TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. One of the key features of TikTok is the ability to add music or sounds to your videos.
However, many users report issues with the audio in their TikTok videos being out of sync.
If you’ve noticed that the sound is not properly synced up with the visuals in your TikTok videos, there are a few things you can try to fix it.
Why TikTok Sound Is Not Syncing
Before digging into potential solutions, it’s helpful to understand what might be causing the audio sync problems in the first place. Here are some of the common culprits:
Internet Connectivity
One of the most common reasons for TikTok audio sync issues is poor internet connectivity. TikTok relies on having a stable internet connection to be able to properly sync up the audio and visual elements.
If you are experiencing frequent lag, buffering, or connection drops while using TikTok, this can interrupt the syncing process. Try troubleshooting your internet connection or move to a location with a stronger WiFi or cellular signal.
Device Compatibility
TikTok is compatible with most modern smartphones and tablets. However, some older or less powerful devices may struggle to keep up with the encoding/decoding demands of the app.
Using an older device with limited processing power could result in syncing issues. Upgrading to a newer device may help resolve audio problems.
App or Software Bugs
Like any software application, TikTok can suffer from coding bugs or glitches that affect performance. App updates for TikTok are released frequently, so make sure you are running the latest version.
Also check for any OS or firmware updates available for your device, as these can also impact app functionality.
Heavy App Usage
TikTok relies on compressing and encoding audio and visual data for efficient streaming. Using lots of apps simultaneously or having many resource-intensive apps running in the background can place extra strain on your device.
Try closing out of other apps before using TikTok to free up processing power.
Video File Issues
If you are uploading a video from your camera roll rather than recording directly in the TikTok app, the source video file itself could be the issue.
Ensure the video file is not corrupted and that both the audio and video tracks were encoded properly during recording. Re-encoding the video before uploading may help.
Damaged Hardware
In rare cases, physical damage to your device could be the culprit. Issues like a malfunctioning microphone, glitchy audio jack, or cracked screen can end up interrupting the audio signal.
Inspect your device thoroughly and consider taking it to a repair shop if you suspect hardware damage.
How to Fix Tiktok Sound Sync Not Working
here are the top troubleshooting tips and fixes to try:
Testing to Confirm It’s a TikTok Problem
Before spending time troubleshooting your device or connection, first be sure the audio sync issue is specifically a problem with TikTok. An easy way to test this is to play back TikTok videos saved on your device’s camera roll or storage.
If the sync is off when watching those same videos in your device’s video player, the issue is likely with the source files rather than TikTok.
You can also try uploading problem videos to another platform like Instagram or Facebook to see if the sync remains off. If the audio plays perfectly on other apps, you can confirm TikTok is the root of the problem.
Finally, attempt recording and posting brand new videos directly within the TikTok app. If fresh TikTok recordings are in sync while your existing videos are not, your device and connection are probably fine. Focus efforts instead on the individual video files or TikTok settings.
Restart TikTok to Fix the Sound Not Syncing Issue
A simple app restart is one of the easiest first steps for any app glitch. Completely close out of the TikTok app either by swiping it away from your multitasking view or by manually force quitting it.
Give your device a few seconds before re-launching TikTok to start fresh. This refresh clears out any temporary bugs or hiccups that may be interrupting sync.
Update the App
As mentioned earlier, running the very latest version of TikTok is key as developers are constantly releasing patches and performance improvements with each update.
If your TikTok sound is not working, an update can generally fix this issue.
In the App Store or Google Play Store, check that you have the most up-to-date version of TikTok installed. If an update is available, download and install it, then test videos again.
Reinstall the App
If TikTok updates are current but videos remain out of sync, the next step is to uninstall and reinstall the app entirely. This clears out any corrupted data or cache files that may be causing conflicts.
After uninstalling, restart your device then re-download TikTok from the app store. Attempt uploading a problem video again after reinstalling.
Toggle Airplane Mode
As a quick fix for connectivity issues, try briefly enabling Airplane Mode on your device before recording TikToks. Airplane Mode will forcibly disconnect and reconnect your WiFi or cellular signal which may resolve temporary glitches.
Once you’ve recorded the video with Airplane Mode enabled, you can turn it back off before posting the TikTok.
Use a Stable Connection
Experiment with different internet connections to see if that impacts audio sync consistency. For example, switch from WiFi to mobile data or vice versa.
Move to different locations in your home or office and run speed tests to determine the most solid connection. Also make sure not to attempt uploads during periods of peak bandwidth usage in your home when connections are congested.
Close Background Apps
As referenced earlier, other apps running in the background can interfere with TikTok’s performance. Before recording or uploading TikToks exhibiting sync problems, close out of all apps you aren’t currently using.
Force quit or swipe away things like messaging, streaming music, email, and social media apps to devote maximum processing power to TikTok.
Disable Video Enhancement Features
Some camera and video recording apps apply enhancements like stabilization or audio normalization by default. While well-intentioned, these extra processing steps can sometimes disrupt sync.
Try disabling any video or audio enhancements when recording source files intended for TikTok. Record natively with enhancements off.
