How to Use Music Legally for Facebook — MUBERT | Blog How to Use Music Legally for Facebook — MUBERT | Blog

How to Use Music Legally for Facebook

How to use copyrighted music on Facebook legally ⏩ Add the right music to your videos without copyright infringement ⚡ Get tips on choosing and using Facebook music.

 

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Music copyright on Facebook is honestly one of those things that confuses almost everyone. Sometimes, creators post a video they’re really excited about, only to find out later that Facebook either muted it completely or slapped them with a copyright warning.

That’s because Facebook’s system for detecting copyrighted music is pretty aggressive. And it doesn’t matter if you’re using just 10 seconds of a popular song or if you think “fair use” covers you. 

Staying on the safe side with music on Facebook isn’t that hard. You just need a clear idea of which songs are fine to use and the right way to include them in your posts.

How to Add Music to a Video on Facebook: Stories, Reels and Post

The detail that catches many people off guard is that Facebook has different rules and tools for adding music to Stories, Reels, and standard posts.

Facebook Stories

There isn’t just one way to add music to a Story. In fact, Facebook gives you two simple options:

  • Go into “Create Story”, and you’ll see a music option at the top of the screen. Tap it and the app drops you straight into Facebook’s built-in library, where you can browse through different moods, genres, or search for something specific. Just hit a chosen track, and you can play around with which part of the song you want to use.
  • The other way works better if you already have a video or photo you want to upload first. After you’ve selected your content, look for either a “Sound” button at the top or go to the sticker options and find “Music”. 

Facebook sometimes automatically adds music to your stories based on what’s in them. If this bugs you, you can turn it off in your story settings.

Facebook Reels

When recording or uploading a Reel, you can open the audio library and pick a protected track from the catalog. You can also mix original sound with library music, or adjust how loud each element plays. If you want to add your own original music, just record it as part of your video, or use the “Import” option to bring it in directly.

Regular Facebook Posts

For standard posts with videos, there isn’t a built-in sticker option like Stories. You’ll need to either:

  • use music from Facebook’s Sound Collection (their free catalog of royalty-free tracks and sound effects);
  • include your own original song or audio recording.

If you try to upload a video with a commercial hit that you don’t have the rights to, the platform will likely mute or block your post due to copyright protection.

Creators who write their own music or hold rights to a track can upload it without issue. Facebook may still flag the audio because its system can’t always confirm ownership, but disputes are there to protect you if that happens.

How to Add Your Own Original Music to Facebook Videos

The easiest way to get started is to:

  1. Record your video with the music already playing. 
  2. Upload your video and music into any editing app, sync them up, then export the finished file to Facebook.
  3. Use CapCut or InShot to add a track to your videos from your phone’s music library.

The key is to have everything combined before you upload to Facebook, as it doesn’t really have a way to add your original music after the fact unless it’s already in their system.

Facebook’s copyright system will probably flag your original music anyway. When this happens, don’t think you did anything wrong. Just immediately file a dispute and keep the proof you made the audio (screenshots, original audio files, etc.) handy. Most disputes get resolved within a few days.

And remember, before you upload anything:

  • Save all your project files and recording sessions.
  • Keep track of when you wrote and recorded each song.
  • If you work with others, get written permission to post their contributions.

It’s also best to register your music with a performing rights organization, upload your music to platforms like DistroKid to create an official paper trail, and cross-post from Instagram when possible.

Can Copyrighted Music Be Used on Facebook?

The short answer is: sometimes, but it’s complicated. Facebook has licensing deals with some music companies, which means certain copyrighted tracks can actually be used in your videos. But these agreements change all the time, and what’s allowed today may get your post muted tomorrow.

Here’s what is typically allowed:

  • short clips from songs in their licensed library;
  • music from live performances you recorded yourself;
  • brief snippets for personal, non-commercial posts;
  • sound from events you attended (with some restrictions).

And here’s what gets flagged immediately:

  • full songs from popular artists;
  • music videos (especially after Universal Music Group pulled out in 2024);
  • posts where music is the main focus, not just background sound;
  • commercial use without proper licensing.

Facebook’s automated system is aggressive about scanning uploaded content. It compares your video against a massive database of protected material, and if it finds a match, your video gets muted, blocked, or removed.

