Remove Audio Track from MKV Online

Julia

Oct 9, 2025 15 min

Julia Chukhvicheva

October 9, 2025

15 min read

In this article, we'll explore several methods to remove audio tracks from MKV files effectively and efficiently. Whether you want to reduce file size, eliminate unwanted languages, or prepare your video for custom audio, we cover desktop and online tools that can help you strip audio tracks without compromising video quality.

From user-friendly software like VLC Media Player to convenient online solutions and advanced command-line techniques, you'll find step-by-step guides tailored for all skill levels. By the end, you'll know how to remove audio tracks from MKV videos on different platforms with ease and confidence.

Why remove audio tracks from MKV video files

The MKV format has become incredibly popular for storing high-quality video content, and for good reason. Unlike older video formats, an MKV file can contain multiple audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and even chapter information all within a single container. This flexibility makes MKV files perfect for watching movies with different language options or commentary tracks.

However, this versatility sometimes comes with a price. When you download or rip MKV videos, they often include multiple audio tracks you might never use — foreign language dubs, director's commentary, or high-bitrate surround sound when you only need stereo. Each additional audio track can add hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes to your video files (and nobody wants that eating up their storage).

Common reasons to remove an audio track from MKV include:

• Reducing file size: A single audio track can be 200MB-4GB.
• Eliminating unwanted languages: Many MKV videos come with multiple language tracks that you'll never use (unless you're planning to learn Mandarin anytime soon).
• Preparing for custom audio: When creating your own content, you might want to strip audio partly or entirely before adding your own soundtrack.
• Storage optimization: If you're uploading videos to cloud storage or preparing content for streaming, smaller files mean faster uploads and better performance (your Internet connection will thank you).

The key advantage of working with the MKV format is that you can remove audio tracks without affecting the video quality. Since MKV is a container format, you can extract, remove, or replace individual components without re-encoding the video itself (it's like taking items out of a box without damaging the box itself).

Method 1: Delete audio track using VLC Media Player (desktop)

VLC Media Player isn't just for playing video files — it's also a powerful converter that can completely remove audio from MKV files. This method is perfect if you want to delete audio tracks entirely and don't need selective removal.

First, download and install VLC Media Player if you don't already have it. It's free and open source software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Once installed, follow these detailed steps:

1. Open VLC media player and click on "Media" in the top menu bar.
2. Select "Convert/Save" from the dropdown menu to open the convert window.
3. In the open media window, click the "Add" button to browse for your MKV file.
4. Select your MKV video and click "Open".
5. Click the "Convert/Save" button at the bottom.

Now comes the crucial part - configuring the output to remove audio:

1. In the convert window, click the wrench icon next to the profile dropdown to open the profile edition window.
2. Navigate to the "Audio codec" tab.
3. Uncheck the "Audio" option to turn off all the audio tracks.
4. Click "Save" to confirm your profile changes.
5. Choose your save path and file name for the output MKV video file.
6. Click "Start" to begin processing.

VLC will now create a new MKV video without any audio tracks. The process typically takes just a few minutes since VLC usually doesn't re-encode the video stream when you're only removing audio (which means you keep that crisp video quality). However, this method removes all audio tracks — you can't selectively keep one audio track while removing others.

Method 2: Use MKVToolNix for selective audio removal (desktop)

MKVToolNix is the gold standard for manipulating MKV files, and it's completely free and open source (it's like the Swiss Army knife of MKV tools). Unlike VLC, MKVToolNix allows you to remove specific audio tracks while keeping others, and it never re-encodes your video content, ensuring perfect quality preservation.

Download the MKVToolNix package from the official website and install it on your system. The software includes both command-line tools and a user-friendly GUI that we'll use for this tutorial.

Here's how to remove unwanted audio tracks:

1. Launch MKVToolNix GUI from your applications
2. Drag your MKV file into the source files section, or click "Add source files" and browse for your video.
3. The interface will show all tracks in your file: video track, multiple audio tracks, and any subtitle tracks (it's like getting an X-ray view of your video file).
4. In the tracks list, you'll see each audio track with details like language, codec, and bitrate.
5. Simply uncheck the audio tracks you want to remove - they'll be grayed out.
6. Keep the video track and any audio tracks you want to preserve checked.
7. In the destination file section, choose your output file name and location.
8. Click "Start multiplexing" to begin the process.

MKVToolNix works by demuxing (separating) all tracks from your original file, then remuxing (recombining) only the tracks you've selected. Since there's no re-encoding involved, the process is fast and maintains perfect video quality. Even large files are processed quickly because the video stream is simply copied, not recompressed (it's basically digital copy-paste).

This method is particularly valuable for power users who need precise control over their video files. You can also use MKVToolNix to rename tracks, adjust default flags, and modify other metadata without affecting the actual audio or video data.

