How to remove original sound on TikTok

Two things “original sound” can mean

On TikTok, “original sound” is the audio from your own recording. When you post a video without adding music, that audio is published as an original sound that other creators can use. So removing it can mean two different things: keeping your recording’s audio out of a new post, or taking down an original sound you already published. The steps are different.

Silence your recording before you post

1. In the TikTok app, tap the Add post + button, then record a video or tap Upload to pick one from your device.
2. Continue to the editing screen.
3. Open the sound or volume controls and drag the slider for your original sound all the way down. The control’s name and position change between app versions; look for a volume option with separate levels for the original sound and any added sound.
4. To add music, tap Sound, then Add sound, and choose or search for a track.
5. Preview the video with your phone’s sound on, then post.

Turning the original sound down only affects this post. The video saved on your phone keeps its sound, so you can still use it elsewhere with the audio intact.

If you have a Business Account, TikTok only lets you use music that’s licensed for commercial use.

Upload a video that’s already silent

Removing the audio before upload means there’s nothing to turn down in the editor, and no stray voices or background music can slip through. It’s also handy if you post the same clip to Instagram or YouTube, or if you edit in a desktop app and want the final upload to contain only the sound you add in TikTok.

1. Remove the sound from the file: in iPhone Photos tap Edit and the speaker icon, use QuickTime Player on Mac (Edit > Remove Audio) or Clipchamp on Windows, or use MuteVideo in a browser.
2. In TikTok, tap Add post +, then Upload, and select the silent video.
3. On the editing screen, tap Sound, then Add sound, and pick a track.
4. Preview and post.

TikTok accepts MP4, MOV and WebM uploads, with MP4 and H.264 recommended in its developer documentation.

Remove an original sound you already published

If other creators are using your original sound and you want it gone, TikTok lets you remove it everywhere at once.

1. In the TikTok app, open your video and tap the sound name at the bottom to go to the original sound screen.
2. Tap the Share button at the top.
3. Tap Remove sound, then tap Remove on the next screen and confirm.

This is permanent. The sound is removed from every video that uses it, including your own, and creators who used it are notified.