To remove the sound from a video on your iPhone, open the video in the Photos app and tap Edit. Tap the speaker icon in the top-left corner so it shows a line through it (muted), then tap Done. The video now plays silently everywhere, including when you share it. You can bring the sound back anytime by editing the video again and tapping the speaker icon, or by choosing Revert.
Here’s how to mute a video, share a silent copy while keeping the original, and turn down sound only for part of a video.
How to mute a video in Photos
- Open Photos and tap the video.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Tap the speaker icon at the top left. It changes to a muted icon with a line through it.
- Tap Done.
Keep the original with sound
Editing in Photos changes the video everywhere it’s synced, although you can undo it. To keep both versions:
- Open the video, tap the More (three dots) button, and choose Duplicate.
- Mute the duplicate using the steps above.
How to unmute the video
- Open the video, tap Edit, and tap the muted speaker icon to turn sound back on. Tap Done.
- Or tap Edit > Revert > Revert to Original to undo all edits.
Mute only part of a video
Photos can only mute the whole video. To silence just a section, use iMovie (free from Apple):
- Create a new movie project in iMovie and add the video.
- Tap the clip in the timeline, tap Actions (scissors), and use Split to separate the part you want silent.
- Select that part, tap Volume, and drag the slider to zero or tap the mute button.
- Tap Done and share or save the video.
Related: How to use Audio Mix on iPhone videos.
Frequently asked questions
Will muting the video reduce its file size?
Not much. The audio track is small compared to the video.
Can I mute a video before sharing it in Messages?
Yes. Mute it in Photos first, then share it. The recipient gets the silent version.
Why don’t I see the speaker icon?
Make sure you’re editing a video, not a Live Photo. For Live Photos, tap Live in Edit mode and tap the speaker there.
Does this work on iPad?
Yes. The steps are the same in Photos on iPad.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.