How to Add Music to YouTube Shorts (2026)
YouTube Shorts music works a little differently depending on whether you add it before you film, right after, or once the Short is already published — all three are possible, and none of them require a separate editing app.
Add Music Before You Record
- Open the YouTube app and tap the + button, then Create a Short.
- Tap Add Sound at the top of the camera screen.
- Search for a specific song, or browse the Trending and Recommended tabs to see audio currently popular on Shorts.
- Tap the track to select it, then drag the waveform left or right to choose which part of the song plays.
- Record your Short — the selected music plays in the background while you film.
Add Music After Recording, Before Publishing
If you've already recorded or uploaded a clip, tap the music note icon on the editing screen before you post. This opens the same sound library so you can add or swap a track before your Short goes live.
Change the Music on an Already-Published Short
You don't have to delete and re-upload a Short just to change its audio:
- Go to studio.youtube.com on desktop and sign in.
- Click Content, find the Short, and click the pencil (Edit) icon.
- Click Editor, then select Audio from the toolbar.
- Tap Replace song or Add track, choose a new one from the library, and save.
YouTube processes the change in a few minutes and the Short goes live with the new audio — its URL, views, and comments stay intact. Note: if the Short has already passed 100,000 views, YouTube may block further edits unless you're in the YouTube Partner Program.
Watch the Licensed-Music Length Limit
YouTube Shorts can run up to 3 minutes, and most tracks in the Shorts audio library can be used for up to 90 seconds within that (the picker shows each track's actual allowed duration — some are limited to 60 or 30 seconds). The exception is trending commercial/copyrighted music: those tracks are licensed for Shorts under 60 seconds specifically, and that license didn't expand when Shorts did. Use one in a Short over 60 seconds and it can get hit with a Content ID claim and blocked globally, regardless of what the picker allowed you to select.
Bonus: Polish the Video Before You Add Music
Instasize can crop and reframe your clip before it ever reaches YouTube's editor — useful if your footage wasn't shot in the vertical 9:16 ratio Shorts expects. Use the video cropper for the clip itself. If you are also designing a still frame to select inside the Short, prepare it on a 1080 × 1920 YouTube Shorts canvas and add it to the video edit; do not assume YouTube will accept it as a separate image upload.
FAQs
Can I use any song in a YouTube Short?
You can use anything in YouTube's built-in Shorts audio library — each track's picker shows exactly how many seconds of it you're allowed to use in your Short. Using outside music you don't own the rights to risks a copyright claim, and trending commercial tracks specifically are only licensed for Shorts under 60 seconds, so using one in a longer Short can get the video blocked outright.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes as of the current YouTube Shorts format. The ideal length for engagement is usually much shorter — most creators see the best performance between 20 and 60 seconds.
Can I change the music after my Short is already published?
Yes. Use YouTube Studio's built-in audio editor (Content → Editor → Audio → Replace song) to swap the track without re-uploading — your existing views and engagement carry over.
Why did my Short get a copyright claim after I added music?
Most often because the track wasn't from YouTube's Shorts-cleared library, or because a trending commercial track was used in a Short longer than 60 seconds — that category of music is only licensed for the sub-60-second format, even though Shorts themselves can run up to 3 minutes.
