Facebook Stories allow users to share photos and short videos overlaid with text, stickers, drawings and other creative tools. One popular feature of Stories is the ability to add music or audio to create more engaging and entertaining content. While Stories were originally designed for mobile, there are ways to create and add music to Facebook Stories directly from a desktop or laptop computer.
Can You Add Music to Facebook Stories from a Computer?
Yes, it is possible to add music to Facebook Stories from a desktop or laptop computer. However, the process is a bit more limited compared to creating Stories from the Facebook mobile app.
On a computer, you can add music to Facebook Stories by:
- Uploading a video with audio already included
- Adding an mp3 file as a sticker within your Story
You cannot directly search for and add music from Facebook’s audio library on desktop like you can in the mobile app. But you can still liven up your Stories with music by preparing the audio file ahead of time.
Adding a Video with Audio
One way to include music in a Facebook Story from desktop is to upload a video that already has the audio incorporated. For example:
- Record a video on your phone with a soundtrack added from the Facebook app
- Download a video from YouTube or other source that contains audio
- Use video editing software on your computer to create a clip with background music
Once you have a video file with audio, follow these steps:
- Go to Facebook in your internet browser and click on the Stories section at the top of your News Feed.
- Click on “Create Story” and select the uploaded video from your computer files.
- Customize the video with text, stickers or drawings as desired.
- Post the Story as you normally would.
The music or audio from the video will be incorporated into your Facebook Story. This is an easy way to add high-quality audio tracks from external sources.
Adding an MP3 as a Sticker
You can also add an mp3 file directly as a music sticker within a Facebook Story on desktop. To do this:
- Click on “Create Story” and take or upload a photo or video for the main Story content.
- Click on the sticker icon and select “Music” from the menu.
- Click on “Add Sound” and upload your mp3 file from your computer.
- Position the music sticker where you want the audio to play.
- Customize the rest of the Story and post when ready.
The mp3 will play automatically when viewers reach that sticker while viewing your Story. Keep in mind that the audio length will be truncated to match the length of the Story.
This method allows you to add music and audio tracks without needing video editing software. However, the quality may not be as high as incorporating the audio into an actual video file.
Tips for Adding Music from a Computer
Here are some tips to make working with audio and music in Facebook Stories easier from the desktop:
- For better audio quality, edit the music into a video using software like iMovie or Premiere Rush before uploading.
- Choose mp3s with clear vocals or instrumentation to add as stickers.
- Use audio editing software like Audacity to trim mp3 tracks to 30 seconds or less.
- Boost quiet audio levels before uploading for clear playback.
- Add text captions to make music stickers more recognizable.
While the music options are more limited than the Facebook mobile app, you can still spice up desktop Stories with audio by getting creative.
Copyright Issues
When adding third-party music to Facebook Stories, it’s important to be mindful of copyright. Avoid using popular songs or recordings without permission from the artist. Some options include:
- Using music you created yourself.
- Using copyright-free music from creative commons sources.
- Using very short snippets of songs.
- Getting written permission from the artist.
Facebook may flag or remove Stories with unauthorized music usage. Follow copyright laws and fair use standards when sourcing audio tracks or mp3s to include.
Other Ways to Add Music
If you are primarily on desktop but want access to Facebook’s built-in music library for Stories, there are a couple options:
- Facebook Mobile App: Create the Story with music in the iOS or Android app, then save and continue editing on desktop.
- Facebook Creator Studio: This desktop tool for creators has options to search for and add Facebook’s licensed music.
So while you can’t directly add Facebook’s music catalog to Stories from the desktop website, you can either start in mobile or use Creator Studio for a wider selection.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having issues adding music to Facebook Stories from a computer, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure your audio files are in a supported format like mp3 or m4a.
- Check that the video you’re uploading plays properly on its own with sound.
- Verify the mp3 sticker has been added and displays a waveform icon.
- Try different web browsers if the music options aren’t appearing.
- Re-encode audio files at optimal settings for Facebook if necessary.
With some diligence, you can absolutely create Facebook Stories with music using just your desktop or laptop computer.
Conclusion
While the music integration for desktop Facebook Stories is more limited, you can still add audio tracks by preparing video files with sound ahead of time or adding mp3 stickers. Just ensure you have the proper copyrights, use audio editing software to optimize files, and troubleshoot issues as needed.
With a creative approach, you can produce engaging Facebook Stories with excellent music and audio even without direct access to Facebook’s built-in sounds on desktop. Focus on preparing high-quality files and applying best practices for an entertaining social media experience.