If you’ve uploaded a TikTok and later realized you forgot to add music, you may be wondering: how do you add music to a TikTok video after posting? Music is one of TikTok’s most important features, helping videos gain engagement, participate in trends, and capture viewers’ attention. However, TikTok has strict limitations on editing videos after they are published.
The good news is that while you cannot directly add music to a posted TikTok, there are several workarounds that can help you achieve the same result. In this guide, we’ll explain what TikTok allows, what it doesn’t, and the best ways to add music to content that has already been posted.
Can You Add Music to a TikTok After Posting?
Unfortunately, TikTok does not currently allow users to add, remove, or change music on a video once it has been published.
After posting, you generally cannot edit:
- Music or sounds
- Voiceovers
- Video clips
- Filters
- Effects
- Text overlays
Once a video goes live, TikTok treats it as a completed piece of content.
Why Doesn’t TikTok Allow Music Changes After Posting?
There are several reasons for this restriction.
Copyright Licensing
TikTok’s music library operates under licensing agreements with artists, record labels, and music publishers. Allowing users to swap audio after posting could create licensing and attribution issues.
Engagement Tracking
TikTok’s algorithm tracks:
- Views
- Watch time
- Sound usage
- Shares
- Engagement metrics
Changing audio after posting could affect how the platform evaluates content.
Content Integrity
TikTok wants viewers to see the same content that was originally published, preventing major alterations after engagement has already occurred.
How to Add Music to a Posted TikTok
Since direct editing is not available, creators typically use one of the following methods.
Method 1: Save and Re-Upload the Video
This is the most common solution.
Steps:
- Open the posted TikTok
- Tap the Share button
- Select Save Video
- Download the video to your device
- Upload it again to TikTok
- Tap Add Sound
- Choose your preferred music
- Post the updated version
This allows you to add any available TikTok sound before publishing again.
Method 2: Use the Original Draft
If you still have the draft version saved:
Steps:
- Open TikTok
- Go to your Drafts
- Select the video
- Tap Add Sound
- Choose your music
- Post the updated version
This is often the easiest option because it preserves your editing timeline.
Method 3: Edit Using a Video App
Many creators use third-party editing software before re-uploading.
Popular editing apps can:
- Add background music
- Sync audio with clips
- Improve sound quality
- Mix voiceovers and music
Once edited, the video can be uploaded as a new TikTok.
Can You Add TikTok Sounds to a Downloaded Video?
Yes.
After downloading and re-uploading:
- Upload the saved video
- Tap Add Sound
- Select a TikTok sound from the music library
- Adjust the timing
- Publish
This lets you use trending sounds even if the original upload had no music.
What Happens to the Original Video?
You have two options.
Keep It Live
Leave the original video online and post the updated version separately.
Delete the Original
Some creators remove the original video and replace it with the corrected version.
Before deleting, consider:
- Existing views
- Comments
- Likes
- Shares
These cannot be transferred to the new upload.
Will Re-Uploading Hurt Performance?
Not necessarily.
Many creators successfully:
- Repost videos with improved audio
- Fix editing mistakes
- Add captions
- Join trending sounds later
However, performance may differ because TikTok treats the re-upload as a completely new post.
Can You Mute a TikTok and Add New Music?
No.
TikTok does not currently allow users to edit a published video’s audio track.
To replace audio, you must upload a new version of the video.
Tips Before Posting TikTok Videos
Double-Check Audio
Always verify:
- Music selection
- Volume levels
- Sound timing
before publishing.
Preview the Entire Video
Watch the final version once before posting to catch mistakes.
Save Important Drafts
Keeping drafts provides flexibility if changes are needed later.
Keep a Copy of the Original File
Having a clean copy makes editing and re-uploading easier.
Common Problems
Forgot to Add Music
The best solution is usually downloading and re-uploading the video with music added.
Wrong Song Selected
TikTok does not allow audio changes after posting, so re-uploading is required.
Music Removed for Copyright Reasons
You may need to upload a new version using a licensed TikTok sound.
Can’t Save the Posted Video
If downloads are disabled, use the original file stored on your device if available.
ALSO READ: How to add an Amazon affiliate link to TikTok
