How to use TikTok’s mute feature

Have you ever opened TikTok and been startled by the sound from the first video? Worry not! TikTok has a feature that lets you launch the app with videos muted by default while still playing.

You never know what to expect when you open the TikTok app. It might be a calming ASMR video or it might be someone taking part in a viral trend to a loud sound.

To prevent users from being startled by the audio, TikTok introduced a feature in 2023 that allows users to open the app on mute and then turn the volume back up when they want to.

This is a great feature for scrolling the platform with people sleeping around you, or just don’t want the people around you to know what you’re watching. But how do you use this new function?

Unsplash: Olivier Bergeron

How to open TikTok on mute

If you want your TikTok to open with the videos on mute, here’s how you do it:

1. Open TikTok
2. Go to your profile
3. Click the three lines on the top right corner
4. Click on the “Settings and Privacy” button
5. Scroll down to Content and Display and tap the Playback button
6. Turn on the alternative that says “Open TikTok on Mute”

Open the TikTok app and go to your profile

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Start by opening the TikTok app. If you’re not logged in, enter your email and password to log in. Once you’re in, tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner.

Tap the three lines in the top right corner and select ‘Settings and privacy’

TIKTOK/DEXERTO

Press the three lines in the top right corner, then click the ‘Settings and privacy’ option. This will open your settings menu.

Scroll down to ‘Content & Display’ and tap the Playback button

TIKTOK/DEXERTO

Scroll down to ‘Content & Display,’ and select the ‘Playback’ option, which is located right below ‘Ads’ and above ‘Language.’

Toggle on the option that says ‘Open TikTok on mute’

TIKTOK/DEXERTO

Turn on the alternative that says ‘Open TikTok on mute.’ This will set videos to play muted by default when you launch the app.

How to unmute TikTok

If you have turned on TikTok’s mute setting, just tap on the screen when you want a video to unmute.

If you want to learn more about how to use TikTok, be sure to check out our other guides such as how to duet on TikTok and how to use auto scroll on TikTok.