How to Remove Original Audio from an Instagram Reel

Ever film the perfect video for your next Instagram Reel only to realize the background noise completely ruins the vibe? That unwanted wind, distracting chatter, or copyrighted song playing in the coffee shop can turn a great clip into an unusable one. The good news is that removing the original audio is a simple fix. This guide will walk you through exactly how to remove original audio from an Instagram Reel, both within the Instagram app and using third-party tools for more control. We'll cover everything from the basic steps to pro tips for making your audio sound polished and professional.

Why Should You Remove the Original Audio from a Reel?

Before jumping into the "how," let's talk about the "why." Muting the original sound isn't just about damage control, it's a strategic editing choice that gives you a clean canvas to create more engaging and effective content. A great Reel doesn't just look good - it sounds good, too.

To Perfectly Sync with Trending Audio

Hopping on a trend is one of the fastest ways to get more visibility on Instagram. But successfully using a trending sound often means hitting a beat or lining up a visual transition with a specific point in the audio. If your clip has its own sound - like footsteps, a car driving by, or you speaking - it will clash with the trending track, making the final video feel messy and unprofessional. By muting the original "camera audio," you give the trending sound space to shine, allowing your video to sync up cleanly and capture the rhythm of the trend.

Example: A fashion creator films an outfit transition. The original clips have sounds of rustling clothes and footsteps. They remove this audio completely so the popular synth beat they add provides a sharp, impactful sound for the moment the outfit changes.

To Add a Crisp, Clear Voiceover

Narrated Reels are fantastic for tutorials, storytelling, offering tips, or sharing personal insights. But trying to record a voiceover on top of noisy original audio creates a chaotic mess where nothing is easy to understand. Removing the original ambient sound first is essential for making your voiceover the star of the show. Your audience will be able to focus on your message without being distracted by irrelevant background noises.

Example: A chef films a tutorial for kneading bread. The original audio captures the thud of the dough, the clatter of bowls, and an air conditioner whirring. They mute this entire track and record a clean voiceover explaining the technique, making the instructions crystal clear.

To Avoid Pesky Copyright Claims

This is a big one. If you're filming in public - a store, a gym, a cafe, a park - there’s a high chance that copyrighted music is playing in the background. If Instagram's algorithm detects it in your Reel, your video could get muted, taken down, or even get your account a strike. The safest and simplest solution is to remove the original audio track entirely. This eliminates the risk and allows you to add a licensed track from Instagram’s music library instead.

Example: A remote worker wants to create a Reel showing their "day in the life" at a favorite coffee shop. The cafe's indie-pop playlist is audible in every clip. To avoid copyright issues, they mute the camera audio on all clips and lay a copyright-free lo-fi beat over the entire Reel.

To Improve Overall Audio and Video Quality

Sometimes, the sound in your original clip is just plain bad. Wind hissing into your phone’s microphone, a loud and echoey room, or distracting background conversations can make your Reel unpleasant to listen to. More often than not, people will just scroll right past a video with poor audio. Removing that garbled sound and replacing it with clean music, sound effects, or a well-recorded voiceover instantly elevates the quality of your content and makes it much more enjoyable for viewers.

The Easiest Method: Removing Audio Directly in Instagram

For most situations, you can remove the original audio without ever leaving the Instagram app. The built-in editing tools are user-friendly and get the job done quickly. Follow these steps to mute your camera audio and add a new sound.

Step 1: Create or Upload Your Reel

Open the Instagram app and tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the screen, then select "Reel." You can either record a new video directly in the app or swipe up to select a pre-recorded video (or multiple videos) from your phone’s camera roll. Once you have your clip(s), tap "Next" to enter the Reel editor.

Step 2: Access the Audio Controls

In the editor screen, you’ll see a row of icons on the left side (or top, depending on your device). Look for the music note icon (♪) and tap on it. This will open up Instagram’s audio mixing panel, which is where you have full control over all the sounds in your Reel.

Step 3: Silence the Original Audio

Inside the audio panel, you'll see two volume sliders. The important one here is labeled "Camera audio." This slider controls the volume of the original sound from your recorded video clip. To remove it completely, simply drag the slider all the way down to 0. That's it! Your original audio is now gone.

