TikTok Sound Not Working or Video Muted? Missing Sounds, Favorites Not Showing, and How to Add or Trim a Sound

Does this match what you see?

• Your recorded video has no sound or background audio.
• Sounds you saved to Favorites don’t appear.
• A song isn’t available on your Business Account.
• Your old voice or music disappeared after adding a new sound.

iPhone & iPadAndroid

Based on TikTok’s “Sounds”, “A sound was removed from my video”, “A sound I added to TikTok was removed” and “Remove original sounds” pages (supplied by the site owner). Steps are for the TikTok app.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why TikTok sounds go missing or won’t work.

• The sound was removed by TikTokCheck this first

  TikTok says it removes sounds that violate copyright restrictions or its Community Guidelines.

• Silent mode, muted volume or a headset problemCheck this first

  TikTok’s checks for missing device recording or background audio include silent mode, volume, and earphones or Bluetooth.

• A long videoCheck this first

  TikTok says sounds that aren’t available for long videos won’t show in your favorites list.

• A Business AccountPossible

  TikTok says Business Accounts can’t use music that isn’t licensed for commercial use.

• You changed the musicPossible

  TikTok says changing the music replaces all previous background music and voices.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Business Accounts and music

TikTok says if you have a Business Account, you can’t use music that isn’t licensed for commercial use. If you want to use non-commercial music, TikTok says you can add it to a non-commercial post with a personal TikTok account.

Switch account type: Profile > Menu ☰ > Settings and privacy > Account > Business verification, then follow the steps. TikTok advises against switching back and forth: your business verification isn’t saved, and it recommends two separate accounts if you want to post both business and personal content.

How to add or trim a sound

Add a sound:

1. Tap Add post + at the bottom.
2. Tap Add sound at the top of the recording screen.
3. Tap a sound to preview it, pick one from For You, Favorites or Recent, or tap Search, then Continue ✓.
4. Tap Favorites to save the sound, or Edit to adjust the clip.
5. Tap anywhere on the video to add the sound.

Trim a sound: after selecting it, tap Trim next to the sound, drag the slider to set the start, and tap Confirm ✓. You can preview and adjust again.

Your own original sound was removed: how to appeal

TikTok says it removes sounds that violate intellectual property or other Community Guidelines. If it’s your original sound, you’re notified, and every video using it is muted.

• Removed for a Community Guidelines violation: go to your muted video, tap the notice at the bottom, then Submit appeal. If the appeal is approved, TikTok restores the sound on every video that uses it. If it isn’t, those videos stay muted and you can’t replace the sound. TikTok says your videos stay muted while it reviews the appeal.
• Removed for copyright: you may be able to appeal (tap the notice > Appeal). If you can’t, tap the notice > Change sound, choose a new one, then Post or Save sound changes. TikTok says you may need to wait for approval, and the change only applies to that video, so repeat it for each one.

If a whole video was removed for breaking the Community Guidelines, see TikTok account banned or under review for how to appeal.

Remove your original sound from TikTok

TikTok says you can remove an original sound you added at any time, but it’s permanently removed from every video that uses it, including yours, and other creators are notified.

1. Tap the sound at the bottom of the video to open the original sound screen.
2. Tap the Share button at the top.
3. Tap Remove sound, then Remove, and confirm.

How to know it worked

• Your recording has sound, or your favorite sounds show again.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Send TikTok a screenshot: tap Need more help? at the bottom of a TikTok help article in the app. In a web browser, click No under Was this helpful?, then Need more help?.
2. No sound when watching in a browser or LIVE? See TikTok not working or TikTok LIVE: no sound.

Frequently asked questions