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To add music to a video, put a music file or approved library track on an audio track, line it up with the picture, adjust its length and volume, then preview and export. If the video is already published on YouTube, use YouTube Studio on a computer instead: its Editor can add a track to the existing upload. The right route depends on whether you are editing a project or changing a published video—and whether the music license covers where you plan to post it.
Which way should you add music?
Use a video editor for a video project you are still assembling; use YouTube Studio’s desktop Editor to add music to an eligible video that is already on YouTube. YouTube Create is another option for building or editing a mobile project with supported music sources.
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| Route | Best for | Where it works | Music options | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video editor project | A video that has not been published yet, or a new export | Depends on the editor | A track you can legally use, added as an audio track | Check the track’s license for each destination; controls vary by editor |
| YouTube Studio Editor | Adding music to an existing YouTube upload | Desktop browser in YouTube Studio | YouTube Audio Library | Video must be shorter than six hours; some high-view videos may not be saveable |
| YouTube Create | Editing a mobile project | Supported Android phones and iPhones | Shorts Audio Library, royalty-free tracks, device audio, and sound effects | Availability depends on supported device requirements and listed regions |
The comparison is about workflow, not a claim that one music catalog clears a track for every service. YouTube describes its Audio Library’s copyright-safety scope as YouTube-specific, while Adobe’s FAQ summarizes several social platforms’ libraries as platform-specific.
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Start by asking two questions: is the video an editable project or an upload that is already live, and where will the finished video appear? The first determines whether you need a project timeline or YouTube Studio’s post-upload Editor. The second determines which music permissions to check. A track available inside one app may be convenient for that app’s workflow, but availability alone does not establish that it can travel with an export to another service.
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How do I add music while editing a video?
For a project you are editing, the general process is to import or choose a track, add it to the timeline, align and trim it, balance it with speech or the original audio, preview the mix, and export. Exact buttons and labels differ between apps; the steps below describe the editing decisions rather than a particular editor’s interface.
- Choose music that fits the destination. Before editing, identify where the video will be published and whether it is commercial or monetized. A track appearing in an app or being called “royalty-free” does not, by itself, establish permission for every platform or use. If the video will be posted in several places, check that the license covers each destination instead of relying on the library’s name.
- Import or select the track. Use an audio file you are licensed to use, or choose music from a library whose terms cover your intended use. In YouTube Create, tap Sound, then browse or search the Shorts Audio Library, royalty-free music, sound effects, or audio saved on the device; preview a selection and add it to the project. Device audio is a source option, not proof that you have permission to publish the recording.
- Add it as an audio track. In an editor with a timeline, place the music on an audio track beneath the video. This keeps the music separate from the picture so you can move, trim, or adjust it without changing the visuals. If the project already contains narration, dialogue, or ambient sound, keep those elements in mind while deciding where the music should sit.
- Position the start. Drag the track so it begins where you want the music to enter. It may start at the opening, after an introduction, or at a later transition. Preview the beginning to check that the music does not arrive too early or interrupt speech. Also check the join if the track starts partway through the video: it should feel intentional in context.
- Trim the duration. Shorten the track to fit the sequence, or split and reposition it if your editor allows. Check the final seconds: the music should end intentionally rather than cut off unexpectedly. If the editor offers a fade control, use a fade where it suits the edit; the available controls depend on the app. Do not assume every editor provides the same trimming or fade options.
- Balance music against speech and original sound. If the video contains narration, dialogue, or important ambient sound, keep those elements intelligible. Lowering the music track is often more useful than raising every other sound; listen to the full mix, not just the music by itself. The goal is to judge the combined result, since a track that sounds suitable alone may compete with speech once the elements play together.
- Preview the whole edit, then export. Listen from the opening through the ending, checking transitions, speech clarity, and the music’s start and finish. Export only after the mix sounds right, and retain the project if you may need to revise it. Keeping the editable project also leaves you with a way to adjust the music later rather than treating the exported file as the only version.
These are general editing steps, not universal button instructions. If a particular editor does not show an audio track or music control, consult that app’s documentation rather than assuming its controls match another product. The sources here document the YouTube workflows below; they do not establish where every other editor puts its controls or what formats it accepts.
What to check before exporting
Before you finish, confirm that the track is the one you intended to use and that its license permits the planned use. Then watch and listen through the complete sequence rather than checking only a short excerpt. Pay particular attention to the music’s entrance and ending, any transition where the track changes, and moments when speech or original audio needs to remain clear. If you are preparing versions for more than one service, check the permissions for each version before using the same music in all of them.
