music in 2026

Adding music is easy — but using copyrighted music can get your videos muted or removed.
Here are the best sources for free, legal music:

Free Music Libraries:

• YouTube Audio Library — Thousands of free tracks
• Facebook Sound Collection — For Instagram and Facebook
• Epidemic Sound — Subscription service (popular with YouTubers)
• Artlist — Unlimited music with subscription
• Pixabay Music — Free downloads, no attribution required
• Incompetech — Free music by Kevin MacLeod (attribution required)
• Bensound — Free tracks for personal/commercial use
• Free Music Archive — Creative Commons licensed music

Paid but Worth It:

• Epidemic Sound — $15/month, unlimited downloads
• Artlist — $9.99/month for social media creators
• AudioJungle — Pay-per-track (starts at $1)

Pro tip: Always check licensing terms before using music in commercial or monetized videos.

Best Practices for Adding Music to Videos

1. Balance Audio Levels

Don’t let music overpower dialogue or important sounds. Aim for:

• Music: 20–40% volume when dialogue is present
• Music: 60–80% volume for background or B-roll
• Dialogue: Always clear and prominent

2. Use Fade In/Fade Out

Abrupt music starts and stops feel jarring. Apply 2–3 second fades for smooth transitions.

3. Match Music to Mood

• Upbeat, energetic — Vlogs, travel, sports
• Calm, ambient — Tutorials, meditation, nature
• Dramatic, cinematic — Trailers, commercials, storytelling
• Trendy, pop — TikTok, Instagram Reels

4. Sync Beats with Cuts

For maximum impact, align music beats with video cuts or transitions. This creates a professional, rhythmic flow.

5. Avoid Copyright Strikes

• Don’t use copyrighted music without permission
• Check licenses even for “free” music
• Give credit when required by Creative Commons licenses

6. Preview on Different Devices

Audio that sounds great on headphones may be too loud or quiet on phone speakers. Test before publishing.

How to Add Music to Videos for Different Platforms

Instagram Reels & TikTok:

• Use trending sounds from the platform’s library for better reach
• Keep music short and punchy (15–60 seconds)
• Sync with transitions for engaging content

YouTube:

• Use royalty-free music to avoid copyright claims
• Add volume ducking to lower music during dialogue
• Include music credits in description

Facebook & Instagram Stories:

• Use Facebook Sound Collection for safe, free music
• Keep videos under 15 seconds for Stories
• Add captions since many watch without sound

Professional Videos (Weddings, Commercials):

• Use licensed music from Epidemic Sound or Artlist
• Apply professional audio mixing in DaVinci Resolve
• Export in high-quality audio formats (AAC, 320kbps)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Using copyrighted music without permission
❌ Music too loud, drowning out dialogue
❌ Abrupt music starts/stops without fades
❌ Music doesn’t match video mood
❌ Forgetting to check audio on phone speakers
❌ Not crediting Creative Commons music when required
❌ Using low-quality audio files (below 128kbps)

FAQ: Adding Music to Videos

Can I add music to a video for free?

Yes! Apps like CapCut, iMovie, InShot, and DaVinci Resolve are completely free. Many offer royalty-free music libraries.

How do I add music to a video on my phone?

Use CapCut, iMovie (iPhone), or InShot. All have simple “Add Audio” buttons and built-in music libraries.

What’s the best app to add music to videos?

• Best overall: CapCut (free, powerful, cross-platform)
• Best for iPhone: iMovie (built-in, free)
• Best for professionals: DaVinci Resolve (free, industry-standard)

Can I add Spotify music to my videos?

Technically yes, but Spotify music is copyrighted. Your video may be muted or removed on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Use royalty-free music instead.

How do I add music without covering the original audio?

Lower the music volume to 20–40% and adjust the original audio to stay prominent. Most video editors have separate volume controls for each audio track.

Can I add multiple songs to one video?

Yes! Most editors let you add multiple audio tracks. Just drag each song to the timeline where you want it to play.

How do I make music fade out at the end of a video?

Select the audio track, find the fade out or audio transition option, and apply it to the last 2–3 seconds.

Where can I find trending TikTok sounds?

Open TikTok or CapCut, browse the Sounds library, and filter by trending. You can then use those sounds in your videos.

Conclusion

Adding music to videos in 2026 has never been easier.
Whether you’re editing on your phone with CapCut, using iMovie on iPhone, or going professional with DaVinci Resolve, you have powerful tools at your fingertips.

Key takeaways:

• Use royalty-free music to avoid copyright issues
• Balance music and dialogue volume carefully
• Apply fades for smooth transitions
• Match music mood to your video’s purpose
• Test audio on multiple devices before publishing

Ready to elevate your videos with the perfect soundtrack?
Choose your tool, grab some great music, and start creating!

Need to prepare your video first? Try these tools:
Compress video • Convert video format • Remove original audio