Mute may refer to any of the following:

  1. A software setting that completely disables the sound. Mute enables a user to get rid of sound without stopping the audio file or movie. To re-enable the sound, press the mute button or setting again.

For example, a YouTube video may start playing an advertisement you cannot skip but don’t want to hear. Pressing mute allows the ad to continue to play without the audio. Once the video starts again, you can press mute again to re-enable the audio.

  1. On social networks, chat, and other forms of communication, mute describes the ability to mute another person. For example, if someone is annoying or abusive, you can mute them to prevent seeing anything they say. This feature may also be known as hide or ignore.

On many laptops and keyboards with an Fn key, the F6 or Fn+F6 key can mute and unmute the digital audio. If your audio comes from your speakers, this mutes your speakers, and if you’re using headphones, it mutes them.

Most macOS keyboards have a mute button. Hold the volume down key if your keyboard doesn’t have a mute button, until the Mute symbol appears on your screen.

  • How to disable or adjust my computer’s sound.
  • Sound card help and support.

Sound terms