How to Import Music into iMovie Video Projects: Complete Guide

When you're editing a daily vlog or a travel reel, you may find that fitting background music can upgrade your video significantly. Music can make your video more immersive and engaging. In this guide, we'll show you how to add music to iMovie on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and fix your editing troubles once and for all.

Part 1: How to Add Music to iMovie on Mac

Adding music can make your videos more engaging and appealing. Follow the steps below to add music to iMovie on Mac.

Step 1.Launch iMovie on your Mac and open your project in it. Otherwise, you can click "Create New" and import your videos.

Step 2.Select "File" > "Import Media" from the top menu.

Step 3.You can choose any of the songs you want to use or just type the song name in the search bar, then click "Import Selected." Or drag your music files directly into the Media tab window.

Step 4.Drop the music file below your video clip.

Step 5.You can edit the music by trimming, adjusting the volume, or setting the effects.

Part 2: How to Add Music to iMovie on iPhone/iPad

If you're using a mobile device, the steps for importing music to iMovie are different.

Step 1.Open the iMovie app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap "Start New Project", choose "Movie", and select the videos you want to edit.

Step 2.Tap the "Add Media (+)" button and select "Audio".

Step 3.Choose "My Music" and find the song you want to add to iMovie. Tap the "Add Media (+)" button to add it to your project.

Step 4.Tap the audio track to trim, split, or adjust the music volume.

Part 3: Where Can You Get Music for iMovie?

Before adding music to iMovie, you need to prepare suitable audio sources. How to get music into iMovie? Here are four common ways to get music for your iMovie projects.

Add Music to iMovie from Local Files

If you already have music files saved on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can import them directly into iMovie.

On Mac:

Simply drag local audio files from your desktop or folder directly into the iMovie timeline.

On iPhone/iPad:

Save downloaded music to your device's local storage first, then import it via the My Music folder in iMovie's Audio library.

Add Music to iMovie from Apple Music/iTunes

You may wonder: Can I use Apple Music songs in iMovie? Yes, iMovie can also use music from your Apple Music library. Note that Apple Music songs are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). These songs will appear grayed out in iMovie and cannot be added to your project. Only DRM-free songs and purchased songs are usable.

How to add a song to iMovie from Apple Music/iTunes:

Step 1.Open iTunes or Apple Music on your Mac and find the song you purchased.

Step 2.Right-click the song and choose "Show in Finder" to locate the file.

Step 3.Open iMovie and import the song into media, then drag the file into the timeline to use it.

Add Music to iMovie from Built-in Soundtracks

If you don't have your own music, iMovie provides a large volume of built-in soundtracks and sound effects. These tracks are copyright-free, so you can add them to your social media posts freely.

On iPhone/iPad:

Step 1.Inside your iMovie project, open the "Audio" menu and select the "Soundtracks" option.

Step 2.Tap the songs to hear the music or effect, and then tap the "Add (+)" button to insert it into your movie.

On Mac:

Step 1.Click the "Audio & Video" tab in the top menu bar. You can see various audio categories.

Step 2.Choose "Sound Effects", click and play the effects to preview. You can also select "Theme Music" from the drop-down menu to hear more.

Step 3.Drag your chosen soundtrack into the timeline below your video clips.

Add Voiceover to iMovie

Sometimes background music is not enough, and you may want to explain your video with your own narration. iMovie allows you to record a voiceover directly while editing, which is useful for tutorials, reviews, presentations, and vlogs.

On Mac:

Step 1.In your current project, select "Window" > "Record Voiceover" from the top menu bar.

Step 2.Select your microphone input (if using an external mic).

Step 3.Open the "Input Source" drop-down menu, choose your microphone and click the red record button to start speaking.

Step 4.Click the record button again when finished. The voiceover will be added to your timeline automatically.

Step 5.Drag and adjust the voiceover in the timeline.

On iPhone/iPad:

Step 1.Open your iMovie project, tap "Add Media (+)" and select "Voiceover".

Step 2.Tap "Record" and start speaking. Tap "Stop" when you are finished.

Step 3.Tap "Review" to listen to your audio, and if you are satisfied with your voiceover, tap "Accept."

Part 4: How to Add Background Music to Videos Easily

If you need more advanced control over your videos, you can use a professional tool to edit your videos. AnyRec Video Converter is a comprehensive video editor and converter that helps you handle most video tasks with ease. With AnyRec, you can add music to your video from different resources, trim video, convert file formats, add subtitles, apply filters and effects, and customize your videos in one program.

How to add music to a video with AnyRec:

Step 1.Launch the software and click the "Add Files" button to upload your video.

Step 2.Click the first "Edit" button under your video file to enter the editing interface.

Step 3.Select the "Audio" tab in the top menu bar. Click the "Add" button to add an audio track to your video. You can edit the audio to make the music match your video perfectly.

Step 4.Choose an output format and click "Convert All" to save the edited video.

Further Reading

• How to Add Music to Video on iPhone/Android? 3 Ways Here
• How to Add Music to Instagram Posts on Story, Reel, and Live
• [Solved] How to Add Subtitles in iMovie Effectively
• Convert iMovie to MP4: 4 Ways on Windows/Mac/iPhone/Online