How do I add music to a video already uploaded to YouTube?
Use YouTube Studio’s Editor on a computer. YouTube says the mobile YouTube app can no longer change a video’s audio track through this workflow.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer.
- Open Content, select the video, and choose Editor.
- Select Audio. Search or browse available tracks and preview them before adding one.
- Add the track, then adjust its start point and duration to fit the video.
- Review the result carefully and save the edit.
The Studio Editor workflow applies to videos shorter than six hours. YouTube also warns that videos with more than 100,000 views may not be saveable through the Editor, except for creators in the YouTube Partner Program. Treat saving as a consequential step: YouTube’s Help page notes that Revert to original is unavailable after saving in Studio Editor as of June 2025. Preview the edit before you commit it.
This edits the existing YouTube video rather than requiring you to replace it with a newly exported upload. It is a different workflow from adding music to an editing project, where the track is mixed and exported before publication. If the video is not eligible to save through the Editor, the cited guidance does not establish an alternative way to make this particular edit in the mobile YouTube app; do not assume the mobile app has the same audio-change controls.
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Because the change is applied to an existing upload, listen to the preview with the video’s current sound in mind. Check that the added track starts and ends where intended and that it does not obscure audio you want viewers to hear. Since the Help page says the original cannot be restored through the stated revert feature after saving, make this review part of the decision to save, not a step to skip.
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YouTube Create lets you add music while working on a mobile project. Open the project, tap Sound, browse or search the available audio, preview a track, and add it to the edit. The choices listed by YouTube include the Shorts Audio Library, royalty-free tracks, sound effects, and audio stored on the device.
YouTube lists support for Android phones with at least 4 GB of RAM and iPhone XR or later running iOS 17 or later. Availability is also limited to the countries and regions listed by YouTube. These are compatibility and availability conditions, not a guarantee that every track is licensed for every use or destination. For current app availability and requirements, consult YouTube’s Add & edit audio guidance.
If the app or a particular audio source is not available on your phone, check the listed device and regional requirements rather than assuming an older or unsupported device will have the same options. The phone thresholds describe app compatibility; they are not a recommendation for a specific model or a promise about editing performance. You do not need a specific accessory to add music—the workflow is software-based.
Where can I find music that is safe to use?
For YouTube uploads, start with YouTube’s Audio Library in YouTube Studio and read the license information for each track. YouTube says its Audio Library music and sound effects are copyright-safe on YouTube; it does not extend that assurance to other libraries or channels.
In the Audio Library, search by track title, artist, or keyword, and filter by genre, mood, artist, attribution, or duration. These filters help narrow the catalog to tracks that fit the edit, but the attribution information still needs to be checked for the chosen track. Some tracks require attribution. Check the attribution column, and when required, copy the supplied wording into the video description. You can also filter for standard Audio Library-license tracks that do not require attribution. YouTube says YouTube Partner Program creators can monetize videos using Audio Library music and sound effects.
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The scope matters: YouTube states, “Only music and sound effects from the Audio Library are known to YouTube to be copyright-safe.” That is a YouTube-specific statement, not legal advice or a guarantee for exporting the same video elsewhere. Its Audio Library guidance says it cannot guarantee music from other libraries or channels is copyright-safe and does not provide legal guidance for off-platform use.
Adobe’s music licensing FAQ summarizes TikTok’s Commercial Music Library as cleared for TikTok, YouTube’s Audio Library for YouTube, and Meta Sound Collection for Facebook and Instagram. Treat that as a platform-specific summary, not permission to cross-post. For commercial publishing or multiple destinations, check the actual license for the specific track, account, region, and intended use. A separately licensed catalog may be more suitable, but read its track-level terms rather than relying on a general label such as “royalty-free.”
Adobe Stock Audio is described in the FAQ as an option for commercially safe music. That description is not a substitute for reading the license for an individual track, and it does not establish a particular price or detailed permission for a specific project. Verify the actual terms for the track and use you have in mind.
What “safe” does—and does not—tell you
For this workflow, “safe” needs a destination and a use attached to it. A library’s permission may be limited to its own platform; a license may also have conditions such as attribution. Do not infer that a track is cleared for commercial use, monetization, or a different social platform just because an app lets you select it. When the planned use is commercial or spans multiple platforms, confirm the exact license rather than relying on a broad description of a music collection.
How should I choose the right workflow?
Choose based on the state of the video and where it will be published. These decisions help avoid redoing the edit or relying on a music permission that does not cover the final destination.
