How to Add Music to Your BeReal: A Step-by-Step Guide

BeReal, the social media app that encourages authenticity by prompting users to share a daily, unfiltered snapshot of their lives, has taken the internet by storm. While its core functionality revolves around capturing spontaneous moments, many users are eager to personalize their BeReals even further. A common question is: can you add music to BeReal? Currently, BeReal doesn’t offer a direct, built-in feature to add music directly *within* the app itself like you might find on Instagram or TikTok. However, there are creative workarounds to subtly incorporate your favorite tunes into your BeReal experience. This article will guide you through different methods to add music *around* your BeReal, effectively sharing your soundtrack with your friends.

## Understanding BeReal’s Limitations

Before diving into the workarounds, it’s crucial to understand BeReal’s core philosophy. The app emphasizes real-time, unedited moments. Adding music directly would introduce an element of post-production, potentially detracting from the app’s core value of authenticity. This is likely why BeReal hasn’t implemented a direct music integration feature.

Therefore, the methods we’ll explore focus on incorporating music *indirectly* – by capturing the music playing in your environment, using background music during the BeReal notification, or showcasing your music taste in creative ways outside the app.

## Method 1: Capturing Ambient Music During Your BeReal

This is the most straightforward and arguably the most ‘BeReal’ approach. It involves playing music in the background while taking your BeReal. The app’s microphone will pick up the ambient sound, including your chosen music, effectively incorporating it into your post.

**Steps:**

1. **Choose Your Music:** Select the song or playlist you want to feature. Consider the vibe you’re going for and how it complements the activity you’re capturing in your BeReal. Are you studying? Perhaps some chill instrumental music. Are you at a concert? The live music is already the star!

2. **Set the Stage:** Position your phone and music source (speaker, headphones, etc.) strategically. You want the music to be audible in the BeReal but not so loud that it drowns out other sounds or becomes distorted. Experiment with the distance between your phone and the music source to find the right balance.

3. **Start Playing the Music:** Begin playing your chosen music *before* the BeReal notification goes off. This ensures the music is already playing when you take your picture.

4. **Wait for the BeReal Notification:** Be patient! You only have a two-minute window to capture your BeReal after the daily notification. Have your phone ready and your music playing.

5. **Take Your BeReal:** When the notification arrives, quickly open the app and capture your photo and selfie. Remember to be quick – the two-minute window is ticking! The music playing in the background will be recorded along with your voices and other ambient sounds.

6. **Post Your BeReal:** Review your BeReal to ensure the music is audible and not overpowering. If you’re satisfied, post it!

**Tips and Considerations:**

* **Music Volume:** Finding the right volume is key. Too loud, and the music will be overwhelming. Too quiet, and it will be barely noticeable. Do a test run before the actual BeReal notification to fine-tune the volume.
* **Music Choice:** Choose music that complements your activity and mood. Consider the overall vibe you want to convey.
* **Background Noise:** Be mindful of other background noise. A noisy environment can compete with the music and make it difficult to hear clearly.
* **Copyright:** While this method is unlikely to trigger copyright issues on BeReal due to its incidental nature, be aware of potential copyright implications if you plan to share your BeReal on other platforms.

## Method 2: Using Music During the BeReal Notification (The ‘Soundtrack to My Life’ Approach)

This method focuses on creating a specific audio experience when the BeReal notification goes off. It’s more about associating a song with the *anticipation* of the BeReal moment rather than the moment itself.

**Steps:**

1. **Choose Your Song:** Select a song that represents your current mood, activity, or overall ‘vibe.’ This could be your current favorite song, a song that motivates you, or a song that simply makes you happy.

2. **Play the Song Before the Notification:** Throughout the day, play your chosen song periodically. The goal is to have the song playing when the BeReal notification arrives. You can use a simple timer or just try to time it randomly.

3. **Take Your BeReal (with Music Playing):** When the BeReal notification goes off, and your chosen song is playing, quickly open the app and take your picture. The music will be captured in the background, as described in Method 1.

4. **Refine and Repeat:** Experiment with different songs and timing strategies to find what works best for you. This method is all about creating a personalized soundtrack to your BeReal experience.

**Tips and Considerations:**

* **Spontaneity:** While this method involves some planning, try to maintain a sense of spontaneity. Don’t become too obsessed with perfectly timing the music and the notification.
* **Song Repetition:** Be aware that playing the same song repeatedly throughout the day might become tiresome. Consider creating a short playlist of songs that you enjoy.
* **Alternative: Ambient Soundscapes:** Instead of music, consider using ambient soundscapes (e.g., rain sounds, nature sounds) to create a specific atmosphere around your BeReal notification.

