How to Add Music to a Video Using YouTube Editor

The right music may attract and keep your video viewers' attention.
... Leah-Anne Thompson/iStock/Getty Images

Even after you've uploaded your video to YouTube, it's not too late to do something to enhance its appeal. For example, you can use the Video Editor tool to add music from YouTube's large library of royalty-free music to videos with no audio, or replace your existing soundtrack with something more appropriate. You can't use the Video Editor, however, to add one song on top of another or on top of your video's original soundtrack.

1 Using Video Editor

2 Sign in to your YouTube account

Sign in to your YouTube account. Click "Upload" and then the Video editor "Edit" button.

3 Select the video

Select the video you want to add music to.

4 Click the Audio button

Click the "Audio" button to display the list of tracks you can select from. You can also search YouTube's library for more appropriate tracks. For example, if you want blues music, type "blues" in the search box and press Enter.

5 Click and hold the mouse button

Click and hold the mouse button on the track you want to use and then drag it to the box labeled "Drag audio here."

6 Release the mouse button

Release the mouse button once you see the blue border around the box.

7 Move the slider

Move the slider beneath the video to the left if you want to lower the music's volume.

8 Click the Publish button

Click the "Publish" button to save your changes.

9 Using the Video Manager

10 Click your YouTube account user name

Click your YouTube account user name and then the "Video Manager" button.

11 Click the Edit button next

Click the "Edit" button next to the video you want to add music to.

12 Click the Audio'' button

Click the "Audio" button.

13 Select the music

Select the music you want to use from YouTube's featured tracks or search through the archive for a song that more closely matches your video's content.

14 Move the slider-2

Move the slider beneath the video to the left if you want to lower the music's volume.

15 Click Save to make your changes

Click "Save" to make your changes permanent

  • If the duration of the music you chose is less than the length of your video, you can drag additional tracks to the "Drag audio here" box. If the track is longer, however, YouTube will trim it to match your video.

Allen Bethea has written articles on programming, web design,operating systems and computer hardware since 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and AAS degrees in office technology, mechanical engineering/drafting and internet technology. Allen has extensive experience with desktop and system software for both Windows and Linux operating systems.

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