- The video is still a project: Add the music in your editor, then preview the complete mix and export. This gives you control of the track in the project timeline.
- The video is already on YouTube: Use Studio’s desktop Editor if the video meets its duration and save conditions. Do not look for the same audio-change workflow in the YouTube mobile app.
- You want to edit on a phone: YouTube Create is an option if your device and region meet YouTube’s stated requirements. Its listed sources include device audio and platform libraries, but each track’s terms still matter.
- You will post to more than one service: Do not assume a platform’s in-app library clears the track for another platform. Check the specific license or use music licensed for the destinations you plan to use.
- You need monetization or commercial use: For YouTube, YouTube specifically says Partner Program creators can monetize videos using Audio Library tracks and effects. Do not generalize that permission to other libraries, platforms, or uses.
- The track requires attribution: Include the library’s supplied credit text where it directs you to. Attribution is a condition to follow, not a reason to ignore other license restrictions.
There is no single “best” route independent of those choices. A new project gives you the flexibility to adjust and export the mix in an editor; a post-upload change uses YouTube Studio’s narrower set of documented options. A phone workflow may be convenient if YouTube Create is available on your device and in your region. None of those workflow advantages changes the need to check the track’s license against the intended use.
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How we picked the workflows
This guide focuses on the two situations in the title’s search intent: adding music to a project before publication and changing audio on a video already uploaded to YouTube. YouTube Create is included as a documented mobile-project route. The comparison distinguishes the workflow, supported audio sources, and stated restrictions; it does not rank unrelated video editors or imply that one platform’s library grants rights elsewhere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does giving attribution mean I can use any song?
No. Attribution is required only when the track’s terms say so, and crediting an artist does not replace permission to use the recording. Check the license for the track and the destination where you will publish.
Can I monetize a YouTube video with music from the Audio Library?
YouTube says creators in the YouTube Partner Program can monetize videos that use Audio Library music and sound effects. That permission is specific to the Audio Library and YouTube; it does not establish monetization rights for another music source or service.
Can I use a YouTube Audio Library track in a video I post somewhere else?
YouTube’s copyright-safety assurance is limited to YouTube, and YouTube says it cannot guarantee the safety of music from other libraries or channels. Check the actual track license for the other destination before using it there.
Can I change the music on a YouTube video from my phone?
YouTube says the mobile YouTube app can no longer change the audio track through this workflow. For an existing upload, use the documented YouTube Studio Editor on a computer, subject to its video and save limitations.
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The video must be shorter than six hours. YouTube also says videos with more than 100,000 views may not be saveable through the Editor, except for creators in the YouTube Partner Program.
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Can I undo the change after saving in YouTube Studio?
YouTube’s Help page notes that the Revert to original feature is unavailable after saving in Studio Editor as of June 2025. Review the edit carefully before saving.
What phone do I need for YouTube Create?
YouTube lists Android phones with at least 4 GB of RAM and iPhone XR or later running iOS 17 or later. The app is also limited to the countries and regions listed by YouTube, so check its current availability guidance.
Does “royalty-free” mean I can post the track anywhere?
No. A general label does not establish permission for every destination or use. Adobe’s FAQ summarizes several platform music collections as platform-specific; check the exact track license for your destination and intended use.
Do I need to buy a particular phone or accessory to add music?
No specific phone model or accessory is required by the general editing workflow. YouTube Create does have stated device thresholds, but those describe compatibility rather than recommending a device. Adding music is primarily a software workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does giving attribution mean I can use any song?
No. Attribution is required only when the track’s terms say so, and crediting an artist does not replace permission to use the recording. Check the license for the track and the destination where you will publish.
Can I monetize a YouTube video with music from the Audio Library?
YouTube says creators in the YouTube Partner Program can monetize videos that use Audio Library music and sound effects. That permission is specific to the Audio Library and YouTube; it does not establish monetization rights for another music source or service.
Can I use a YouTube Audio Library track in a video I post somewhere else?
YouTube’s copyright-safety assurance is limited to YouTube, and YouTube says it cannot guarantee the safety of music from other libraries or channels. Check the actual track license for the other destination before using it there.
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YouTube says the mobile YouTube app can no longer change the audio track through this workflow. For an existing upload, use the documented YouTube Studio Editor on a computer, subject to its video and save limitations.
How long can an uploaded video be for the Studio Editor workflow?
The video must be shorter than six hours. YouTube also says videos with more than 100,000 views may not be saveable through the Editor, except for creators in the YouTube Partner Program.
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