## Method 3: Sharing Your Music Taste Outside of BeReal (Indirect Influence)

This method doesn’t directly involve adding music to your BeReal posts. Instead, it focuses on sharing your music taste with your BeReal friends through other platforms and then subtly referencing it in your BeReal.

**Steps:**

1. **Share Your Music:** Use platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music to create playlists and share them with your BeReal friends. You can share links directly in your BeReal captions (though they won’t be clickable) or via other messaging apps.

2. **Reference Your Music in Your BeReal:** After sharing your playlist, subtly reference it in your BeReal. For example, if you shared a playlist called “Morning Vibes,” you could take a BeReal of yourself drinking coffee and add a caption like “Enjoying my Morning Vibes playlist!” or just write “Morning Vibes” if your friends know about the playlist.

3. **Get Creative with Visuals:** Include visual cues related to your music in your BeReal. For example, if you’re listening to a particular artist, you could include their album cover in the background of your photo.

**Tips and Considerations:**

* **Consistency:** Be consistent with your music sharing. Regularly update your playlists and share them with your friends.
* **Engagement:** Encourage your friends to listen to your playlists and share their own music recommendations.
* **Humor:** Inject humor into your music-related BeReals. For example, you could share a BeReal of yourself reacting to a particularly cheesy song.

## Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps (Proceed with Caution)

While there are no third-party apps that directly integrate with BeReal to add music, some users explore creative workarounds using screen recording or video editing techniques. However, it’s crucial to proceed with caution when using third-party apps.

**The Concept (Advanced and Risky):**

The basic idea is to create a short video with your chosen music and then capture a BeReal *of* that video playing on your screen. This is a complex and potentially time-consuming process, and the results may not be ideal.

**Why This is Risky:**

* **Violation of BeReal’s Terms:** This method could potentially violate BeReal’s terms of service, as it involves manipulating the app’s intended functionality.
* **Security Risks:** Downloading and using unofficial third-party apps can expose your phone to security risks, such as malware and data theft.
* **Quality Issues:** The quality of the music and video may be significantly reduced during the screen recording and BeReal capture process.

**We strongly advise against using this method due to the potential risks involved.** BeReal is designed to be authentic and unfiltered, and trying to manipulate the app in this way can detract from its core value.

## Ethical Considerations: Authenticity vs. Personalization

The desire to add music to BeReal highlights the tension between authenticity and personalization in social media. BeReal’s core value is its emphasis on real-time, unfiltered moments. Adding music directly would introduce an element of post-production, potentially detracting from this authenticity. However, users also want to express themselves and share their personality through their BeReal posts.

The methods described in this article aim to strike a balance between these two values. They allow you to incorporate music into your BeReal experience without directly manipulating the app or compromising its core principles. The key is to be mindful of the app’s intended purpose and to use these methods in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, the authenticity of your posts.

## BeReal Feature Requests: The Future of Music on BeReal

While there is no direct way to add music to BeReal currently, the app’s developers are constantly working on new features and improvements. If you would like to see music integration on BeReal, you can submit a feature request through the app’s feedback channels.

To submit a feature request:

1. **Open the BeReal app.**
2. **Go to your profile.**
3. **Tap the three dots (menu) in the top right corner.**
4. **Select “Contact Us” or “Help Center”.**
5. **Look for a feedback or feature request option.**
6. **Submit your suggestion for music integration.**

By submitting a feature request, you can help shape the future of BeReal and potentially influence the development of new features that allow users to personalize their posts in meaningful ways.

## Conclusion: Embrace the Creative Workarounds

While BeReal doesn’t offer a built-in music feature, there are several creative workarounds to incorporate your favorite tunes into your BeReal experience. Whether you choose to capture ambient music, create a personalized soundtrack to your BeReal notification, or share your music taste through other platforms, the key is to be mindful of the app’s core values and to use these methods in a way that enhances the authenticity of your posts. Embrace the limitations of BeReal as a creative challenge and find innovative ways to express yourself through your daily snapshots. Remember to always be mindful of potential copyright issues and to avoid using third-party apps that could compromise your phone’s security. Ultimately, the most important thing is to have fun and share your authentic self with your friends on BeReal.