How to make a sound on TikTok and go viral

Videos aren’t the only things going viral on TikTok. Often, it’s a memorable sound that propels a video to new heights and spurs a new trend.

Catchy songs launch worldwide dance-offs and hilarious audio clips inspire the internet’s comedians to lip-sync along. If your goal is to rack up millions of views, consider creating a soundbite with the potential to become the joke heard around the world or a quirky background for TikTokers’ antics. Read on to learn how to make a sound on TikTok that has viral potential.

What is a TikTok sound?

A TikTok sound is the audio accompanying a video on the app. Whenever a creator hits the record button to film a new clip, the application saves the captured sound as an “original audio.” Licensed music added to a video after recording is another type of TikTok sound.

Original audios include everything from narration over a cooking clip to the ASMR sounds of a person organizing pens in a desk drawer. These recordings are fair game for anyone to use, with few limitations. Personal TikTok accounts can create videos with any audio they choose, but business accounts must give credit to the original creator in commercial posts. This is a good thing – it means a company can’t blindly profit from your creativity.

So, how does creating an irresistible audio clip propel you to social media fame? Because TikTokers can use one another’s original sounds in new videos, they can exponentially boost an audio’s reach. As more users riff on a sound, videos with that backing will crop up on the For You Pages (FYPs) of users binge-watching the trend. Curious viewers will click back to see the original creator (and may even drop a follow).

How to make a new sound on TikTok

Creating an audio track to accompany a video may seem like the work of a sound engineer – but generating a sound for TikTok is as easy as shooting a video.

When you start filming, the app automatically records the accompanying audio and makes it available to other users (provided your account is public). Here’s how to make your video a sound on TikTok:

1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
2. Hit the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the screen to create a new video.
3. Tap the red “Record” button and start filming.
4. Once complete, hit the checkmark at the bottom right of the screen to move on.
5. From here, you can add voice effects to your audio by tapping the small downward arrow (˅) below the vertical menu on the left and selecting “Audio editing.” You may also choose to replace the original sound with a recording.
6. Once you perfect the audio, tap “Save” then “Next.”
7. Add a caption and relevant hashtags to your video, then hit “Post.”
8. To view your original sound, head to your profile page and tap on the new video. You should see a spinning record in the bottom right corner of the screen.
9. Tap on the record to modify the name of the sound. Consider naming the audio something easy for others to find and remember.

Layering and silencing sounds on TikTok

To layer an existing audio over your content, tap “Add sound” at the top of the recording screen (see step 3 above) and search for the backing clip you’d like to add. Alternatively, you can add your voice over another video using TikTok’s Duet feature. When you hit the “Record” button, the app will save any noise you create on top of the backing track or Duetted video’s original audio.

Then, it’s up to you to create the perfect audio balance. To edit the volumes of your recording and chosen sound, tap on the sound icon at the top center (see steps 4–5 above). Select “Volume” at the bottom right of the pop-up menu and move the “Original sound” and “Added sound” sliders until you’re happy with the result.

Turn your original music into a sound on TikTok

You can record yourself speaking, goofing off, or chopping tomatoes while filming a TikTok video, and your original audio may have what it takes to become a trend. But if you’re a musician trying to get your latest hit to inspire choreography or create a viral lip-synching trend, consider uploading the track to TikTok’s sound library. Once the song is in this database, users can add it to their videos as backing music. They may choose to let the song roll solo or record themselves over it – either way, it’s free exposure.

There are two ways to accomplish this: use a third-party distribution platform or the application’s proprietary tool, SoundOn. Check out our blog to learn how to add tracks to TikTok’s music library.

5 tips for making a viral TikTok sound

Going viral on TikTok means ranking well within the app’s algorithm and encouraging engagement. To achieve this, you’ll need to create a clip that resonates with the masses. Here’s how:

1. Use popular hashtags. Hashtags help classify your video. If you’re trying to start a trend, you want interested users to be able to find your clip. Using a relevant hashtag on your video helps users find it in a search and helps the app’s algorithm show the audio to the people most likely to enjoy it.
2. Be consistent and creative. It’s simple logic: The more videos you make, the better your chances of broadening your audience. Among these future followers may be someone who decides to use your original audio in one of their clips and starts a viral trend.
3. Respond to comments. Engaging with your audience is a great way to boost your engagement. The TikTok algorithm considers the interactions on your videos in its calculations, so encourage users to keep liking and commenting on your videos by establishing a bond with them. The higher your content ranks with the algorithm, the more likely it will appear in front of audiences who find it relevant, enjoyable, and worth grabbing audio from.
4. Choose the ideal time to upload. Viewers can only view and interact with your videos if they’re awake and active on TikTok. Track what times your audience engages the most and post during these busy periods.
5. Duet other content. If other creators start using your audio in their TikTok videos, repost these clips using the Duet feature and react graciously to their creative spin in real-time. This encourages others to use your audio in the hopes of appearing on your page.

FAQs about TikTok sounds

Still need clarification about creating TikTok audios? Here are a few commonly asked questions about this feature to bolster your knowledge:

How do I make a sound on TikTok my ringtone?

To celebrate the success of a viral TikTok sound, you can use a third-party video-to-MP3 platform to convert the audio into a ringtone or phone alarm. Remember: Avoid copyright infringement when downloading or otherwise reproducing audio outside of TikTok and only use your original content.

How do I make a sound on TikTok without violating copyright law?

If you record yourself talking, singing, or playing original music, you don’t need to worry about copyright infringement. You can also use original TikTok audios from other creators within the app. However, you should avoid using someone else’s voice or music in your video without permission (even if it’s playing in the background of a recording). When in doubt, stick with licensed tracks from the app’s sound library.

Learn more about TikTok with Linktree

Mastering TikTok will help you achieve influencer status – but there’s a lot to learn.

Fortunately, Linktree is here to help. Our blog is an excellent resource where you can learn how to make money on TikTok, get verified, edit videos to perfection, and more. We also offer a TikTok Profile Kit that allows creators to access their TikTok accounts via Linktree, highlight their profile and display up to six videos.

And don’t forget about your TikTok bio. It may be just a few characters, but it’s a valuable space to link out to the rest of your digital presence. Add a Linktree to your profile and direct followers to other platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and a personal website, all in one place.