Step 4: Add New Audio (Highly Recommended)

A silent Reel rarely performs well, so don't stop here. After you've muted the camera audio, it's time to add a new sound. From the same audio panel, you can:

• Add Music: Tap "Music" and browse Instagram's library. You can search for specific songs, browse by genre, or check out what’s currently trending.
• Add a Voiceover: Tap "Voiceover" to record narration directly over your video.
• Import Audio: Use the "Import" feature to use the audio from another video saved on your phone.

Step 5: Adjust Your New Sound

Once you’ve selected your new music or recorded a voiceover, a second volume slider will appear for it. You can adjust its level as needed. Most of the time, you'll want it at 100, but you have the flexibility to mix sounds if needed (more on that later). Tap "Done" in the top-right corner to save your audio changes.

Step 6: Finish Editing and Post

With your audio perfected, you can proceed with the rest of your edits - adding text, stickers, or filters. Once you're happy with your creation, tap "Next," write a brilliant caption, choose your cover photo, and share your Reel.

For More Control: Using a Third-Party Video Editor

While Instagram's editor is excellent for basic tasks, sometimes you need more power and precision. Third-party video editing apps like CapCut or InShot offer more advanced features, allowing you to not only remove audio but also detach it, partially silence it, or add fade effects before you even upload your clip to Instagram.

Using an external app is perfect for creators who want to batch-edit clips or complete complex visual edits without being locked into Instagram's interface.

How to Remove Audio in CapCut

CapCut is a free and incredibly popular mobile video editor that's packed with powerful features. It offers two easy ways to get rid of unwanted audio.

1. Open CapCut and start a "New project."
2. Select the video clip you want to edit and tap "Add."
3. Once your video is in the timeline, tap on the clip itself.
4. From the toolbar at the bottom, find and tap the "Volume" icon.
5. Drag the slider all the way to '0' and tap the checkmark.

Alternatively, you can extract and delete the audio track:

1. With your clip in the timeline, find the "Extract audio" option in the bottom toolbar.
2. Tapping this will separate the audio from the video, creating a new, independent audio layer below your video clip.
3. Tap on this new audio layer and then tap the "Delete" icon.

Once you're done, tap the export icon in the top right corner to save the now-silent video to your camera roll. You can then upload it to Instagram with a perfectly clean audio slate.

How to Remove Audio in InShot

InShot is another fantastic, user-friendly video editor that makes audio removal incredibly simple.

1. Open InShot and select "Video," then "New."
2. Choose your video clip from your camera roll.
3. The very first tool in the toolbar will be a speaker icon labeled "Volume." Tap it.
4. You'll see a volume slider. Drag it completely to the left (to 0%).
5. Tap the checkmark to apply the change.

Just like with CapCut, you can now export the video by tapping the icon in the top right corner. It will be saved to your phone, ready for your Instagram Reel.

Pro Tips for Polished and Professional Reel Audio

Now that you know the mechanics, let's cover a few tips to take your Reel's sound from good to great.

• Master Volume Mixing: Sometimes you don't want to completely silence the original audio. Maybe you want the faint sound of city streets or waves crashing under your music. In Instagram's audio controls, instead of sliding "Camera audio" to 0, try lowering it to 5-15 while setting your music to 80-100. This subtle blending can add depth and atmosphere to your video.
• Choose Music that Fits the Vibe: The sound you choose sets the mood. An upbeat, trending pop song works for a fun outfit reveal, while a cinematic orchestral track is better for a dramatic travel montage. Spend an extra minute scrolling through Instagram’s music library to find the perfect fit.
• Always Test Your Audio: Before you post, watch your Reel back one more time with headphones on. This will help you catch any awkward sound transitions, sync issues, or volume imbalances that you might miss when listening through your phone's speakers.
• Record Voiceovers in a Quieter Space: If you're adding a voiceover, ambient noise is your enemy. Find a small, quiet room to record. A closet works great because the clothes absorb sound and reduce echo. Speak clearly and a little bit slower than you normally would to ensure your message is easy to follow.

Final Thoughts

Removing the original audio from your Instagram Reel is a quick but powerful editing skill that every content creator should master. Whether you want to add trending music, record a clear voiceover, or avoid copyright strikes, having a clean audio slate gives you the creative freedom to produce high-quality, engaging content that stops the scroll.

Once you've nailed your audio and created the perfect Reel, the last thing you want is for a clunky scheduling tool to get in your way. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for the needs of modern creators who live and breathe short-form video. We designed it to be simple, reliable, and powerful, letting you schedule your Reels, TikToks, and Shorts across all your platforms with confidence. You can focus on creating amazing content, and trust us to handle the posting.

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