To add music to a video on your phone without downloading extra software, use the built-in editor in Google Photos. The exact steps to add music to video on phone differ slightly between Android and iPhone, but both platforms let you choose from the app's library or your own music files.
How to add music to a video on your phone with Google Photos
On Android, Google Photos documents the same basic flow, including Open video > Edit > Audio > Add music or Music, with an On device option for adding a song stored on the phone.
Android: Add music from your device or the app library
- Open the video in Google Photos.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap Audio, then Add music (or Music, depending on the editor layout).
- To use a song stored on your phone, tap On device. To browse the app's built-in library, select a track from the available options.
- Choose the section of the song you want to use, then tap Done.
iPhone and iPad: Add music and mute original audio
- Open the video in Google Photos.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap Add Music.
- Select a track from All or a Mood category.
- To remove the video's original sound, use the Mute option.
- Tap Done.
How to add a soundtrack to a highlight video
Google Photos has a separate creation flow for highlight videos. Tap Add, then Add soundtrack. From there, choose My music to use tracks from your personal library, or Theme music to use music from the app's soundtrack library.
Google also documents a separate creation flow for “highlight videos,” where you can add a soundtrack from My music or Theme music.
What to do if music won't add on Android
If you cannot add a downloaded song on Android, you must allow music and audio access permission for Google Photos. Open your Android device's Settings, find the Google Photos app permissions, and enable the music and audio access option.
A third-party App Store listing says one app requires iPhone iOS 13.0 or later, but the listing does not provide an official support workflow for adding music to video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can music be added from the phone itself?
Yes on Android in Google Photos, where the option is On device. This lets you pick any audio file stored locally on your phone.
Can the original video sound be removed?
Yes in Google Photos on iPhone and iPad, where the Mute option is documented. This removes the video's original audio while keeping your selected music.
Does the exact menu path change by device?
Yes. Android uses Audio then Add music or simply Music, while iPhone and iPad use Add Music. The labels vary by platform and editor layout.
What are the YouTube mobile tips for adding music?
For YouTube mobile tips, remember that Google Photos is the native editing tool, not YouTube itself. To add music to a YouTube video on mobile, edit your video in Google Photos first, then upload the finished file to YouTube.
Is there a file-length or track-length limit?
Is there a documented supported model list?
Not in the retrieved Google support pages.
Is there a documented version requirement for Google Photos editing?
Not in the retrieved Google support pages.
