How to Play Background Songs on TikTok Live? (2026 Guide)

January 23, 2026

To play music during a TikTok Live, open your Live Studio dashboard and tap the Music (♪) icon. Select a track from your favorites or the recommended list, and use the on-screen Volume Slider to balance the music level with your microphone.

This guide provides the exact technical steps to activate and manage background audio during an active TikTok Live session as of January 2026. It focuses exclusively on the in-stream music feature.

Prerequisites

The steps below assume you have already started a live session. For help with that process, see our guide on how to start a TikTok Live. Additionally, ensure you have reached the minimum follower requirement (1,000 followers) to access the Live feature.

Step-by-Step: Adding Music to Your Live Stream

Once your broadcast is active, follow these steps to manage your background audio:

Open the Audio Menu: Tap the Music (♪) icon located in the bottom control bar of your Live Studio.
Select Your Song: Choose a track from the “For You” tab or access your pre-saved tracks in the “Favorites” folder.
Activate and Adjust: Tap the song to play it. Immediately, a volume slider will appear. Drag the toggle to the left to ensure the music stays in the background and does not overpower your voice.
Control Playback: You can pause, skip, or change the track at any time during the stream without leaving the Live Studio interface.

Playing music through this built-in tool automatically displays the song title and artist to your viewers. This method ensures your audio is processed correctly by TikTok’s live servers to maintain sound quality throughout the broadcast.

Conclusion & Next Step

Your background music is now active. To discover popular tracks for your next stream, you can explore our guide on how to find viral sounds on TikTok.

Adding a soundtrack is the first step toward a professional broadcast. To further enhance your viewer experience, you can add visual flair to your stream by using favorite effects on TikTok to match the mood of your music.