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How to remove audio from a video on a Mac
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
To remove audio from a video on a Mac, select the file in Finder, hold the right Option key and run FileDial's Audio › Remove audio. It saves a new silent copy beside the original with no re-encoding. In QuickTime Player, open the movie and choose Edit > Remove Audio.
The fastest way: FileDial
Audio › Remove audio is noted as making a new silent copy with no re-encoding, so the picture is carried over as it is and the job is quick.
- Select the video, or several videos, in Finder.
- Hold the right Option key to open the dial.
- Choose Audio › Remove audio.
- Open the new silent copy that appears beside the original.
With QuickTime Player
Apple's QuickTime guide says to open the movie and choose Edit > Remove Audio to make the file video only. Edit > Remove Video does the opposite and leaves an audio-only file. Save or export the result as a new file so your original stays intact.
Some users on older versions report not finding the command, so check your own Edit menu on your version of macOS.
When you want to replace the sound rather than delete it
A silent video is often step one. After removing audio, FileDial's Combine › Add music lays a music track under the video. If the sound is only unpleasant, such as wind or a hum, you may not need to remove it: Audio › Clean up voice and Audio › Remove background hum keep the picture copied and treat the sound. To silence just one moment, such as a name or a swear word, Audio › Bleep a section… handles that.
If you want the sound without the picture, see the extract-audio guide.
Common reasons to mute a clip
People strip audio for several reasons: posting a clip to a platform where music will be added, sending a demo where a background conversation should not be heard, using footage as a background loop or removing copyrighted music before sharing. In every case the picture stays the same and only the sound goes.
If you only want to reduce a noise, a mute is overkill. The Audio tools for voice cleanup and hum removal keep your sound and treat the problem.
Checking the result
Play the new file to confirm it is silent, then check the file size. Because the sound is removed without re-encoding the picture, the copy is typically smaller by about the size of the audio track, though you should read the real number on the result card.
Keep the original with its sound until you are certain you do not need it. Audio cannot be recovered from the silent copy.
Settings, size and what remains
Because Audio › Remove audio makes a copy without re-encoding the picture, the video quality is identical to the original, and the new file is smaller by roughly the size of the removed sound. The sound track is usually a small part of a video, so do not expect a large saving. If you need a much smaller file, add a Compress tool.
Think about what you want from the silent file. If you plan to add music or a voice-over, a silent video is the right starting point, and Combine › Add music lays the new sound in. If you plan to post to a platform that mutes autoplay anyway, you may want captions instead, and Adjust › Add auto-captions… transcribes the speech on this Mac and burns it in as a copy.
Common mistakes include removing audio from the only copy, so keep the original, and muting when you only wanted to lower the volume. For the second case, Audio › Volume down (−6 dB) lowers it. Another mistake is forgetting that a screen recording may have two sounds, your voice and the system audio, and removing both when you meant one.
QuickTime Player is the right choice when you are already working in it. FileDial is better for batches, or when you want the original and the silent copy side by side.
Checklist before muting
Before you strip the sound, confirm what you actually need.
- Ask whether you want silence or only quieter sound.
- Keep one copy of the original with its audio.
- Check the new file plays silently in a second app.
- Add music or captions afterwards if the clip needs them.
- For private conversations, review the whole clip before sharing, not only the start.
Privacy reasons to strip audio
Videos can capture conversations you did not mean to share. Removing the audio before posting is a simple safeguard. For other hidden data, Adjust › Remove location & metadata gives a copy without location and other metadata, with no re-encoding. Both tools work offline, so the file never leaves your Mac.
Questions
How do I mute a video on a Mac without losing quality?
Run FileDial's Audio › Remove audio. Its note says it makes a new silent copy with no re-encoding, so the picture is not recompressed. The original stays beside it. Because the picture is not re-encoded, you can run a whole folder of clips through the tool quickly.
Can QuickTime Player remove audio?
Yes. Apple's guide says to open the movie and choose Edit > Remove Audio to make the file video only. On older versions the command may be missing, so check your Edit menu. Apple's own steps are short, but the command may be missing on older QuickTime versions, so check your Edit menu.
Can I remove audio from many videos at once?
Yes. Select all the files in Finder and run Audio › Remove audio once. Each gets its own silent copy beside the original. It works as a separate step, so you can mute first and add music afterwards, with the original untouched.
Can I add new music afterward?
Yes. Use Combine › Add music, which plays the music under the video's own sound. If you removed the audio first, the music is the only sound. Keep the original with its sound, because audio cannot be recovered from the silent copy.