How to block a sound on TikTok

TikTok’s algorithm is great at showing you videos that might interest you. But have you ever had a sound come up that’s driving you crazy? If so, it could be ruining your app experience.

Fortunately, it’s easy to block a sound on TikTok that you don’t want to hear. This article will tell you everything you need to know about blocking sounds on TikTok.

Block a sound from your feed

If your ears are tired of a particular noise appearing in your feed, you can block that annoying sound right where it starts.

1. Press and hold the video in question.
   
2. Tap “I’m not interested” in the menu that appears.
   
3. Tap “More” to provide more details.
4. Tap “Hide videos with this sound.”

This tells the algorithm that you no longer want to watch this video, but also that you no longer want that sound in your feed. If the noise you want to block has to do with a trending topic, you can prevent that type of video from appearing in your feed every day.

Block an account on TikTok

If the noise that bothers you always comes from the same source, block an account on TikTok. This method ensures that you will not hear noises from that profile again, as long as you agree not to see any of its content.

1. Go to the profile you no longer want to see.
   
2. Tap the icon at the top right, either the share icon or the 3-dot “plus” icon.
   
3. Press the “lock” button. TikTok will warn you that blocking someone means you will no longer see others’ content or profile.
   
4. If you still feel fine, confirm the block.
   

Change the sounds you hear by resetting the “For You” broadcast

If you can’t seem to control the noise in your For You TikTok feed, you have the option to reset your preferences in the algorithm. If the algorithm continues to suggest videos with sounds that you don’t support, this can help clear the data that continues to show this type of video.

Fortunately, TikTok introduced this feature at the request of many users.

1. Open TikTok and select your profile tab.
   
2. Tap the menu button in the top right corner.
   
3. Select “Settings and privacy.”
   
4. Tap “Content Preferences” to edit them.
   
5. Select “Update your For You feed” and press Continue.
   
6. Confirm your choice by tapping “Update.”
   

Now you have a clean slate and can teach the TikTok algorithm whatever you want. Although TikTok hasn’t revealed how the algorithm works, we know that it will suggest videos that are relevant to what you’ve enjoyed before. Spend some time watching and liking some of your favorite content to reset your “For You” feed to the things you enjoy.

Favoring the sounds you like

Now that you know how to block sounds you don’t like, it’s important to know how to save sounds that intrigue you.

• When you watch a video and hear a song you want to favorite, tap the circle icon at the bottom right of the screen. TikTok will display the artist name and song title.
• Tap “Add to Favorites” to save the song to the “Sounds” menu.

Not only can you navigate to your favorites to listen to them again, but you can also use them in your videos and projects by adding them from the “Favorites” menu.

How to remove a like from a video

Part of rehabilitating your feed and getting rid of problematic sounds is making sure your likes are still relevant to you. If you liked a video and no longer want it to influence your feed, you can like it. There are two ways to do this:

• While watching the video, tap the heart icon to remove the like.
• Find the video among your liked videos and tap the heart icon to delete it.

Any of these actions will make the video different and you will no longer find it in your likes list.

How to remove a video from your favorites list

Likewise, you may need to delete a video that was accidentally placed in your Favorites list or that you simply no longer consider a Favorite. Fortunately, it’s a relatively simple process.

1. While the video is on your screen, tap the “Favorites” icon.
   
2. Tap “Remove from favorites.”
   

There’s no limit to the number of times you can add and remove Favorites, so feel free to customize them as your interests change. Remember that other users can see your Likes, but not your Favorites.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I hear unwanted sounds?

TikTok’s For You feature uses videos you’ve previously watched or liked to personalize suggested videos. Although TikTok hasn’t released the specific details of how the algorithm works, it’s likely influenced by the number of videos you watch and the time you spend watching them. If you’ve spent some time enjoying a video with annoying sound, that type of video can be replicated in your “For You” feed.

Where do these unwanted sounds come from?

There’s no foolproof way to block sounds you don’t like on TikTok, especially when a sound is trending and TikTok is flooded with videos that use that noise. These unwanted sounds come from the current popular trends on TikTok and the suggestions that TikTok has for you. Continue telling TikTok that you are not interested in these videos because of their sound and their frequency will decrease.

Are unwanted sounds a problem for the app?

No, the unwanted sounds you hear are not a problem with the application. They are just background noises that users have added to their videos to attract viewers’ attention.

Why do people add annoying sounds to their videos?

Many TikTok users seek to be influencers and get as many viewers as possible. Adding recognizable sounds is one way to grab the attention of people browsing your feeds. Trendy sounds are also popular even if they are not pleasant to listen to. The person using the sound may not even find it annoying.

Block sounds on TikTok

Technology is a great help… until it isn’t. When TikTok suggests videos that make you cringe, the good news is that you don’t have to keep listening to them with no hope of recourse. It’s comforting to know that TikTok provides a way to prevent frustrating sounds from filling up your feed and blocking all the videos you might otherwise enjoy. You can block those problematic sounds and videos until your feed is more to your liking. Once again, you’ll have a TikTok feed personalized just for you.

Have you had to block TikTok sounds? Tell us about your experience with TikTok noise blocking in the comments below.