Audio & playback
Why is my TikTok video muted? Music rights and fixes
Short answer
TikTok mutes audio when the sound is not licensed for how you used it: copyrighted music added outside TikTok's library, non-commercial music on a business account, or a sound that is not available for long videos. If your own voice is missing instead, the export or the microphone is the cause. Use a sound from TikTok's library that fits your account type, or post your original audio.
Key takeaways
- TikTok mutes sound that is not licensed for how you used it: copyrighted music added from outside TikTok, or non-commercial music on a business account.
- Business accounts cannot use music that is not licensed for commercial use; personal accounts can use it in non-commercial posts (TikTok Help).
- Some sounds are not available for long videos and disappear from your favorites when you upload one; set the length to 15 or 60 seconds to use them.
- If your own voice is missing, the file or the microphone permission is the cause, not a rights mute.
- Rights holders' licenses change, so older videos can be muted later even if they were fine when posted.
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| "Sound removed" or muted after posting | Music detected that isn't licensed for your post | Replace with a library sound (step 1) |
| Business account, popular songs missing | Business accounts can only use commercially licensed music | Use the commercial library (step 2) |
| Favorite sound missing for a long video | Some sounds aren't available for long videos | Set length to 15s or 60s (step 3) |
| Your voice missing, no message | Silent or PCM/multichannel export, or mic access | Re-export with AAC; check mic (step 4) |
| Others' TikToks silent too | Device volume, silent mode or Bluetooth | Check the phone (step 5) |
| One old video muted all of a sudden | The track's license changed | Re-post with a different sound |
| Your own voice silent | Export or microphone problem | Check the file and microphone permission |
Fix it step by step
Replace unlicensed music
Music added in your editor is checked like any other audio. If it isn't licensed for TikTok, the post may be muted. Add the song through TikTok's Add sound instead, or use royalty-free audio you have rights to.
Business accounts: use commercial sounds
TikTok says business accounts cannot use music that isn't licensed for commercial use. Pick from the commercial sound library, or post non-commercial content from a personal account.
Long videos have fewer sounds
If you upload a long video, sounds not available for long videos disappear from your favorites. TikTok's fix: set the video length to 15s or 60s on the recording page.
Fix the file or the microphone
Export audio as AAC stereo at 48 kHz; uncompressed PCM or 5.1 tracks can lose sound. When recording in the app, TikTok asks you to make sure sound is recorded from the device's native camera and that earphones or Bluetooth devices work.
Check playback
Silent mode, Bluetooth and per-app volume can mute everything. If other TikToks are silent too, the post is fine.
Business accounts and music
TikTok's help is explicit: with a Business Account you cannot use music that is not licensed for commercial use. If you want non-commercial music, you can add it to a non-commercial post from a personal account. For brand posts, pick sounds from the Commercial Music Library, or use your own original audio.
If your own audio is missing
- Play the exported file before uploading; if it is silent, the editor or a mute toggle removed the audio.
- Check microphone access: iPhone Settings → TikTok → Microphone; Android Settings → Apps → TikTok → Permissions → Microphone.
- Uncommon audio (PCM, multichannel) can be dropped; re-encode to AAC stereo:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v copy -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ac 2 out.mp4 - Check that the original sound volume in TikTok's editor is not set to zero.
Free tool:Inspect your file's audio
How to avoid getting muted on TikTok
- Add music inside TikTok from its sound library instead of baking songs into the video in another app.
- On a business account, use only the Commercial Music Library.
- Use your own original audio or music you have a license for.
- Keep the original sound volume above zero in TikTok's editor when you add a background track.
Frequently asked questions
Why did TikTok mute my video?
The audio contains music that isn't licensed for your post, or your business account used non-commercial music. Use a sound from TikTok's library that fits your account.
Can business accounts use trending sounds?
Only if they are licensed for commercial use. TikTok limits business accounts to commercially licensed music.
Why can't I find my saved sound for a long video?
Some sounds aren't available for long videos. Set the recording length to 15s or 60s to use them.
Why is my TikTok video muted all of a sudden?
The license for the sound changed, or a rights holder claimed it, so TikTok muted it on posts that use it. Replace the sound or re-post with original audio.
Why is only one of my TikTok videos muted?
That video uses a sound that is no longer licensed for your use. Other videos with different sounds are not affected.
Why are all my TikTok videos muted?
If the sound is gone on every video for you, it is playback: check volume, silent mode and Bluetooth. If it is gone for others too, check whether you post from a business account with non-commercial music.
What does muted mean on a TikTok video?
TikTok removed the sound from the post, usually because the music was not licensed for your use. The video stays up without that audio.
How do I fix a muted TikTok video?
Replace the sound with one from TikTok's library that fits your account type, or post again with your original audio.
Why are some TikTok videos muted?
Their sounds lost their license or were not cleared for that use. Other videos with different sounds are not affected.
Why is my TikTok video muted for exceeding the sound's duration?
Some sounds are not available for long videos. TikTok's help says to set the video length to 15s or 60s on the recording page to use them, or pick another sound.
Sources
- TikTok Help: Sounds (official, checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed 2026-10-06. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.