Use Recommended File Formats
Review TikTok’s guidelines for recommended video formats and specs. For example, they suggest using .MP4 or .MOV formats encoded with H.264 compression for best results.
Avoid uploading files using codecs not optimized for TikTok like .AVI, .WMV, or older compression standards. Reworking files into one of TikTok’s ideal formats can improve performance.
Trim Problem Videos
If you notice sync issues primarily at the very start or end of longer videos, try trimming them to remove the problem segments.
Use your device’s built-in video trimmer or an app like InShot to shave off excess footage before and after the primary content. The remaining video core should sync properly when uploaded.
Adjust Audio Offset
For minor sync discrepancies, you may be able to realign sound by slightly adjusting audio offset in editing tools.
In the TikTok app, tap “Edit video” then tap the music note icon at the bottom. Use the offset slider to shift audio earlier or later relative to the video to achieve better lip sync.
Use TikTok’s Tools
In the TikTok editing interface, try tapping “Adjust to the beat” or “Sync to audio.” These auto-syncing features will algorithmically snap the visuals to align better with any music or audio track.
While not perfect, they may help improve sync and lip match in many cases with a single tap.
Record Short Videos
Very long videos with complex edits tend to be more prone to sync issues on TikTok. Try recording shorter 5-15 second straightforward clips when possible by tapping and holding the record button briefly.
These quick videos require less processing and are less likely to lose sync. You can always stitch short segments together later as needed.
Upgrade Your Device
If you are using an older device close to the end of its lifespan, its hardware may simply be too underpowered to reliably sync TikTok audio.
While you can try the steps above to optimize performance, upgrading to a newer device with a faster processor and more RAM may be the ultimate solution.
Use Recommended Devices
Research devices officially recommended or used by top TikTok creators themselves for a better experience. Current iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models are generally advised.
Tablets like iPad Pros can also deliver great results. Consider switching devices if possible.
Connect External Mics
Rather than relying on built-in smartphone mics, use external microphones to record higher quality audio. External mics typically capture richer sound with better isolation.
The improved audio input gives TikTok’s algorithms more to work with when syncing to video. Choose mics suited for recording music, podcasts or interviews.
Report Bug to TikTok
Even if all else fails, reporting sync issues directly to TikTok can help. Open TikTok and tap your profile icon > Settings and Privacy > Report a Problem.
Thoroughly document the issue and provide examples of videos exhibiting sync problems. TikTok engineers can then investigate and ideally implement fixes in future app updates.
Preventing TikTok Audio Sync Problems
Once you get audio properly synced again, you can take proactive measures to avoid sync issues reoccurring in the future:
- Record videos when connected to WiFi for best performance
- Close unused apps before recording to maximize processing resources
- Use newest phone models with faster processors and upgraded camera hardware
- Stick to short 5-15 second video segments without heavy editing
- Avoid uploading old or re-encoded video files when possible
- Check for TikTok app updates frequently to get the latest fixes
- Report any new or ongoing issues directly to TikTok right away
When to Seek Additional Help
If you have worked through all troubleshooting tips without improvement, you may need to seek out additional help:
- Contact TikTok support directly via in-app messaging
- Post in TikTok user forums describing your issue for crowdsourced advice
- Consult with your device manufacturer’s customer support if you suspect hardware issues
- Consider resetting your device to factory settings to rule out any software corruption
- For serious recurring problems, consider booking an appointment with an experienced mobile device repair technician
By following this comprehensive guide, you should hopefully be able to get TikTok’s audio and video properly synced again. Just be patient, work methodically through different solutions, and don’t hesitate to ask the larger TikTok community for assistance. With some time and troubleshooting, you can finally enjoy creating perfectly synced TikTok videos once more.
Common TikTok Sound Sync Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about fixing TikTok sound sync problems:
Why is my TikTok audio slightly off?
Minor TikTok sync issues of a few hundred milliseconds are typically caused by encoding glitches or connectivity delays. Try toggling Airplane mode, moving locations, or adjusting audio offset to realign slightly off sync.
How do I sync audio on TikTok during editing?
In the TikTok editor, tap the music note icon then use the audio offset slider to shift sound earlier or later relative to video as needed. The “Adjust to beat” and “Sync to audio” buttons can also auto-align audio.
What video format does TikTok use?
TikTok recommends uploading videos encoded using H.264 compression and formatted as .MP4 or .MOV files for best sync and performance. Avoid outdated codecs like .AVI or .WMV which are not optimized for TikTok.
Why is TikTok unable to sync my sound?
Receiving a “TikTok is unable to sync this sound” error usually means the source video file itself is corrupted or encoded incorrectly. Try re-exporting the video in a recommended format before uploading.
How can I improve video quality on TikTok?
Upgrading to a new high-end smartphone, closing other apps before recording, using a tripod, and filming in well-lit conditions can all help improve TikTok video and thus sync quality.
Can you add sound to a TikTok after posting?
Unfortunately no, TikTok does not allow adding or swapping audio after a video is posted. You will need to delete the TikTok and re-upload it with the desired sound synced properly in the initial upload.
