How to Remove Vocals from TikTok Videos for Cover Songs

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If you want to know how to remove vocals from TikTok videos for cover songs, you’re not alone. Lots of people on TikTok dream of singing their own versions of popular tracks, but it’s hard to find a clean instrumental when the original vocals are always there. Getting just the music without the singer’s voice can seem tricky, especially if all you have is the video.

The good news is, you don’t need to be an audio expert to do this. Here you’ll learn step-by-step how to remove vocals from any TikTok video and create your own cover song. We’ll show you an easy way to get either the full instrumental or just the main vocal, so you can sing along or remix as you like. Plus, you’ll find simple tips on copyright and sharing your covers safely, so you can focus on making music and having fun with your audience.

Why Remove Vocals from TikTok Videos?

It’s always more fun to sing or create something new when you have just the music from a song you like. On TikTok, people love to make their own versions of popular tracks, and having an instrumental makes it much easier to do that. When you take out the original vocals, you can add your own voice and style, turning the song into something that feels personal.

Lots of TikTok users want to sing covers, show off their singing, or just try a new twist on a song that’s trending. Some people use instrumentals to make karaoke videos so their friends and followers can join in. Others like to listen to the music without vocals so they can hear all the details in the background, or learn how the song was put together.

Producers and remixers also need tracks without vocals so they can mix songs together or add their own ideas. Being able to remove vocals from a TikTok video gives you more freedom to be creative and try out new things. Since most TikTok videos have the vocals and music mixed together, knowing how to split them apart is a really useful trick for anyone who wants to make music on the app.

The Basics of Vocal Removal

Taking the vocals out of a song might sound complicated, but these days it’s actually pretty simple thanks to new technology. There are special tools online that use artificial intelligence to tell the difference between the singer’s voice and the rest of the music. These tools can split a song into separate parts, one with just the vocals, and another with just the instruments.

When you’re working with TikTok videos, things can be a bit trickier because the audio is part of a video file, not just a regular music track. Sometimes there’s background noise or the sound quality isn’t perfect. That’s why it helps to use a tool that can handle video files directly and is smart enough to separate the sounds as cleanly as possible.

How to Remove Vocals from a TikTok Video

If you want to sing your own cover or just enjoy the music without the original vocals, you can easily remove the vocals from a TikTok video using an online tool. Here’s how you can do it, even if you’ve never tried anything like this before:

1. Download the TikTok Video

Start by saving the TikTok video you want to use. There are plenty of websites and apps like 4K Tokkit and SSSTik that let you download TikTok videos right to your phone or computer. Just make sure you have the video file (usually it will be in MP4 format) ready for the next step.

2. Go to LALAL.AI

Open your web browser and head over to the LALAL.AI website. This service is great because it can work directly with video files, so you don’t need to convert anything in advance.

3. Upload Your Video

On the LALAL.AI homepage, look for the upload button. Click it and select your TikTok video file. The upload might take a moment, depending on your internet speed and the size of the video.

4. Review the Preview

Once your video is uploaded, LALAL.AI will quickly create a short preview of what the instrumental (music without vocals) will sound like. Take a moment to listen to this preview.

👉Tip: If you don't want to get the result in video format, you can pick an audio output format instead. Click the little arrow on the Split in Full button, you’ll see options to choose the output format for your instrumental.

5. Process the Video in Full

If you’re happy with how the instrumental sounds, click the Split in Full button. This will tell the tool to process the entire video and remove the vocals from the whole track.

6. Download the Instrumental

When the processing is finished, you’ll be able to download the full instrumental version of your TikTok song. Save it to your device, and you’re ready to use it however you like.

How to Remove Only the Lead Vocal, Keeping Backing Vocals

Sometimes, you might want to create an instrumental that still retains the song’s harmonies and background vocals — ideal for covers where you want to sing the lead part but keep the original backing for a fuller sound.

1. Upload Your TikTok Video

As before, start by uploading your TikTok video to LALAL.AI using the Select Files button.

2. Enable Lead & Back Separation

At the preview stage, click the settings icon and enable the Lead/Back Separation setting as pictured below. This advanced feature helps distinguishing between the main vocal (the melody line) and the backing vocals (harmonies, ad-libs).

3. Preview and Process in Full

Listen to the extracted stems, select the output format (if needed), then click the Split in Full button.

Note that during preview, only three stems are generated (excluding the Back Vocal + Instrumental stem); full processing yields all four.

4. Download Your Desired Stem

Download the Back Vocal + Instrumental stem and/or other separate tracks if you want.

Before you share your cover song online, it’s important to know a few things about copyright. Even if you make your own version, the original song still belongs to its creators. Here’s what you need to keep in mind to avoid problems.

1. Give Credit

Always say who made the original song. In your video description or post, write the name of the artist and the songwriter. This shows respect and helps people find the original music. While giving credit doesn’t replace getting permission, it’s always a good habit.

2. Get Licenses

If you want to upload your cover to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, you might need a license. This is a kind of permission from the people who own the song. On some platforms, the company takes care of licenses for you, but not always.

If you plan to sell your cover or put it on streaming services, you’ll usually need to get a "mechanical license." For videos, sometimes you also need a "synchronization license" (or "sync license"), which lets you use the song with video.

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For more information on how to cover a song legally, check out our guide.

What Happens If You Don’t Have a License?

If you post a cover without the right license, your video might get muted, blocked, or taken down. Sometimes, the owners of the song can also make money from your video by putting ads on it. In rare cases, you could get a copyright strike or even face legal trouble, but most of the time, platforms just remove the video.

How to Stay Safe

  • Check if the platform you’re using covers licenses for you.
  • If you want to be extra careful, you can get a license through services like Easy Song Licensing.
  • Don’t change the lyrics or melody unless you have special permission. Changing the song too much can cause extra copyright problems.
  • If you’re just making covers for fun and not making money, you’re less likely to have issues, but it’s still good to know the rules.

Keeping these basics in mind will help you share your music with confidence and avoid unwanted surprises. Cover songs are a great way to show your talent and love for music-just make sure you respect the original creators along the way.

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