The simplest way: use YouTube's built-in audio library

YouTube gives you a free music library directly inside the platform, and it requires no read or external software. After you upload a video but before you publish it, go to the YouTube Studio dashboard, click on your video, and select the "Audio" tab on the left. You will see a search box and a list of free tracks organized by mood, genre, and length. Search for the sound you want, preview it by clicking the play button, and click "Add to video" when you find one that fits. The music will layer under your existing audio — you can adjust how loud the music is compared to your voice or original sound using the volume slider.

This method works best when you have not yet published the video, though you can add or swap music on a video that is already live. The library contains thousands of tracks, and YouTube tells you which ones are free to use without crediting the artist (most are). If you use a track that requires attribution, YouTube will add the credit automatically in the description.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube's audio library is free and built into YouTube Studio, requiring no separate software or downloads.
  • You can add music before publishing or edit an already-published video to swap or adjust the soundtrack.
  • If you have music on your computer, you can upload it as a separate audio track using YouTube's audio upload feature, though this requires a few extra steps.
  • Most music from YouTube's library is free to use without crediting the artist, but some tracks require attribution that YouTube adds automatically.
  • You can control how loud the music is relative to your original audio, so voices or dialogue stay clear.

Adding music you already own or downloaded

If you have an audio file on your computer — a song you recorded, a royalty-free track you bought, or music you downloaded legally — you can upload it directly to YouTube. Open YouTube Studio, select your video, and go to the "Audio" tab. Click "Upload audio" at the top of the page. Select the file from your computer (YouTube accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, and other common formats). The file will upload and appear as a separate track in your video editor.

Once the audio is uploaded, you can position it to start at any point in your video and adjust its volume just like library music. If you upload your own music, you are responsible for making sure you have the right to use it — YouTube will not remove it automatically, but the copyright holder can claim it later and take revenue from your video or block it in certain countries.

Editing music timing and volume in YouTube Studio

After you add music (whether from the library or your own file), you can fine-tune how it sounds. In the audio editor, you will see a timeline showing your original audio and your music track as separate layers. Click on the music track to select it, then use the volume slider to make it quieter or louder. If your video has dialogue or voiceover, lower the music volume so people can hear what is being said.

To make the music start at a specific moment instead of the beginning, click and drag the music track along the timeline. You can also trim the music by dragging the edges of the track inward — this is useful if a song is longer than your video or if you want it to fade out before the video ends. These edits happen inside YouTube Studio and do not require downloading or re-uploading your video.

Using external editing software before uploading

If you want more control over how music blends with your video — for example, adding fade-in and fade-out effects, or layering multiple songs — you can edit the audio before you upload to YouTube. Software like DaVinci Resolve (free), CapCut (free), or Adobe Premiere Pro (paid subscription) lets you import your video, add music from your computer, adjust volume, and create smooth transitions between tracks.

The advantage of editing before upload is that you can hear exactly how the final video will sound and make changes without re-uploading. The disadvantage is that it takes longer and requires learning the software. For most videos, YouTube's built-in tools are enough — you only need external software if you are doing something like mixing multiple songs, adding sound effects, or creating precise timing for music cues.

Avoiding copyright strikes when adding music

YouTube's audio library is the safest choice because all tracks there are cleared for use. If you use music from outside the library — a song from Spotify, Apple Music, or a commercial release — YouTube's system will detect it and either block your video in some countries, mute the audio, or let the copyright holder claim the revenue from your video. This is called a copyright claim, and it does not always mean your video gets taken down, but it does mean you lose money if your video makes any.

If you want to use music that is not in YouTube's library, look for royalty-free music sites like Pixabay, Pexels, or Epidemic Sound, where you can read tracks legally for a small fee or free. Read the license for each track to confirm you can use it on YouTube — most royalty-free sites allow it, but some have restrictions. Always keep a record of where you got the music and what the license says, in case YouTube asks.

Replacing or removing music from a published video

If your video is already live and you want to change the music, go back to YouTube Studio, select the video, and open the "Audio" tab. You can remove the current music by clicking the trash icon next to it, then add new music using the same steps as before. YouTube will process the change within a few minutes, and viewers will hear the new version when they watch.

If YouTube has claimed the music (meaning the copyright holder is taking revenue), removing it will stop the claim. This is useful if you realize the music is causing problems or if you want to replace it with something from the library instead. The video itself does not need to be re-uploaded — only the audio changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add music to a video after I publish it?

Yes. Go to YouTube Studio, select the video, click the "Audio" tab, and add or swap music the same way you would before publishing. YouTube will update the video within a few minutes, and new viewers will hear the new version. People who watched it before the change will not see the update.

What if YouTube says my music has a copyright claim?

A copyright claim means the copyright holder has been notified and may take revenue from your video. It does not automatically mean your video is blocked. You can either accept the claim (the copyright holder gets the money), dispute it if you believe you have the right to use the music, or remove the music and replace it with something from YouTube's library.

Can I use music from Spotify or Apple Music in my YouTube video?

Technically you can upload it, but YouTube will detect it and the copyright holder will claim it. You will not be able to monetize the video, and it may be blocked in some countries. Use royalty-free music sites or YouTube's library instead to avoid this.

How do I make sure the music does not drown out my voiceover?

In the audio editor, select the music track and lower its volume using the slider. A good starting point is around 30 to 50 percent volume for background music, but adjust it until you can hear both the music and your voice clearly when you play it back.

Do I have to credit the artist if I use music from YouTube's library?

Most tracks in YouTube's library are free to use without credit. When you add a track, YouTube will tell you if credit is required. If it is, YouTube adds the credit to your video description automatically — you do not have to do anything.