One element consistently separates viral content from the rest: sound. TikTok sound has become the secret weapon that creators and brands use to amplify their reach and engagement.
With over 23 million videos published daily and millions of sounds circulating across the platform, finding the right trending audio at the right time can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. The difference between a video that receives 100 views and one that receives 100,000 views often comes down to selecting the perfect sound that resonates with TikTok’s algorithm and your target audience.
This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about TikTok sound, from identifying the hottest trending audio to leveraging sound strategically for maximum engagement. Mastering TikTok sound is essential for success in 2025.
A sound accompanies every video on TikTok. These sounds can be sourced from the TikTok sound library or an original audio file created by the video’s creator. But TikTok sound encompasses much more than just background music – it’s the audio foundation that drives engagement, trends, and viral moments across the platform.
TikTok sounds can be categorized into several types:
1. Music tracks: These include everything from chart-topping hits to underground tracks that gain popularity on the platform. Speed-up remixes of nineties and noughties classics are one of the reasons I love TikTok, and these nostalgic reimaginings often become some of the most viral sounds on the platform.
2. Original audio: Original Sounds are created by TikTokers themselves. They can range from voiceovers to people singing in their videos. These authentic, user-generated sounds often become the foundation for massive trends and challenges.
3. Sound effects: From comedic timing sounds to dramatic effect noises, these short audio clips are designed to enhance specific moments in videos and create emotional responses.
4. Dialogue clips: Popular movie quotes, TV show snippets, or viral conversation clips that users incorporate into their content to add context, humor, or relatability.
TikTok’s creative center is yet to be established, but the link is worth bookmarking. It’s effectively a guide to the most significant trends on the platform within a timeframe of your choice, including creators, hashtags, and, of course, songs trending on TikTok.
The Creative Center offers several powerful features:
Step-by-step access:
What you’ll find:
TikTok SEO, or that TikTok is the new Google. According to The New York Times, it’s Gen Z’s search engine of choice. This makes TikTok’s search function incredibly powerful for discovering trending sounds.
How to use TikTok search for sound discovery:
Your ‘For You Page’ is a real-time indicator of trending content. Why? Because if a video from someone you don’t follow is organically showing up there, it likely means it’s getting strong visibility at the moment.
Strategic FYP monitoring:
When creating your content, you’ll have access to TikTok’s sound library, where you can browse, select, and edit audio for your videos. It’s also a great place to discover viral songs.
Accessing the sound library:
Tokchart is entirely devoted to tracking trending TikTok audio. Check it out to find the hottest trending songs of the last 24 hours. This platform offers:
Key Features:
Simply go to YouTube and search for some keywords like “trending TikTok songs” or “trending TikTok sounds”. But Spotify offers even more targeted discovery:
Instagram cross-referencing: What resonates on TikTok often strikes a chord on Instagram, too. Many trending sounds appear on both platforms, so monitoring Instagram Reels trends can give you early indicators of what might work on TikTok.
Since it’s the second-largest search engine out there, you can use YouTube to find what songs are trending on TikTok. This method is particularly effective for:
Finding Compilation Videos:
TikTok partnered with Billboard to curate the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States that week. While this resource is somewhat hidden, it’s incredibly valuable:
How to access:
There are plenty of TikTok-focused creators and marketers who share weekly updates on viral sounds and content trends. Find a few whose style and insights you like, and follow them; they can help you stay one step ahead without having to do all the digging yourself.
Key accounts to follow:
CapCut app is a great way to identify emerging trends. This powerful video editing software is often a source of trending sounds and templates.
How to Use CapCut for Sound Discovery:
TikTok Creator Communities:
Although this one seems far-fetched, don’t overlook the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This platform lists the top 100 songs in the United States each week and serves as a great indicator of what’s currently popular.
Why this matters:
Unlike traditional social media platforms, where audio plays a supporting role, TikTok has built its entire ecosystem around sound-first content creation. TikTok has discovered the key to keeping its audience engaged: incorporating sound into relevant content.
This sound-centric approach creates several unique characteristics:
Related: Post & Schedule TikTok Videos With ContentStudio Now!
Based on the latest data from TikTok’s Creative Center and trending sound analytics, here are the most popular TikTok sounds currently dominating the platform:
This viral sound effect has become a TikTok staple for comedic timing, reaction videos, and playful content. Its versatility makes it perfect for adding humor to everyday situations.
This fast-paced remix works great for dance challenges, quick cuts, and energetic videos. The high-tempo beat is ideal for content that needs to grab attention quickly and maintain high energy throughout.
This vintage pop hit has found a second life on TikTok, with over 3 million views across the platform. The sweet, nostalgic melody is perfect for special moments, transitions, and content that needs a touch of classic charm.
This Brazilian slowed track became a global hit and is quite popular for edits, transitions, and aesthetic content. The slowed-down version creates a dreamy, atmospheric vibe that works perfectly for visual storytelling.
Yes, the airline commercial soundtrack has gone viral! This unexpected trend shows how any audio can become a TikTok sensation when users get creative with it. It’s being used for travel content, vacation planning, and comedic takes on advertising.
Sabrina Carpenter’s new single is dominating the For You Page with its catchy hook and TikTok-friendly lyrics. The song has spawned numerous dance trends and is particularly popular among Gen Z creators.
This energetic classic from the Black Eyed Peas is making a nostalgic comeback on TikTok. The high-energy beat makes it perfect for dance challenges, workout videos, and energetic content that needs an upbeat soundtrack.
This trending sound has gained significant traction on TikTok, becoming popular for dramatic reveals, transition videos, and content that needs an atmospheric, moody backdrop. The sound’s unique tone makes it perfect for creating suspense and adding cinematic flair to videos.
Remember, the key to success with trending sounds isn’t just using them, it’s using them strategically. Jumping on a trend is great, but it works best when the sound actually fits your content and feels authentic.
The TikTok sound landscape will continue to evolve. Using trending sounds isn’t just about following the crowd; it’s about leveraging TikTok’s algorithm to your advantage.
The future belongs to those who can hear the next viral sound before it becomes everyone’s favorite. Now you have the tools and knowledge to be among them.
The best way to discover trending TikTok sounds early is to utilize TikTok’s Creative Center, actively monitor your For You Page, and follow trend forecasting creators. Look for sounds that are gaining momentum among smaller creators before they hit mainstream popularity. Using tools like TokChart for real-time tracking and cross-platform trend analysis on Instagram and Spotify can also help you identify emerging sounds.
No, business accounts have restrictions on music usage due to copyright laws. Always look for sounds marked “Approved for business use” in TikTok’s Creative Center. Business accounts get access to the Commercial Music Library.