Add a media to timeline

Last updated on Mar 23, 2026

Learn to import, add, and organize video, audio, and image assets in the timeline.

Try it in the app
Add media files to the timeline in a few simple steps.

Adding media to the timeline involves importing your video, audio, and image assets into the project. Once imported, these assets can be placed onto the timeline, where you can begin arranging, trimming, and layering them to build your video sequence.

Before you begin

Identify the media assets you want to work with and create a project.

On the Video Editor page, select Select files to upload media files from your device or using Adobe Stock.

The Add your media section is open and you have the option to drag and drop the media or use Select files to upload files from the local device. — Upload files from the local device or using Adobe Stock.

Once the media is uploaded, it automatically gets added to the timeline.

Alternatively, you can select the Your media icon in the left sidebar to activate the Your media panel, and then the Select files option to add media files from your local device or Adobe Stock.

The Your media option is highlighted in the Firefly Video Editor page. — Use the Your media panel to add files to your project and then the timeline.

Once the media is added to the Your media panel, you can drag and drop it into the timeline or right-click to open the context menu and select:

Add to end of main track: Add image and video files toward the end of an existing timeline or create a new timeline if it doesn't exist.
Add to playhead: Add audio files to the timeline where the playhead is positioned as the main audio track if no audio exists. If an audio clip already exists on the timeline, it's added to a new track.
Add to timeline: Add audio files at the playhead in the timeline, and video or image toward the end of the main track.

The Your media panel is populated with a media clip and displays the context menu with the option to Add media to end of track. — You can also select Rename to change the name of a media file, or Delete to remove it from the project.

If you want to add more media files to the timeline, you can use the Add icon in the Your media panel to add media by:

Uploading files from your device by selecting Upload media .
Adding free or licensed stock files by selecting Adobe Stock .

Once added, you can drag and drop the files onto the timeline.

The Add option in the Your media panel is highlighted and expanded to display the options Upload media, Adobe Stock, and New timeline. — Use the Add option in the Your media panel to add new media files to the project and then to the timeline.

Tip

You can also generate new videos directly within the editor using the Firefly Video model, which offers multiple customizable controls, including resolution, aspect ratio, keyframe images, style presets, and camera angle.

Turn text into art with Adobe Firefly
Create beautiful images and video clips from text prompts using generative AI.

Open the app

Add text to the timeline

Learn

Learn with step-by-step video tutorials and hands-on guidance right in the app.

Community

Join discussions, find answers, learn from experts, and share your knowledge.

Adobe Home

Access your favorite Creative Cloud apps, services, file management, and more.