Cast your mind back to @nyannyancosplay’s viral Hit or Miss video, one of TikTok’s earliest sensations that helped the platform define what set it apart from rivals.
They’re perhaps less central to TikTok’s identity than before – especially with the recent push for longer content – but trending sounds remain hugely important for anyone striving to become an influencer on TikTok.
By learning how to find and use them, aspiring TikTokers can uncover one of the best ways to boost their reach and grow their audience.
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Much of the power behind TikTok trending audio relates to the algorithm.
“TikTok’s algorithm often prioritises familiarity and repeatability, so when a song is on the rise, jumping on it can give your post more visibility,” writes Buffer’s Shea Karssing.
Noting that videos with trending audio see 2.5x more views and 66% higher engagement rates, Outframe’s Kendall Rose also emphasises the impact of familiarity. “Recognisable sounds trigger emotional responses, keeping viewers watching longer,” she writes. “This improves completion rates and interaction.”
1. Use TikTok’s creative centre
The Trending tab filters top trending audio across specific time periods and regions. You’ll even see analytics such as related videos and interest over time by clicking a trending song.
Regional popularity is particularly relevant for earning via the Creator Rewards Program, since only views from certain countries count.
2. Scroll the For You Page (FYP)
“If you just scroll for, like, five minutes, you’ll hear the same five sounds over and over, and you’ll sort of understand, ‘These must be trending right now’,” says social media consultant Rachel Karten.
3. Search TikTok
Type phrases such as “viral audio” or “trending sounds” into TikTok’s search tool for a mix of related videos, hashtags, and users. Tap “Sounds” and you’ll see how many videos each one appeared in. The hottest are labelled “popular.”
4. Explore recommendations
Start uploading a video, and then tap “Add sound” to find recommendations curated by TikTok. “I added a video of my book and received fitting suggestions from TikTok, like Lost in a Book and Dear Reader,” Karssing writes.
5. TikTok’s Top 50
Find a sound you already know is trending, tap the spinning record in the bottom-right corner to reach “Sounds,” and then tap the “Top 50” button just under the artist’s name. You’ll find TikTok’s viral 50 chart.
6. Search on Spotify
Search “TikTok” on Spotify for heaps of playlists that cover viral TikTok sounds, such as this one with nearly 1.5 million saves.
7. Peruse TokChart
TokChart offers hourly updated lists of popular and fast-rising TikTok tracks, automatically linking back to original user-generated clips or commercial artists. It’s great for seeing trends outside the TikTok ecosystem.
8. Follow Trendspotting Creators
Many creators get more likes and views on TikTok by specialising in spotting trends early, including trending sounds. Music Maestro is a good UK-based example. Find a couple you trust and keep an eye on their recommendations.
9. Check Billboard
Checking Billboard can hint at TikTok’s next trending audio. TikTok’s research showed that 84% of 2024 Billboard Global 200 songs first went viral on the platform, and songs exploding outside TikTok often become popular within it. Take Ariana Grande’s Petal, which was released in July 2026 and featured in over 245,000 TikToks within a month of its release.
Credit: Melinda Nagy/Shutterstock
Find sounds for a video you’re currently making by:
- Tapping the plus (+) button on your TikTok camera screen
- Tapping “Add sound”
- Exploring the Hot or Recommended tabs for trending audio
- Tapping the checkmark to attach it to your current video (or tap the bookmark item to save for later use)
Use sounds you’ve just found on another video by:
- Tapping the spinning record at the bottom right of a popular video
- Tapping the “Record” button
- Tapping “Use this sound” to open the camera with trending audio preloaded
1. Consider why they’re used
Most trending sounds are associated with specific emotions, situations, and even other trends.
- “Saxophones getting louder” signals something about to go wrong, as in videos like this.
- “On a Mission” pairs with the Netflix documentary trend in videos like this.
- “u + me = <3” tends to be used with videos of close friends, as in this video.
Knowing the context makes devising your content easier. Missing or dismissing it may mean appearing out of touch.
2. Adapt to your niche
“The algorithm really can favour a sound, but you also have to make people interested in watching your video,” says professional content creator Hannah. “If you’re just putting the trending sound over a video that’s irrelevant to your audience…that sound is not going to help you.”
Trending audio must connect with your content and niche, especially when you’re focused on growing a dedicated TikTok following.
Take this original audio used to reveal temptations that make people abandon their plans.
3. Balance popular with soon to be popular
“The earlier you jump on [trending audio], the better,” says content expert Hannah. “There’s less competition, more reach, and a way higher chance that you’ll go viral.” Experts say posting within 48 to 96 hours of a sound’s rise is optimal. Rose suggests looking for sounds with fewer than 10,000 uses to spot early opportunities.
On the other hand, sounds already massively popular are easier to find, have already proven successful, and boast a built-in audience.
“The best strategy is to experiment with both and use analytics to see what resonates most with your audience,” writes Sprout Social’s Nader Nekvasil.
4. Think ahead
Trending sounds can be seasonal. The “I’m in pain. Wait, I meant Spain” sound that @irinahp made in 2024, for example, is once again popular in summer 2026.
That’s something to consider while planning future content: Even if you’ve missed the first boat, you’ll get in early on the next – and have a video idea ready when the sound starts trending.
5. Consider existing content
Contemplate how trending sounds could breathe life into older videos, not just create new ones. When this original audio from Hall & Oates started trending in videos with two contrasting lifestyles, @jasperandtheorange (or possibly their owner) took their previous viral video and gave it a fitting sequel.
For not too much effort, they got over 103,000 likes, 1,500 comments, 6,100 saves, and 33,000 shares.
6. Use hooks
Trending audio is more engaging when it’s backed with compelling hooks, such as on-screen text or interesting edits. Social media manager Holly Mae recommends hooking people “within the first two seconds, whether that’s visually or with text (ideally both).”
Take inspiration from hooks @jocelynmeiere used with the FREAKED OUT audio for the Reasons to Get a Bob trend.
The audio might catch your attention, but you’ll also see:
- Clear on-screen text
- Frequent cuts
- Increasingly interesting angles and positions
- Lip-syncing
- Head bobbing in time with the music
- Expressions evolving from serious at the start to fun at the end
7. Exercise restraint
Trending sounds may seem an easy shortcut to going viral and a neat way to increase the amount you make on TikTok. If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, overusing trending sounds often results in:
- Audiences getting tired of your content
- Loss of your own channel’s identity
- Perceived lack of creativity and value in your content
Use trending audio sparingly and never let it overshadow your own personal audio.
8. Be careful working for brands
If you’re creating paid TikTok content for brands, keep in mind that some music isn’t cleared for business use. Avoid copyright issues by using audio from TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.
User-generated original sounds don’t face the same legal restrictions. Still, it’s common courtesy to ask the creator’s permission, which can prevent unpleasantness should they prove unwilling.