Remove Audio from Video on Any Device
You can remove audio from a video on any device—Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, or online—using free built-in tools or simple third-party apps. The method depends on your device and whether you want to keep the original file or create a new silent one. Below is a device-by-device guide, plus common problems and answers to frequent questions.
Why Remove Audio from a Video?
People remove audio for many reasons: to replace it with a voiceover or music, to remove background noise or wind, to create a silent clip for presentations, or to comply with copyright rules when posting online. The process is sometimes called “muting� or “stripping� audio, but the result is the same—a video track with no sound.
Keep in mind that removing audio is different from lowering the volume. Removing deletes the audio track entirely, so the file size may shrink slightly and the video will play with zero sound. If you only need to silence a portion, you might prefer to keep the audio and edit it instead.
On Windows (Built-in and Free Methods)
Windows 10 and 11 include the Photos app, which can mute a video without installing anything. Here’s how:
- Open the video in the Photos app (right-click → Open with → Photos).
- Click the Edit icon (pencil) in the top toolbar.
- Select Create a video with text (or “Trim� if you see it).
- Click the Volume icon (speaker) at the bottom and drag the slider to 0.
- Click Export or Save a copy to create a new silent file.
If you prefer a dedicated tool, VLC Media Player (free, open-source) can do it via a command-line option, but it’s not user-friendly. A simpler free option is Audacity (for audio only) or HandBrake (video converter) where you can set the audio track to “none.�
On Mac (QuickTime and iMovie)
macOS has two built-in ways:
- QuickTime Player (free, pre-installed): Open the video, go to Edit → Remove Audio. The audio track is deleted immediately. Save a copy with File → Export As → choose a resolution.
- iMovie (free from the App Store): Import the video, drag it to the timeline, right-click on the audio portion (green wave) and choose Detach Audio, then select the detached audio and press Delete. Export via File → Share → File.
QuickTime’s method is the fastest—just one click. iMovie gives you more control if you want to keep part of the audio.
On iPhone and iPad (Built-in and Third-Party)
iOS does not have a native “remove audio� button in the Photos app, but you can use the Shortcuts app (pre-installed) with a simple automation:
- Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
- Add the action Get Latest Video (or “Select Video�).
- Add the action Set Video Volume and set it to 0.
- Add Save to Photo Album or Share to save the silent video.
If that seems complex, free apps like iMovie (from Apple) work the same as on Mac: import, detach audio, delete, export. There are also paid apps like Video Mute that do it in one tap, but the free Shortcuts method is enough for most people.
On Android (Google Photos and Other Apps)
Android has no universal built-in tool, but Google Photos (pre-installed on many phones) can mute a video:
- Open the video in Google Photos.
- Tap the Edit (pencil) icon.
- Tap the Volume icon (speaker) and drag the slider to 0.
- Tap Save copy.
If you don’t have Google Photos, install a free app like Video Mute or InShot (free with ads). In InShot, import the video, tap “Audio� and then “Mute� (or delete the audio track), then export. Always check that the app doesn’t add a watermark in the free version—some do.
Online Tools (No Installation)
If you don’t want to install anything, online tools like Clideo, Kapwing, or VEED.io let you upload a video, mute it, and download the result. The steps are similar:
- Go to the site and upload your video.
- Find the “Mute� or “Remove audio� button.
- Download the silent video.
Be aware of privacy: uploading a sensitive video to a free online service means it’s stored on their servers (at least temporarily). Check the site’s privacy policy if the content is private. Also, free versions often limit file size (e.g., 500 MB) or add a watermark.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
- “Remove Audio� is greyed out in QuickTime: This happens if the video is in a format QuickTime can’t edit (e.g., some MKV files). Convert it first to MP4 using HandBrake, then try again.
- Photos app on Windows doesn’t show volume slider: Make sure you’re in the “Trim� or “Create a video� mode, not just viewing. If it still doesn’t work, use a third-party tool.
- Google Photos saves a copy but still has sound: Double-check that the volume slider is at 0, not just low. Some phones have a “Mute� toggle that you must enable.
- Shortcuts app doesn’t have “Set Video Volume�: This action only appears if you have a video file selected. Drag the “Get Latest Video� action first, then search for “Set Video Volume.�
- Online tool adds a watermark: That’s how free tools make money. Either pay for the premium version or use a desktop app that doesn’t watermark.
How to Choose the Right Method
Your choice depends on three factors: device, privacy, and whether you need to edit other things (like trimming or adding music).
- Quickest one-off: QuickTime on Mac (one click) or Google Photos on Android (two taps).
- No install, any device: Online tools, but avoid for sensitive content.
- Full editing: iMovie (Mac/iOS) or Windows Photos—both let you trim, add music, or adjust volume later.
- Batch processing: HandBrake on desktop can remove audio from multiple files at once (set audio to “none� in the Audio tab).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing audio reduce video quality?
No. Removing audio only deletes the audio track; the video frames remain untouched. However, if you re-export the video, the compression settings may affect quality. To avoid quality loss, choose the highest export resolution available (e.g., 1080p or 4K) and use a high bitrate if the option exists.
Can I remove audio without re-encoding the video?
Yes, but it requires a tool that supports “stream copy� or “no re-encode� mode. For example, FFmpeg (command-line) can copy the video stream and drop the audio with the command ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -an -c copy output.mp4. This is fast and lossless, but it’s not user-friendly for beginners.
Will the file size change after removing audio?
Yes, the file size will be slightly smaller because the audio track is removed. The amount depends on the audio bitrate and length—a 10-minute video with a 128 kbps audio track will lose about 9.6 MB. If you re-encode the video, the size may change more significantly.
Is it legal to remove audio from a video?
Removing audio from your own video is always legal. For videos you don’t own, removing audio does not grant you copyright permission to use the video. The visual content is still protected. If you’re editing a video for fair use (e.g., criticism, commentary), removing audio may be part of that, but it’s not a blanket legal shield.
Can I remove audio from a live video or a video call recording?
Yes, the same methods work for any video file, including screen recordings, video call recordings, or live streams saved to your device. The audio track is just a separate stream, so muting it works the same way.
What if I only want to remove audio from a specific part of the video?
You’ll need a video editor that supports splitting. In iMovie or Windows Photos, split the clip at the start and end of the section, then detach and delete the audio for that segment only. Alternatively, use a tool like Audacity (for audio) or Shotcut (free video editor) to mute a specific range.
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