TikTok is a loud place. Honestly, it’s a sensory assault by design. You open the app at 11:30 PM, and suddenly, a bass-boosted remix of a sea shanty is screaming at you while your partner sleeps two feet away. We've all been there. Learning how to mute videos on TikTok isn't just a technical necessity; it’s a survival skill for your social life and your eardrums.
The app wants you to hear everything. Sound is half the "For You" page (FYP) experience. But sometimes you just want to see the recipe, read the captions, or lurk in peace. TikTok doesn't make it as obvious as a giant "Mute All" button on the home screen, which is annoying but typical for an app built on engagement metrics. You have to know where the toggles are hidden.
The Fastest Ways to Mute Videos on TikTok Right Now
Most people think they have to fiddle with their phone's physical volume buttons. That works, sure. But it’s clunky. If you’re looking for a way to make the app stay quiet by default, you need to dive into the playback settings.
Go to your profile. Tap those three lines in the top right. Hit "Settings and privacy." Scroll down until you see "Playback." There’s a toggle there called "Open TikTok on mute." Toggle that on. Now, whenever you launch the app, it won't scream at you. It’s a lifesaver. You’ll see a little speaker icon with an 'X' on the video; you just tap that if you actually want to hear something.
But what if you're already scrolling?
If you're mid-scroll and a video is too loud, the quickest way to silence it without affecting your overall phone volume is to long-press the middle of the screen. A menu pops up. Most people use this to "Clear display" or "Save video," but look closely. Depending on your region and app version, there is often a "Mute" option right there in that popup menu.
Why the "Mute" Button Disappears
TikTok is notorious for A/B testing features. This means your friend might have a dedicated mute button on their screen, but you don't. Tech analysts at The Verge and TechCrunch have noted for years that ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) constantly shifts UI elements to see what keeps people watching longer. If you don't see the mute button, you're likely in a test group where TikTok is prioritizing "Sound On" engagement.
In those cases, your best bet is the volume rocker on the side of your iPhone or Android. Or, if you use wireless earbuds like AirPods or Galaxy Buds, just popping one out usually triggers a "pause," but some users prefer to just tap the earbud to mute if they've mapped that gesture in their settings.
🔗 Read more: Why Did Google Call My S25 Ultra an S22? The Real Reason Your New Phone Looks Old Online
Muting Your Own Content Before You Post
Nothing is worse than filming a great clip at a concert or a busy street and realizing the background noise is just... wind and static. It ruins the vibe. If you want to know how to mute videos on TikTok that you are currently editing, the process is slightly different.
When you’re on the editing screen, look for the "Volume" tool. It’s usually tucked away in the right-hand sidebar. Once you tap it, you’ll see two sliders: "Original sound" and "Added sound."
To completely silence your raw footage, drag the "Original sound" slider all the way to zero. Now you have a silent canvas. From here, you can add a trending track or a voiceover without that awkward background hum of a refrigerator or traffic.
Dealing with Copyright Mutes
Sometimes, TikTok mutes you. You'll see that dreaded "Sound removed due to copyright restrictions" notification. This usually happens because you used a song that isn't licensed for commercial use or the artist's label pulled the rights—think back to the massive Universal Music Group (UMG) fallout in early 2024.
When this happens, your video stays up, but it's a silent movie. To fix it, you have to tap the notification, select "Replace sound," and pick a new track from TikTok’s approved library. You can't just "unmute" a copyright strike.
Silence While Recording: Is It Possible?
People often ask if they can record a TikTok in total silence from the jump. Not really. The app’s camera is designed to capture audio.
However, a "pro" workaround used by many creators is to plug in a pair of headphones with a microphone. The app will then pull audio from the mic. If you leave the mic in another room or cover it, you get a much cleaner, quieter track to work with later.
💡 You might also like: Brain Machine Interface: What Most People Get Wrong About Merging With Computers
Or, honestly? Just record it with the noise and kill the volume in post-production. It takes three seconds and gives you more control.
Muting Specific Users or Sounds You Hate
Sometimes it’s not about muting the volume; it’s about muting the vibe. If a specific "original sound" is driving you crazy because it’s being used in every third video, you can actually filter it out.
- Tap the "Share" arrow on a video using the annoying sound.
- Tap "Not interested."
- Sometimes, a "Details" link appears—tap that to "Hide videos with this sound."
This tells the algorithm to stop serving you that specific audio. It’s a "soft mute" for your sanity.
If it’s a specific creator who is just too loud or annoying, the "Mute" function on TikTok is actually called "Block." TikTok doesn't have a "Mute User" feature like X (formerly Twitter) where you still follow them but don't see their posts. On TikTok, it's all or nothing. If you don't want to hear them, you have to unfollow or block.
Watching TikTok in Public Places
We've all seen that person on the bus or in a waiting room blasting TikToks at 100% volume. Don't be that person.
If you’re in public, the "Open TikTok on mute" setting mentioned earlier is your best friend. But also, take advantage of auto-captions. Most videos now have them. If a video doesn't have captions, you can long-press the video and select "Captions" to see if TikTok can generate them on the fly. This allows you to "watch" the audio without actually hearing it.
Why Some Videos Can't Be Muted
Occasionally, you'll run into a glitch. The app hangs, and the sound keeps playing even after you close it. This is a cache issue.
📖 Related: Spectrum Jacksonville North Carolina: What You’re Actually Getting
If you can't get the sound to stop, go to your phone settings, find the TikTok app, and "Force Stop." Then, clear your cache within the app settings. This usually resets the audio engine and fixes any ghost sounds that are haunting your phone.
Actionable Steps to Master Your TikTok Audio
To take total control of your experience and never be embarrassed by a loud video again, follow these steps immediately.
First, go into your Settings and Privacy > Playback and enable "Open TikTok on mute." This is the single most important change you can make. It ensures that the app only makes noise when you decide it's okay.
Second, if you're a creator, get into the habit of checking your Volume sliders every single time you post. Never assume the background noise is "quiet enough." It usually isn't. Drag that original sound to zero and use the "Added sound" at 100% for a professional, clean feel.
Third, use the "Not Interested" button aggressively. The TikTok algorithm learns fast. If you skip videos within the first two seconds because the audio is grating, and you tell the app you're not interested, your FYP will become a much more pleasant place within a few days.
Managing how you interact with sound on the platform fundamentally changes how you use the app. It turns a chaotic, loud experience into something you can actually enjoy while waiting for a coffee or lying in bed at night. Silence, in the world of TikTok, is definitely a luxury you have to set up for yourself.