If you’re watching TikTok in a quiet place or simply don’t want to hear the sound, you may be wondering: how do you mute TikTok audio when watching a video? TikTok videos usually play with sound automatically, but there are several easy ways to mute the audio on both iPhone and Android devices.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to mute a single video, turn off sound while browsing TikTok, and stop videos from playing audio automatically.
Method 1: Use Your Phone’s Volume Buttons
The quickest way to mute TikTok is to lower your phone’s media volume.
Steps
- Open the TikTok app.
- Start playing a video.
- Press the Volume Down button on your phone until the volume reaches 0.
Once the media volume is muted, TikTok videos will play silently until you turn the volume back up.
Method 2: Tap the Screen to Mute (If Available)
On some versions of TikTok:
- Tap the video once.
- Look for a speaker icon.
- Tap the icon to mute or unmute the audio.
This option may not appear on all devices or app versions.
Method 3: Use Silent Mode on Your Phone
On iPhone
- Flip the Ring/Silent switch on the side of the phone to Silent.
Keep in mind that TikTok may still play media audio if your media volume is turned up, so lowering the volume is often more reliable.
On Android
- Turn on Silent or Vibrate mode from the quick settings panel.
Again, you may still need to reduce the media volume separately.
Method 4: Mute TikTok Before Opening It
If you want to browse TikTok without any sound from the start:
iPhone
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Drag the volume slider all the way down.
- Open TikTok.
Android
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Lower the media volume slider.
- Open TikTok.
Can You Turn Off Auto Sound on TikTok?
TikTok does not currently offer a built-in setting that permanently disables sound for all videos.
However, if your phone’s media volume is set to zero, videos will continue to play silently until you raise the volume again.
How to Watch TikTok Videos Silently With Captions
If you mute the audio, you can still understand many videos by using captions.
To enable captions
- Open a video.
- Tap the Share button.
- Select Captions or Auto captions (if available).
Many creators also add their own on-screen text.
Why Is TikTok Still Making Sound?
If audio continues to play after muting:
Check media volume
Make sure the media volume is at zero, not just the ringtone volume.
Close and reopen the app
Sometimes TikTok may not immediately respond to volume changes.
Check Bluetooth devices
Your phone may be connected to headphones or a speaker.
Restart your phone
A quick restart can fix temporary audio glitches.
Tips for Watching TikTok Quietly
- Lower the volume before opening the app.
- Use captions to follow videos without sound.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb if you’re in a meeting or classroom.
- Use headphones if you want to hear audio privately.
ALSO READ: How to make your favorites public on TikTok
