Videos usually come with both visuals and audio, allowing you to see moving images while hearing sound at the same time. Whether recorded on a computer, smartphone, or camera, most videos include an audio track by default.
However, there are situations where you may want to remove the sound completely. For example:
- When adding a video to a presentation
- When creating artistic or silent video effects
- When removing unwanted background noise or original audio
If you are using a Windows PC, you can mute videos using an older but simple tool called Windows Movie Maker.
What is Windows Movie Maker?
Windows Movie Maker is a basic video editing tool that was included in older versions of Windows. Although it is no longer officially supported by Microsoft, many systems still have it installed or users rely on it as a lightweight editor for simple tasks like trimming, editing, and muting videos.
How to Mute a Video Using Windows Movie Maker
Follow the steps below to remove audio from a video.
Step 1: Open Windows Movie Maker
Start by launching Windows Movie Maker on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Import Your Video
- Click “Add Videos and Photos”
- A file selection window will appear
- Locate your video file
- Select it and click Open
The video will now load into the editor timeline.
Step 3: Access the Editing Tools
At the top of the interface, click the “Edit” tab.
This will display video editing options, including audio controls.
Step 4: Lower or Remove the Audio
- Click the “Video Volume” button (speaker icon)
- A volume slider will appear
- Drag the slider all the way to the left
When the slider reaches zero, the video is completely muted.
Step 5: Preview the Muted Video
Go to the preview window and play the video.
Make sure:
- The visuals play correctly
- No audio is heard
This confirms the video is fully muted.
Step 6: Save the Muted Video
Once you are satisfied:
- Open the File menu
- Select Save movie
- Choose your preferred export settings
- Follow the on-screen instructions to export the final video
The exported file will be a new version of your video with no audio track.
Final Thoughts
Muting a video in Windows Movie Maker is a simple process that requires only a few clicks. Even though it is an older tool, it remains useful for quick edits like removing audio before presentations, social media uploads, or creative projects.
If you need more advanced editing features in the future, newer video editors may offer additional audio controls, but for basic muting, this method is fast and effective.