Why Can’t I Use Certain Sounds on TikTok?

A “sound on” social media platform, TikTok encourages its users to both listen and watch short online videos. Since the app promotes the use of vibrant audiovisual short pieces, it offers a large sound effects and music library to both commercial and individual users. 

While you can use the library to add the latest Kendrick Lamar or Taylor Swift track to your content, it’s important to note that there are some sounds you won’t be able to use on TikTok. Adding songs that you did not create and don’t have explicit permission to use to your TikTok video might result in a violation of copyright law. Luckily, there are a few easy fixes to this problem!

Reasons Why You Can’t Use Certain Sounds on TikTok

While you may add music you created to your TikTok video without any fear of negative outcomes, adding copyrighted music becomes a bit more complicated. 

Following are the three main reasons why you can’t use certain sounds on TikTok:

1. Licensing and Copyright Problems

It’s important to note that you can’t use songs not in the TikTok library that you haven’t paid for. If you add such songs to your content and post them online, you risk breaking copyright law, especially if the video is monetized. TikTok may remove the video from their platform, and you might even end up being sued, depending on the amount of money you made with the song. 

So, if you’re uploading and using your own music on your TikTok video, it’s best to use sounds that are royalty-free or have been licensed via a performing rights organization. 

b. Account Type - Personal vs Business 

If you have a TikTok Business account, you won’t be able to add certain sound clips or music to your videos. This is because the platform has a separate Commercial Music Library with royalty-free music for businesses. 

If you want access to a bigger library with more mainstream music and sounds, you’ll have to change your account type to a Personal one. 

c. Changes by the Owner 

Permission changes by the owner may also be why you’re unable to use certain sounds on TikTok. For example, if a certain song or sound was previously free to use, but the owner has changed its terms, then that sound may now be unavailable and subject to copyright law. 

Fixes to “Why Can’t I Use Certain Sounds on TikTok”

Just like Instagram or YouTube creators, TikTokkers are also subject to copyright law. If you’re not careful about the music you add to your content, your video could be muted or removed from the platform altogether. 

Luckily, there are a few easy fixes that can help you avoid copyright issues while still ensuring that your videos only contain the highest quality music:

a. Use TikTok Library for Royalty - Free Audio 

The best and easiest way to avoid copyright issues is to use audio from TikTok’s own library. The app offers a greater selection of music and sounds than other content platforms, like YouTube and Instagram, which you can use without worrying about penalization. 

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open TikTok and tap the ‘+’ icon to begin recording.
2. Record your video, then tap the Sounds icon to add sound effects or music.
3. Search songs by title, genre, artist, or other features. 
4. Select the song or sound you want to add to your content. 

5. Trim the song accordingly, as TikTok only allows short videos. 

b. Switch Back to a Personal Account

Switching to a Personal account gives you access to a more extensive music library and allows you to use more popular and mainstream songs. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Launch TikTok and access your profile.
2. Navigate to the upper right corner of your screen and tap on the three dots or horizontal lines. 

3. Select ‘Settings and Privacy.’
4. Tap ‘Manage Account.’
5. Tap ‘Switch to Personal Account.’

However, keep in mind that switching to a personal account will remove access to your analytics or the website link in your bio. 

c. Edit Music Outside TikTok and Use It

Another way to add the song of your choice is to edit it outside of TikTok, add it to your video with professional editing software, and then upload it to TikTok. You can also add an official TikTok audio to your video, bring the volume down to 0, and then upload it to prevent your video from being flagged for copyright infringement. 

But you should not forget that there’s still a risk of the algorithm detecting that the song you use isn’t in TikTok’s library. If you don’t have the right usage permissions, TikTok might mute your content or take it down completely. 

Currently, the app only allows users to use music from its library, user-created sounds, or other royalty-free music. However, there are also a few third-party platforms that might let you add more popular, commercially published songs to your videos. 

d. Create and Use Your Own Sounds 

If you’re a musician, you can create and add your original songs to your TikTok videos. However, it’s better to upload the song to TikTok’s library first so you have an IP License Agreement or Copyright License Agreement protecting you as the owner and creator. 

While you can technically post content with your original music on TikTok without adding it first to the library, you risk TikTok muting your video or taking it down. 

e. Follow the Sound Duration Rules 

Currently, TikTok only allows you to use music in your videos for a maximum of 60 seconds. So, make sure the music in your content plays for under 60 seconds, or it might get muted.

What Happens If I Use Copyrighted Sounds in My TikTok?

Whenever you post a TikTok video, the algorithm checks it for copyrighted music. If you’ve licensed copyright-free music, have permission to use the track, or selected the song from TikTok’s library, there’s no need for concern.

However, if the app detects that you don’t have the authorization to use a certain sound, there can be severe consequences:

a. The Sound May Get Muted

If you add a song to your video that isn’t properly licensed or in the TikTok library, the algorithm will probably mute it or remove it completely from the platform. TikTok will notify you if it takes your content down, allowing you to appeal if you think you can legally use the track. 

b. Demonetization 

The Performance Rights Organization (PRO) that owns the license for the track you used might also send a cease and desist letter. If you’ve made money from the content, you could also be sued, depending on the amount of money you made. 

c. Account Suspension

If you’re using copyrighted music on multiple occasions, TikTok might deal with stricter punishments. Your account may get suspended or terminated, and the app may even ban you from creating a new account ever again. 

Conclusion

One of the best things about TikTok is that it allows you to add the latest trending tracks to your content. While the app offers a wide range of popular songs, there are certain sounds you can’t use. That’s because if you’re found using copyrighted music without the permission, your account might get suspended.

Luckily, you can easily avoid this problem by using royalty-free audio from TikTok’s library, switching to a Personal account, creating and using your original tracks, editing music outside of the app and using it, and following the sound duration rules. 

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FAQs

Q1. Why do some sounds not work on TikTok?

If you’ve set up your TikTok account as a business one, you won’t be able to add specific sound clips or music to your videos. To access a music library, you’ll have to switch your account to a personal one via settings. 

Q2. How to use banned music on TikTok?

You can use banned music on TikTok by editing it outside of the app, adding it to the video using video editing software, and then adding the official TikTok track to your video with the volume at zero when uploading it. 

Q3. How do you get certain sounds on TikTok?

You can search for and add sounds to your TikTok video by following these steps:

1. Create a video by tapping the ‘+’ icon on the bottom of your screen. 
2. Navigate to the top and tap ‘Sounds.’
3. Use the search bar to look for a specific sound. You can also type phrases like “viral sound” or “popular tracks.”
4. Preview the sound by tapping ‘Play’ or save it by tapping ‘Bookmark.’
5. Tap the check icon to add the audio track to your video.

Q4. How do you use your own sounds on TikTok?

You can add your own sounds on TikTok by adding the track to your video with something like Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or CapCut. Then, export the completed video file, save it to your phone’s photo gallery, and post it on TikTok. 

However, make sure you have the “right to use” when adding tracks from outside TikTok’s library, or your content might get muted.