Method 3: Mute video with Clideo Audio Remover tool (online)

For quick jobs with smaller files, online tools offer convenience without requiring software installation, as they typically work in any browser on any device, including your dad's phone (although I'm not sure about the Nokia 3310).

Clideo Audio Remover is an online tool that removes audio tracks from MKV videos without re-encoding. The process is straightforward (and pretty much foolproof):

1. Visit Clideo's MKV Muter and click the upload video button to add your file.
2. Select your MKV file (must be under 500MB if you want to use the service for free, and a small Clideo watermark is fine). Alternatively, just drag and drop the file to the page.

3. Wait for the upload and processing to complete (a perfect time for a coffee break).

   

4. Download your video file without audio.

   

Online tools work best for social media content, short clips, or situations where you need a quick solution and don't have access to desktop software (they're like the fast food of video editing — convenient but with trade-offs).

Method 4: Clideo Video Editor for partial audio muting (online)

Video Editor is an all-in-one online tool from Clideo that allows you to mute specific parts of your video without installing any software. This is particularly useful if you want to remove audio from certain sections rather than the entire MKV file (think selective silence).

Please note that Clideo converts the output file to MP4 format, so the resulting video will not be in MKV format. This is important to consider if you require the MKV container specifically (just so you know what you're getting into).

To mute parts of your video using Clideo:

1. Go to Video Editor and upload your MKV video file.

   

2. Use the timeline editor and split the video into parts to create portions of the video where you want to mute the audio.

   

3. Select the segments that need to be muted and in the "Audio" tab drag the volume slider to 0.

   

4. Preview your edits, make any necessary adjustments, and then export the edited video. The exported file will be in MP4 format.

   

5. Download the partially muted video.

   

Clideo Video Editor is a versatile all-in-one online tool packed with helpful features to enhance your videos. You can easily add new audio to replace removed parts, whether by recording directly within the app, using TTS, or choosing from our rich audio library filled with music and sound effects.

Method 5: Remove audio from MKV via command line (desktop)

For users comfortable with the command line, both FFmpeg and MKVToolNix offer powerful scripting capabilities for batch processing and automated workflows (this is where things get really exciting for tech enthusiasts).

FFmpeg commands for audio removal:

• To remove all audio tracks from an MKV file: ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v copy -an output.mkv
• To remove specific audio tracks (keeping video and first audio track): ffmpeg -i input.mkv -map 0:v -map 0:a:0 -c copy output.mkv

MKVToolNix command line usage:

1. First, identify track numbers in your file: mkvmerge -i input.mkv
2. Then remove unwanted audio tracks: mkvmerge -o output.mkv --atracks !1,!2 input.mkv

This command keeps all tracks except audio tracks 1 and 2.

Command-line solutions excel when you need to:

• Process multiple files with identical settings.
• Integrate video processing into larger workflows.
• Work on servers or systems without GUI interfaces.
• Automate repetitive tasks with scripts.

The deep learning curve makes these tools unsuitable for casual users, but they're invaluable for professionals and advanced enthusiasts who regularly process large numbers of video files (once you master them, you'll feel like a digital wizard).

Method 6: Professional video editing software (desktop)

Professional video editors, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, can remove audio tracks from MKV files and offer additional features. However, they often require a steep learning curve and are overkill for simple track removal tasks (it's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut). Use these only if you're already working within a larger video editing project.

Best practices and tips

Successfully removing audio tracks while maintaining video quality requires following established best practices. These guidelines will help you avoid common pitfalls and achieve professional results.

Always backup your original files before beginning any audio removal process. While most tools are reliable, corrupted outputs or unexpected results can occur, and recreating lost original media may be impossible (better safe than sorry).

Choose the right tool for your needs:

• Use MKVToolNix for lossless, selective audio removal.
• Choose VLC for quick, complete audio stripping.
• Consider online tools for small files and simple tasks.
• Reserve command line tools for batch processing or automation.

Avoid re-encoding whenever possible. Tools that copy the video stream without recompression preserve perfect quality and process much faster. Only re-encode when you're simultaneously changing video formats or quality settings.

Verify your results by playing the output file before deleting your original. Check that the correct audio tracks were removed and that video playback remains smooth and synchronized (a quick test can save you hours of headaches later).

For batch processing multiple mkv files, create a systematic workflow:

1. Organize source files in a dedicated folder.
2. Use consistent naming conventions for output files.
3. Process similar files together (same resolution, codec, etc.).
4. Verify a few sample outputs before processing large batches.

Consider your storage goals when deciding which audio tracks to remove. Keep in mind that you can always remove additional tracks later, but you cannot restore removed tracks without the original file.