In this guide
Add a music clip on a separate timeline layer, place and trim it to fit the video, then listen to it alongside the original audio. Muting the video also mutes any speech or scene sounds baked into it.
To add music to a CapCut video, create a project, put your video on the timeline and add a track from Audio. Move the music to the desired starting point, trim its length and lower it until the speech is easy to understand. Preview the ending and export the video. You can also import an audio file you have permission to use.
The original video's sound and the new music are different layers. Decide whether to keep the original dialogue and ambience before changing the video's volume: muting a clip mutes everything recorded in its soundtrack.
Add music in CapCut on iPhone or Android
- Start a project. Open the mobile app, create a project and choose your video. Place the playhead where you want the music to begin.
- Choose Audio. Tap Audio in the bottom toolbar and choose a music track. CapCut's mobile instructions describe adding a soundtrack from this toolbar. The exact labels and available tracks can vary by app version and region.
- Fit the track. Select the new audio layer and adjust its position and length. Trim or split it where needed; leave enough time for a natural ending rather than cutting abruptly in the middle of a phrase.
- Balance the sound. Play the loudest music passage with the quietest spoken line. Select the music layer and lower its volume until the words are clear. Keep the original clip audible if you need its speech or ambient sound.
- Export and review. Preview the beginning, a speech-heavy passage and the ending. Export the video, then play the saved file on your phone to check the mix.
Add music on CapCut Desktop or Web
- Import and place the video. On desktop, create a project, select Import and add your footage to the timeline. CapCut's desktop guide describes the import and Audio menus.
- Add a library track. Open Audio → Music, choose a track and add it to the timeline. To use your own audio, import a local file through the media area and place it under the video. CapCut also documents this own-music workflow on the web.
- Set timing and volume. Drag the audio clip to its start point; trim it to fit the edit. Adjust its volume and use a short fade where available. If the track needs to continue across several video clips, keep it on its own layer and check the transition between clips.
- Export the video. Check your chosen export settings, save the video and play the exported file. Confirm that the music begins and ends where intended and that dialogue remains intelligible.
Using your own song or recording
Use an accessible audio file rather than assuming a song available for streaming can be imported as an editable file. A download for offline listening in a streaming app may not be a transferable audio file. Obtain a file and the permissions needed for the edit and the places where you intend to publish it. Availability in an editor or a music library does not automatically grant every use; check the track's license and the destination platform's rules.
If the file contains a long introduction, prepare a shorter excerpt with the audio trimmer for a supported mono or stereo MP3 or WAV up to five minutes and 50 MiB, then import the downloaded result. WAV output also has a 50 MiB limit. Keep the original and note the excerpt's start point if you need to recreate the timing. Alternatively, trim within CapCut and retain the full source file in your project.
Keep dialogue clear under music
Start by lowering the music, not by raising a distorted voice. Listen on both headphones and a phone speaker; a track that sounds subtle on headphones can still mask words on a small speaker. For narration with changing music levels, see how audio ducking works. Where a voiceover is separate, adjust it and the music independently.
If the original video already contains unwanted music mixed with speech, adding another song can make the mix harder to understand. First look for the original clean microphone recording. Otherwise, compare a short passage with the voice isolator, listening for missing words or music bleed before using the result. Saturalabs AI downloads require an account and sufficient credits; the cost appears in the download dialog. Replacing the original soundtrack with an isolated voice can also remove wanted ambience. Check alignment and mute duplicate audio after importing the result.
Common problems
Why can I hear two songs?
The original video may already contain music, or two music clips may overlap. Solo or mute layers one at a time to identify the source. If the original music and speech share one soundtrack, muting that clip removes both; see the CapCut music-removal guide for options.
Why is my imported music missing?
Check that you imported the actual audio file, added it to the timeline and did not mute the track. Play the source file separately to verify it works. If a file is unsupported or protected, use an accessible compatible copy you have permission to edit.
Will adding a song remove the video's original audio?
No. Adding a music layer normally leaves the source clip's soundtrack in the mix. Adjust the original clip separately or mute it only if you do not need its dialogue and other sound.