Video export has no audio? What to check

Your video looks right, but the exported file is silent. The cause may be as simple as a muted timeline track, or the sound may have been left out during export. Check where the audio disappears before changing the whole edit.

These checks work with most video editors. If your soundtrack is a separate audio file, the Audio Editor can help you confirm that the source file itself plays. It does not test or repair the audio inside a video file.

Find where the audio disappears

1. If your soundtrack is a separate file, open that file in the Audio Editor and play it. If it is silent there too, the problem is in the source audio, not the video export.
2. Return to the video editor and inspect the timeline. Look for audio tracks or clips that are muted, disabled, turned down, or covered by another clip. If the editor shows waveforms, check that the audio clip has one.
3. Play the project in the editor's preview. Listen at a point where you expect sound, and check several parts if the video has multiple audio clips.
4. Export a short section that includes sound, then open the resulting file in a different video player. This helps separate an export problem from a playback problem.

What the result means

The separate audio file is silent

The source recording may be empty, damaged, or the wrong file. Confirm that you chose the intended soundtrack, then play it in another audio player. If it is silent in more than one player, find or make a working source file before exporting again.

The source plays, but the project preview is silent

The audio file contains sound, but the editor is not playing it from the timeline. A muted track, disabled clip, very low clip volume, or an audio clip placed outside the section you are previewing can cause this. Check the timeline and the editor's audio controls.

The preview has sound, but the exported video does not

The editor can play the project, so focus on the export settings. Audio may be disabled in the export, the chosen preset may omit it, or the export may have failed. Try a short export with audio included and a common format such as AAC audio in an MP4 file.

The exported file works in another player

The video contains audio, but the original playback app may be muted, set to the wrong output device, or unable to decode the audio format. Check that app's volume and output settings, or use a player that supports the file's audio format.

Only some clips are silent

The export is probably carrying audio, but one or more timeline clips have a local issue. Check those clips for mute controls, volume automation, gaps, and edits that moved the sound out of sync with the picture.

How to fix it

1. Unmute the audio track and clips. Check for a mute or disable control on the track and on individual clips. Also look for a solo setting on a different track, which can silence the rest of the timeline.
2. Raise the clip and track volume. Make sure the volume is not at zero and that any volume keyframes do not turn the sound down during the section you need. A waveform can be visible even when playback volume is effectively silent.
3. Check the export's audio options. In the export or render settings, confirm that audio is enabled and that the correct timeline or mix is selected. If you use a preset, try a standard video format with AAC audio and stereo output, if those options are available.
4. Use a compatible audio format. A codec is the method used to encode sound. Some players do not support every codec or channel layout. For a general-purpose MP4, AAC stereo at 48 kHz is a common choice. If your editor offers only a few presets, choose a standard MP4 preset that includes audio.
5. Check the playback app and output device. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound › Output and select the speakers or headphones you are using. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound › Output and select the correct device. On a phone, raise the media volume and disconnect Bluetooth headphones or speakers as a test.
6. Export again to a new file. Use a new filename and a short section first. If that file has sound, export the full project again. If a short export is silent too, restart the editor and computer, then try once more before reinstalling or updating anything.

Why the preview and export can differ

The preview and the exported file use different paths through the editor. During editing, the app may play audio directly from its timeline. During export, it has to mix the tracks and encode them into the file. A setting that excludes audio, an unsupported codec, or a failed render can leave the exported video silent even when the preview sounded normal.

When you test the export, listen in a second player and check more than one point in the video. If a short test export works but the full file does not, export in smaller sections to identify whether a particular clip or edit triggers the problem.