How to Use Trending Sounds on TikTok and Reels
How to find trending sounds on TikTok and Instagram Reels early, decide which ones fit your account, use them so the video still stands on its own, and stay within music rights.
A trending sound is audio many people are using at the same time. Joining a trend can help a video get discovered, because viewers who enjoy that sound may see more videos using it.
But a sound won't carry a bad video, and a trend that doesn't fit your account confuses your audience. The skill is picking the right sounds early and using them well.
Where to find trending sounds
| Where | What you get | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Your own For You / Reels feed | Sounds your audience is hearing now | Scroll in your niche, save sounds you see repeatedly |
| TikTok's sound library / trending list | Popular and rising sounds | Shown in the app when adding a sound |
| Reels audio pages | How many Reels use a sound; some show a rising arrow | Labels vary by app version |
| TikTok Creative Center | Trending songs and hashtags for advertisers | Availability differs by country |
| Creators in your niche | Which sounds fit your audience | Watch, don't copy their videos |
Early vs late in a trend
A sound used by a moderate number of videos and growing is often more useful than one used by millions, where your video competes with a huge pile. Late in a trend, viewers have seen the joke many times. Save promising sounds when you first spot them, then decide quickly.
- Early: the sound keeps appearing in your feed, uses are climbing. Good moment.
- Peak: everyone is using it. Only join with a strong, original angle.
- Late: the format feels tired. Skip, or use the sound in a way that surprises.
Does this sound fit your account?
Ask three questions before using a sound:
- 1Can I make a video with it that matches my account's theme?
- 2Is the original meaning of the trend safe and within the platform's rules?
- 3Will the video still make sense to someone who doesn't know the trend?
If any answer is no, skip it. Following one trend that doesn't fit can bring views from the wrong audience, and those viewers won't click your link.
Using a sound well
- Add the sound inside the app, so the video is linked to the sound's page and can be found from there.
- Lower the sound's volume if you talk over it, instead of fighting it.
- Cut your clips to the beat; edits that land on the beat feel professional (short video editing tips).
- Put your own angle in the first second, not the same opening everyone uses.
- Keep on-screen text so the video works with sound off too.
Music rights and business accounts
Sounds in the apps' libraries are licensed for use on that platform, but business accounts often get a smaller commercial library, and some songs aren't available for promotional use. If you can't find a song on a business account, that's usually why. Don't download a song and paste it into a video to get around this: it can get the video muted or removed.
If you promote music, trending sounds are your whole game: getting an artist's track to become a sound people use. See how to promote music on TikTok and the TikTok earning page. An AMZA Wingman on the music program can tell you which tracks are being pushed this week.
FAQ
Do trending sounds boost views on TikTok?+
They can help discovery, because people who like a sound may be shown more videos with it. They don't save a video people swipe away from.
How do I know if a sound is trending?+
You keep hearing it in your feed, the number of videos using it climbs, and the app may mark it as trending or rising.
Can business accounts use trending sounds?+
Often only from a commercial library. Some popular songs aren't available to business accounts for licensing reasons.
Should I use the sound at full volume?+
Only if the sound is the content. If you're talking, lower it so your voice is clear.
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