The fastest way: use the Photos app or iMovie
The easiest path is to record or import your video into the Photos app, then tap Edit and add music from there. If you want more control over where the song starts, how long it plays, or how it layers with existing audio, use iMovie instead — it's free, built into every iPhone, and handles multiple audio tracks.
Both apps let you choose from songs in your Music library or from the free music tracks included with iMovie. The main difference is that Photos gives you a quick overlay with minimal options, while iMovie lets you trim the song, adjust its volume, and position it precisely on your timeline.
Key Takeaways
- Photos app is fastest for a single song: open the video, tap Edit, select Music, and choose a track from your library or iMovie's free collection.
- iMovie gives you control over when the song starts, how long it plays, and how it mixes with the video's original sound.
- You can use any song from your Music library, but songs with DRM protection (like some Apple Music tracks) may not work in iMovie.
- Both apps save your edited video to your Photos library, and you can share it directly to social media or Messages from there.
Adding music in the Photos app
Open the Photos app and find the video you want to edit. Tap the video to play it, then tap Edit in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Music — you'll see a list of songs from your Music library, plus a section called "iMovie Music" with free background tracks.
Tap the song you want. The app will overlay it on your video at full volume, replacing any original sound. If you want to keep the video's original audio (like dialogue or ambient sound) and layer the song underneath, you'll need to use iMovie instead. Once you've chosen a song, tap Done, then tap Save to overwrite the original or Save as New Clip to keep both versions.
Using iMovie for more control
Open iMovie and tap the plus icon to create a new project, then select Movie. Choose your video from your library. Once it's on the timeline, tap the plus icon again and select Audio to add a song track.
You can choose from your Music library or from iMovie's free music collection. Tap a song to preview it, then tap the checkmark to add it. The song will appear as a separate audio track below your video on the timeline. You can now drag it left or right to change where it starts, pinch to make it shorter, and tap the volume icon to adjust how loud it is relative to the video's original sound.
If your video has dialogue or sound you want to keep, tap the video track itself and adjust its volume down so the music doesn't drown it out. When you're happy with the mix, tap Done, then tap the share icon and choose Save Video to add it to your Photos library.
What to do if your song won't appear
Songs you've purchased from the iTunes Store or added from your Music library should work in both Photos and iMovie. However, some Apple Music tracks have copy protection that prevents them from being used in video editing. If a song won't show up or won't play in your edited video, try a different track or purchase the song outright instead of streaming it.
If you've imported a song file directly onto your iPhone (through Files or email), it may not appear in the Music library. Move it to your Music app first: open Files, find the audio file, tap it, then tap Share and select Add to Music. Wait a few seconds for it to sync, then try adding it to your video again.
Exporting and sharing your video
After you've added music in Photos or iMovie, the edited video is saved to your Photos library. You can share it directly from there by tapping the share icon and selecting Messages, Mail, or a social media app. The video will export at the quality you recorded it in — usually 1080p or 4K depending on your iPhone model.
If you want to save it as a file instead of sending it immediately, tap Save Video in iMovie or Save in Photos. Both apps store the final version in your Photos library where you can find it later. You can also use AirDrop to send it to another Apple device, or upload it to cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive.
Removing or replacing the music
If you've added a song in Photos and want to change it, open the video, tap Edit, tap Music again, and select a different song. The new track will replace the old one. If you want to remove the music entirely and go back to the video's original sound, tap Music and scroll to the top — there's an option called "None" that strips out any added audio.
In iMovie, tap the audio track you want to remove and press Delete. The video's original sound will remain. If you want to replace the song, delete the current audio track and add a new one by tapping the plus icon and selecting Audio again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a song from Apple Music in my video?
Most Apple Music songs won't work in iMovie or Photos because they have copy protection. Your best option is to purchase the song from the iTunes Store instead, or use one of iMovie's free background tracks. Some artists also release their music on streaming services without protection, so you could try searching for an alternative version.
What if I want the music to fade in or out?
iMovie lets you fade audio in and out. Tap the audio track, then tap the fade icon (it looks like a speaker with lines). Drag the handles at the start and end of the track to create a fade-in or fade-out effect. Photos app doesn't have this feature — it plays the song at full volume from start to finish.
Can I add multiple songs to one video?
Yes, but only in iMovie. Tap the plus icon and select Audio multiple times to add as many tracks as you want. You can position them end-to-end so they play one after another, or overlap them. Photos app only lets you add one song per video.
Will the music stay if I share the video to social media?
Yes. Once you've saved the edited video to your Photos library, the music is baked into the file. When you share it to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or any other platform, the song will play along with the video. Some platforms may mute copyrighted music if you upload it publicly, so check the platform's rules if you're using a well-known song.
How long does it take to export a video with music?
Exporting usually takes a few seconds to a minute depending on the video's length and your iPhone's model. Longer videos or 4K footage may take longer. You can keep using your phone while it exports — the process runs in the background.