You can change the music on a TikTok post, but only before you publish it
Once you hit the post button, the music is locked in. TikTok does not let you swap out the audio track on a video that is already live. If you want different music on a video you have already published, you will need to delete the original post and upload it again with new audio.
The good news: changing music before you post takes about 30 seconds. The process is straightforward and works the same way whether you are recording a new video or uploading one from your phone's camera roll.
Key Takeaways
- You can only change music before publishing — once a post goes live, the audio is permanent and you cannot edit it without deleting and re-uploading.
- To change music during the editing phase, tap the music icon at the bottom of the screen and select a new track from TikTok's library.
- If you have already posted the video, delete it from your profile, re-upload it, and add different music before publishing again.
- Removing music entirely is possible — you can mute the original audio and post with no sound, or add only background music without the original recording.
How to change music before you publish
After you record or select a video from your camera roll, you will see the editing screen. At the bottom of the screen, you will see several icons. Tap the one that looks like a musical note or says "Sounds" — the exact label depends on your TikTok version, but it is always at the bottom center area.
A menu will open showing the current audio track. Tap "Change sound" or "Replace sound." TikTok will take you to its sound library, where you can search by song name, artist, or browse trending audio. Select the track you want, and it will replace the original music when ready. You can preview the new audio by tapping the play button before you post.
If you want to remove music entirely, look for a "Mute" or "Remove sound" option on the same menu. Some users also choose to keep the original audio but layer a new track on top — tap "Add sound" instead of "Change sound" to do this.
What to do if you have already posted the video
If the video is already live on your profile, you cannot edit the audio directly. You will need to delete the post first. Go to your profile, find the video, tap the three dots in the corner, and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion.
Once it is deleted, you can re-upload the same video file. Open TikTok, start a new post, and select the video from your camera roll. Follow the editing steps above to add the new music you want. The re-uploaded version will appear as a new post with a new timestamp, so your followers will see it as a fresh upload.
Keep in mind that any likes, comments, or shares on the original post will be lost when you delete it. If the video has significant engagement, you may want to weigh whether changing the music is worth losing that history.
Finding the right music in TikTok's library
TikTok's sound library is enormous, and the search function is the fastest way to find what you need. Type the song name, artist name, or a keyword like "upbeat" or "sad" into the search box. Results will show the most popular versions of that sound first.
You can also browse trending sounds by scrolling through the "Discover" or "For You" section of the sounds menu. These change constantly, so if you see audio you like while scrolling your main feed, you can tap the sound name at the bottom of the video to add it to your post. Pay attention to the sound's popularity — tracks with millions of uses are usually trending, which can help your video reach more people.
Adjusting volume and layering audio
Once you have selected new music, you can adjust how loud it plays. Look for a volume slider or audio mixer on the editing screen — this lets you turn the new music up or down relative to any original audio from your video. If you recorded yourself speaking or singing, you can lower the music to keep your voice audible, or mute the original audio entirely so only the new track plays.
Some TikTok versions also let you add multiple audio tracks at once. If you want background music plus a voiceover, add the background track first, then tap "Add sound" again to layer a second audio file on top. You can adjust each track's volume separately.
Why TikTok locks audio after posting
TikTok's design prevents editing audio after a post goes live because of how the platform handles music rights and licensing. When you post a video with a particular song, TikTok logs that pairing for royalty and copyright tracking. Changing the audio after the fact would create confusion about which artist should be credited and paid.
This is also why some sounds are region-locked or unavailable in certain countries — TikTok's licensing agreements vary by location. If you cannot find a song you want to use, it may not be licensed for your region, and there is no way around that restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the music on a TikTok post that someone else made?
No. You can only edit audio on videos you created yourself. If you want to use someone else's video with different music, you would need to read it, re-upload it as your own, and add new audio — though this may violate TikTok's terms depending on the original creator's settings.
What if the music I want is not in TikTok's library?
TikTok's library is limited to licensed tracks. If a song is not available, it means TikTok does not have the rights to use it. You cannot upload your own audio files to TikTok directly. Your only option is to choose from the available sounds or record your own voiceover instead.
Will changing the music affect my video's reach?
Deleting and re-uploading will reset your post's engagement history and timestamp, so it will not have the same visibility as the original. However, using trending audio on the new version may help it reach new viewers. If the original post had significant engagement, consider whether the music change is worth starting over.
Can I mute the original audio and add only music?
Yes. During editing, mute the original sound, then add the new music track. This works well if you recorded video without sound or want to replace dialogue with a song.