To add music to a slideshow on iPhone, open the music settings in your slideshow app and choose a built-in track, a song downloaded to your device, or an audio file. Songs streamed from Apple Music cannot be exported in a video, in any app, so use a purchased song, an MP3 or M4A file, or the app’s own music.
Add music in Fliptastic
- Make your slideshow and tap Next to reach the Make Video screen.
- Open the Music tab and tap Add Music.
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Choose where the song comes from:
- Theme Songs: 26 tracks written for slideshows, 17 of them free.
- Music Library: songs you have bought or downloaded to the phone.
- Select File…: an MP3 or M4A file from the Files app, iCloud Drive included.
- For your own songs, drag the Start from slider along the waveform to begin at the chorus or any other point.
- Play the preview, then tap Share to export.
Songs fade out over the last two seconds so the video does not stop mid-note. Theme songs loop if the video is longer than the track; your own songs play once, so pick one that is at least as long as the slideshow.
Why some songs are missing or won’t work
If a song you own does not appear in the Music Library list, it is usually one of these:
- It is streamed from Apple Music. These are DRM protected and cannot be used in an exported video. That is Apple’s licensing rule, not an app limitation, and the Photos app has the same restriction.
- It is not downloaded. A purchased song that only lives in iCloud will not show. Open the Music app and tap the download (cloud) icon next to it.
- It is an old protected iTunes purchase. Some older iTunes purchases are still DRM protected and cannot be used.
If you have the song as a file on a computer, copy it to iCloud Drive and add it with Select File… instead.
Music and social media
Instagram, TikTok and YouTube check uploads for copyrighted music. A video with a commercial song may be muted, blocked in some countries, or have its earnings claimed by the rights holder. You are responsible for having the rights to the music you post.
For Reels and TikTok, a common approach is to export the slideshow with no song (if one is set, open the Music tab, tap Add Music and choose Remove Song) and add a sound inside Instagram or TikTok. Their built-in libraries are licensed for use on the platform, and a trending sound can help the post reach more people. For timing and formats, see making a slideshow for Reels and TikTok.
Match the photos to the music
A slideshow feels edited when photo changes land on the beat. At 120 beats per minute a beat lasts half a second, so 2 seconds per photo is exactly four beats. Choose a time per slide that divides evenly into the song’s beat, or read how long each photo should be on screen for a fuller guide.
Common questions
Why can’t I use an Apple Music song in my slideshow video?
Apple Music songs are DRM protected. Your subscription lets you listen to them, but not copy them into a video you export. This applies in every app, including Apple’s own Photos app. Use a song you bought and downloaded, an MP3 or M4A file, or a built-in theme song instead.
Can I add more than one song to a slideshow?
Fliptastic uses one song per slideshow. If you need two, join them into one audio file first, save it to Files, and add it with Select File.
What happens if my song is shorter than the slideshow?
In Fliptastic, built-in theme songs loop to fill the video. A song from your own library plays once and is not looped, so choose a track at least as long as the video, or shorten the video on the Duration tab.
Can I start the song from the chorus?
Yes, for songs from your own library or Files. Fliptastic shows a waveform with a Start from slider so you can begin at any point. Theme songs always start from the beginning.