How to Remove Audio from Instagram Post (Reels, Stories & Videos)
There are several reasons you might want to remove audio from an Instagram post: copyrighted music you don't have rights to, background noise, or wanting to add different audio. Here's how to do it.
Important: Instagram doesn't let you edit audio on published posts. You'll need to delete and re-upload if it's already posted.
Before Posting: Remove Audio in Instagram
The easiest method — remove sound before you post:
For Instagram Reels
- Create or import your Reel
- Tap the music note icon (audio)
- Tap the speaker icon to mute original audio
- Or adjust volume slider to 0%
- Post as normal
For Instagram Stories
- Create your Story
- Tap the speaker icon at the top
- Select "Mute" or volume 0%
- Add new audio if desired
- Post your Story
For Feed Posts (Videos)
- Upload video
- On editing screen, tap speaker icon
- Toggle off or mute
- Continue to post
Want to remove only the music but keep voice? StemSplit can separate vocals from background music — perfect for keeping original dialogue.
Already Posted: Download, Edit, Re-Upload
If your post is already live, you need to:
- Download the video
- Remove audio
- Delete original post
- Re-upload
Step 1: Download Your Instagram Video
Method A: Using Instagram's Download Feature (Reels only)
- Open your Reel
- Tap the three dots (...)
- Select "Save to device" or "Download"
Method B: Using Third-Party Tools
- SnapInsta
- SaveInsta
- IGDownloader
Just paste your post URL and download.
Method C: Screen Recording Last resort — quality will be lower.
Step 2: Remove Audio from Downloaded Video
Free Options:
| Tool | Platform | How |
|---|---|---|
| CapCut | Mobile/Desktop | Import → Mute audio |
| iMovie | iOS/Mac | Import → Detach Audio → Delete |
| InShot | Mobile | Import → Volume → 0% |
| VN Editor | Mobile | Import → Mute |
| Clipchamp | Web/Windows | Import → Audio → Mute |
Quick Method with Any Video Editor:
- Import video
- Find audio/volume controls
- Set to 0% or mute
- Export
Step 3: Re-Upload to Instagram
- Delete original post (if needed)
- Upload edited video
- Post as new content
Removing Only Music (Keep Voice)
What if your video has talking AND background music, and you only want to remove the music?
Standard video editors can't do this — they can only mute everything. You need AI source separation.
The Process:
- Download your video
- Extract audio (using video editor or online tool)
- Upload audio to StemSplit
- Download the Vocals stem (voice without music)
- Replace audio in video editor
- Export and re-upload
This gives you clean dialogue without any background music.
Avoiding Copyrighted Music Issues
Instagram may mute your video or remove it entirely if you use copyrighted music. Here's how to avoid issues:
Use Instagram's Music Library
- Add audio using Instagram's built-in music feature
- Select from their licensed library
- You have rights to use these tracks
Use Royalty-Free Music
Sources for free-to-use music:
- YouTube Audio Library (free)
- Uppbeat (free tier available)
- Epidemic Sound (subscription)
- Artlist (subscription)
Remove Music, Keep Original Audio
If you have original dialogue but used copyrighted background music:
- Separate voice from music using StemSplit
- Keep your voice, remove the music
- Add royalty-free music if desired
- Re-upload
FAQ
Can I remove audio from someone else's Instagram post?
You can download and edit publicly posted content, but:
- You can't change their original post
- Re-posting edited content may violate copyright
- Consider fair use guidelines
Will removing audio affect video quality?
Re-encoding video always causes slight quality loss. To minimize:
- Download in highest quality available
- Export at original resolution
- Use a quality video editor
Can I add different audio after removing?
Yes! After muting original audio:
- In Instagram: Use music feature
- In external editor: Add your own audio track
- Combine: Use voice stems + new music
Why did Instagram mute my video automatically?
Instagram detects copyrighted music. Options:
- Remove/replace the music before posting
- Use Instagram's licensed music library
- Use royalty-free music
Can I remove audio from Instagram Live archives?
Live videos saved to your profile work the same way:
- Download the video
- Remove audio externally
- Re-upload as a new post
How do I remove only background noise, not music?
This requires different tools:
- Adobe Podcast Enhance (free, removes noise)
- Krisp (removes background noise)
- iZotope RX (professional)
For music removal specifically, use stem separation.
Tools Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram's built-in | Muting before posting | Free |
| CapCut | Quick mobile edits | Free |
| iMovie | iOS/Mac users | Free |
| StemSplit | Removing only music, keeping voice | Free/Paid |
| VN Editor | Mobile video editing | Free |
The Bottom Line
Removing audio from Instagram content is straightforward:
- Before posting: Use Instagram's mute feature
- After posting: Download, edit externally, re-upload
- Keep voice, remove music: Use AI separation tools like StemSplit
The most common issue — copyrighted music — is best solved by either using Instagram's music library or removing copyrighted audio before posting.
Remove Music, Keep Your Voice
Perfect for Instagram content with dialogue.
- ✅ Separate voice from background music
- ✅ Keep original dialogue clean
- ✅ Remove copyrighted music safely
- ✅ Works with any audio file
