How to Add Lyrics to TikTok Videos

TikTok has become one of the most popular platforms for music and creativity. Millions of users use songs to express their moods, emotions, or stories — and adding lyrics to your TikTok videos can make your content more engaging and meaningful. Whether you’re lip-syncing, creating a music edit, or sharing an emotional clip, on-screen lyrics help viewers connect more deeply with your content.

This article explains, step by step, how to add lyrics to TikTok videos — both directly in the app and through third-party tools — along with tips to make them look professional and eye-catching.

Why Add Lyrics to TikTok Videos?

Adding lyrics enhances your videos in several ways. It helps your audience follow along with the song, even if the audio isn’t very clear. It also allows people watching without sound to understand the message of your video.

Moreover, lyric videos perform well on TikTok because:

• They increase viewer engagement and watch time.
• They make videos more expressive and relatable.
• They improve accessibility for users with hearing challenges.
• They can set your videos apart from others using the same sound.

Step 1: Choose a Song for Your TikTok Video

Before adding lyrics, you need to choose a song to use in your video.

1. Open the TikTok app.
2. Tap the “+” button to create a new video.
3. Tap “Add sound” at the top of the screen.
4. Search for your desired song and preview it.
5. Tap the checkmark to confirm your selection.

You can also record a video first and then add a song from TikTok’s library during the editing process.

Step 2: Record or Upload Your Video

Once you have selected your sound, record your video by pressing and holding the red record button. Alternatively, you can upload an existing video from your gallery by tapping Upload.

Ensure your video matches the rhythm of the song if you’re lip-syncing or performing actions in sync with the music.

Step 3: Add On-Screen Text for Lyrics

After recording or uploading your video, follow these steps to add the lyrics manually:

1. Tap the “Text” icon (Aa) at the bottom of the editing screen.
2. Type the lyrics for the first line of your song.
3. Customize the text style, color, and font to fit your video’s mood.
4. Tap Done to place the lyrics where you want them on the screen.
5. Adjust the text timing by tapping the text, selecting “Set duration,” and syncing it to the right part of the song.
6. Repeat this process for each line or section of the lyrics.

While it may take time, this method allows you to precisely control how each lyric appears, creating a smooth, karaoke-style effect.

Step 4: Sync Lyrics with Music Timing

Perfect timing makes all the difference in lyric videos. To make sure your text aligns with the song’s rhythm:

• Use TikTok’s trimming tools to cut the sound to the exact part you need.
• Tap “Set duration” for each text line and move the slider to match when each lyric is sung.
• Re-watch your video to make small timing adjustments until everything flows naturally.

If you’re adding many lyrics, it’s best to keep them short so viewers can read them easily before the next line appears.

Step 5: Use Third-Party Apps for Automatic Lyrics (Optional)

If you want a faster and more professional look, you can use third-party editing apps that automatically add and sync lyrics to music.

Popular options include:

• CapCut – Offers a built-in auto-caption feature that detects the lyrics from your chosen song or voice recording and displays them in text format.
• InShot – Allows you to add and time lyrics manually with more control over text animations.
• VEED.IO – A web-based tool that adds auto-generated captions or lyrics directly to videos.
• Lyrical Video Maker – Specifically designed for adding animated lyrics and text effects.

Once you’ve created your lyric video in one of these apps, simply export it and upload it to TikTok.

Step 6: Add Effects and Filters

To make your lyric video more visually appealing, use TikTok’s built-in effects and filters. You can:

• Add glow or shadow effects to text for readability.
• Use motion effects so lyrics appear dynamically.
• Apply color filters to match the mood of the song.

You can also use TikTok’s Auto Captions feature (found under “Captions” in editing tools) if you’re using your own voice or a recorded song — this automatically generates lyrics from audio speech or singing.

Step 7: Post and Optimize Your Video

Once your lyrics are in place and the video looks perfect:

1. Tap Next.
2. Write a catchy caption and add relevant hashtags (like #LyricsVideo, #SingAlong, or #MusicTok).
3. Tag the song using the “Add sound” feature to make it discoverable.
4. Choose your privacy settings and tap Post.

Your lyric video is now live and ready to reach music lovers across TikTok.

ALSO READ: How to add a caption on TikTok