The Ultimate Guide to Using Trending Audio on TikTok (Legally)
Published on October 17, 2025
Using trending audio is the single most effective way to boost your video's visibility on the TikTok 'For You Page'. But what's the difference between sounds, and how can you use them legally? This guide breaks it down.
1. How to Find Trending Sounds
Finding what's hot is the first step. You can do this by:
- Scrolling Your 'For You Page': Pay attention to sounds that appear repeatedly. If you hear a song three or four times in a few minutes, it's likely trending.
- The 'Add Sound' Button: When creating a video, tap 'Add Sound' at the top. TikTok curates lists like 'TikTok Viral', 'New Music', and playlists specific to your region.
- Checking the Sound's Page: Tap on the spinning record icon on any video. It will take you to the sound's page, showing how many videos have been made with it. A rapidly increasing number indicates a trend.
2. Personal vs. Commercial Use: The Legal Part
This is where many creators get confused. TikTok's music library is not a free-for-all, especially for businesses.
- Personal Accounts: As a regular creator, you have access to a massive library of popular music because TikTok holds licensing agreements for personal, non-commercial use on its platform.
- Business Accounts: If you're promoting a product or your own business, you are restricted to TikTok's Commercial Music Library. This library contains over 1 million royalty-free tracks that are cleared for marketing and advertising purposes. Using a popular pop song to promote your brand can lead to your video's audio being muted or your account being flagged.
3. Best Practices for Using Audio
Simply adding a sound isn't enough. To maximize your reach, you should:
- Sync your video cuts to the beat of the music. This makes your video more satisfying to watch.
- Use the sound as intended. Many sounds are tied to a specific meme, dance, or challenge. Participating in the trend correctly shows the algorithm you're creating relevant content.
- Keep the volume audible. Even if it's just background music, don't turn it down to zero. The algorithm recognizes the audio track and categorizes your video based on it.