How to Check If a Song Is Copyrighted on YouTube

To check if a song is copyrighted on YouTube, the fastest method is to paste the song's official YouTube video URL into the Copyright Music Checker — it reads the licensed content flag and returns a verdict in 2 seconds. If you prefer to check directly in YouTube Studio before uploading, there is a Music Policies lookup built into the platform. This guide covers both methods and a third option for creators who want to avoid copyright risk entirely.

Method 1: Free Copyright Checker (Fastest)

Go to the YouTube Copyright Music Checker. Find the official YouTube video for the song (the artist's verified channel). Copy the URL. Paste it and click Check.

You get one of three verdicts:

• PASS — No licensed content flag. Low claim risk.
• WARN — Licensed content present or high-risk category. Proceed with caution.
• CLAIM LIKELY — Strong claim indicators. Use different audio.

This method works before you record or edit anything, which is when it is most useful.

Method 2: YouTube Studio Music Policies

YouTube has a built-in music policy database accessible through YouTube Studio:

1. Open YouTube Studio.
2. In the left menu, click Create, then Upload videos.
3. In the upload flow, you can check Copyright under the Details tab before the video goes live — but this only works if you have already created the video.

A more useful lookup: go to YouTube Studio and navigate to Music Policies in the left sidebar (it appears for some accounts). Search the song title. The result shows how the rights holder has configured their Content ID policy: Monetize (they collect revenue), Track (they monitor), or Block (they prevent the video from playing).

Block is the result to avoid. Monetize and Track are manageable — they reduce or eliminate your revenue from that video but do not threaten your channel.

Sell Custom Apparel — We Handle Printing & Free Shipping

Method 3: Use Pre-Cleared Tracks from the Audio Library

If you want to sidestep copyright checks entirely, use music from the YouTube Audio Library. Every track has been pre-cleared for use in YouTube videos. The library is accessible at studio.youtube.com under the Audio Library tab.

Filtering options in the library:

• Genre — electronic, pop, ambient, hip-hop, rock, and more
• Mood — happy, dramatic, calm, intense
• Duration — filter by track length
• Attribution required — some free tracks require a credit in the video description; filter these out if you prefer tracks with no attribution requirement

Tracks marked with a dollar sign icon require attribution in the description but are otherwise free to use.

What "Copyrighted" Actually Means on YouTube

Almost all professionally released music is copyrighted — meaning a rights holder owns it. The relevant question for YouTube creators is not "is this song copyrighted?" but "what will the rights holder do if I use it?"

Rights holders configure their Content ID policy at the song or album level. Options are:

• Monetize — They place ads on your video and collect the revenue. Your video stays up.
• Track — They monitor viewership data. No financial impact on you.
• Block — Your video is made unavailable in some or all countries.

Major labels (Universal, Sony, Warner) almost always choose Monetize. Independent artists vary — some block, some monetize, some ignore their catalog entirely. Indie folk, classical, and niche music are more unpredictable than mainstream pop.

Songs That Are Generally Safe to Use

Songs in the public domain are safe. In the US, compositions and sound recordings published before 1928 are in the public domain. However, a new performance or recording of a public domain song can itself be copyrighted — it is the specific recording that matters, not just the composition.

Creative Commons licensed music is safe when you follow the license terms. CC-BY (attribution) tracks require a credit in your description. CC-BY-SA (share-alike) tracks require derivative works to use the same license. CC0 tracks have no requirements at all.

The fastest way to find safe music: use YouTube Audio Library, Pixabay Music, ccMixter, or Free Music Archive — all pre-cleared libraries designed for video creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every song on YouTube copyrighted?

Most commercially released music is under copyright. "Copyrighted" by itself does not mean you cannot use it — it means a rights holder owns it and has configured a Content ID policy. That policy might be Monetize (they get the ad revenue), Track (no impact on you), or Block (video unavailable). Check before uploading to know which policy applies.

How do I know if a song is royalty-free?

Royalty-free means you pay once (or nothing) for the license, rather than paying per use. Most YouTube Audio Library tracks are free to use with no royalties. For third-party music, the rights holder must explicitly grant royalty-free use. "Free on Spotify" does not mean royalty-free for video.

Can a song be copyrighted but still okay to use?

Yes. If the rights holder has set a Monetize policy, you can use the song and they collect the ad revenue instead of you. Your video stays up, no strike risk. Only Block policies remove your video.

Does the copyright checker work for all songs?

It works for any song that has an official YouTube video. Paste the official artist upload URL. It does not work for songs that exist only on Spotify, Apple Music, or other platforms without a YouTube presence.