You’re responsible for making sure you have the right to play whatever music you add to your content, and some gray areas may work temporarily:

  • very short clips (under 15 seconds) as background sound;
  • music that’s heavily modified or slowed down;
  • older songs where copyright might have expired;
  • live recordings from concerts (though this is still technically risky).

But honestly, even these “safe” options can backfire. Facebook’s detection gets more sophisticated all the time, and copyright holders are getting more aggressive about protecting their tracks.

How Do You Avoid Copyright Claims on Facebook?

Facebook’s automated system scans every piece of content you upload, so you need to be smart about what you add to your posts. These options are always safe:

  • your own original music and sound;
  • Facebook’s built-in music library for Stories and Reels;
  • your own voice-overs;
  • royalty-free music from legally cleared platforms. 

Avoid adding popular songs as background music, using content with watermarks from other platforms, uploading videos that contain even brief clips of protected material, and assuming “fair use” will protect your post (it usually won’t).

Facebook uses a three-strike policy that can seriously damage your account:

  • warning and possible content removal (first strike);
  • temporary restrictions on your account (second strike);
  • permanent account suspension (third strike).

Even a few seconds of copyrighted sound can trigger a claim, and once you get flagged, reversing the decision is nearly impossible. We advise you on some smart strategies that actually work instead of risking copyrighted tracks:

  • Create playlists of royalty-free music you can legally use.
  • Layer your own voice over instrumental backgrounds. 
  • Always upload original footage you’ve recorded yourself.
  • Avoid picture compilations with background music.
  • Test short clips first to see how the system responds.

But even when you think you’re being careful, Facebook’s system can still flag your content. If this happens, check what specific copyright claim was made, review your content, file a dispute if you believe the claim is wrong, and show records of your permission to use any music or content. 

What are the Benefits of Adding Music to Facebook Videos?

The difference between a video with and without music is like the difference between a black and white photo and a full-color one. Both tell a story, but one resonates more deeply. When someone scrolls through their feed and hears an interesting track, they’re much more likely to stop and actually watch your content.

Facebook’s algorithm pays attention to watch time, so when people spend more time on your videos, the platform assumes your content is worth showing to more people. And you can instantly tell people how they should feel about your content before they even process what they’re seeing. If you use a consistent style of music across all your Facebook posts, viewers will recognize you as a creator from the first second. Of course, they will share your content and attract more followers. 

In short, adding music makes your Facebook content more engaging, memorable, and shareable. Just be sure to do it legally.

Create and Use Royalty-free Music from Mubert

If you don’t want to deal with copyright issues every time you want to add music to your Facebook videos, Mubert can help you. Our platform uses AI to generate custom tracks that are completely legally cleared for social media use, which means you can upload whatever you create without worrying about getting flagged.

We combine AI technology with real music from hundreds of actual human artists, so when you request a track, it pulls from millions of samples created by professional musicians and arranges them into something completely original for your content.

To start creating music for Facebook posts, you just need to type in some keywords or upload an image describing your idea, choose your track length and type, click generate, and wait a few seconds. Then, download your custom song and add it to your video.

On Mubert Render, you can create:

  • full tracks;
  • loops;
  • jingles;
  • mixes.

When you generate an audio, you get a specific license that covers your use on Facebook and other social platforms.

  • Free accounts get basic licensing for social media posts.
  • Paid plans unlock longer tracks and commercial use rights.
  • Every track comes with a unique license link you can reference if needed.
  • There are no hidden fees or surprise copyright claims later.

Mubert isn’t going to replace hiring a professional composer for your big brand campaign. But for everyday Facebook content, it’s impressive what you can get in just a few seconds. The music sounds protected and professional enough that most people won’t realize it was AI-generated. Plus, you own the license to use whatever you create.

Conclusions

Music on Facebook doesn’t have to be a complicated quest that stresses you out every time you want to post a video.

The rules are actually simple: use music you have the right to use, don’t use music you don’t have the right to use. Facebook’s system will catch copyrighted audio almost immediately, so gambling with popular songs is basically pointless.

Choose music sources you know are safe. For example, Facebook’s built-in music works fine for most content. If you need something more specific, AI music generators play it completely safe since everything they create is royalty-free. And if you make your own music, obviously, you can legally use that however you want.

author avatar
Alex Kochetkov CEO
, ,

AI Music Company

Mubert is a platform powered by music producers that helps creators and brands generate unlimited royalty-free music with the help of AI. Our mission is to empower and protect the creators. Our purpose is to democratize the Creator Economy.


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