How to Delete Envelope Points in Audacity

Audacity’s Envelope Tool allows you to make smooth, dynamic volume changes across an audio track using control points. If you place a point by mistake or want to revert your track back to its original volume, you can easily remove individual points or clear the entire envelope curve. This guide explains how to delete specific control points and how to reset your track's envelope settings.

How to Delete a Single Control Point

To remove an individual control point from an audio track:

  1. Click the Envelope Tool icon in the toolbar (or press the keyboard shortcut F2).
  2. Locate the control point you want to remove.
  3. Click and hold the control point with your left mouse button.
  4. Drag the point vertically completely outside the track—either above the top edge of the track or below the bottom edge.
  5. Release the mouse button. The control point will disappear, and the envelope line will readjust between the remaining points.

How to Reset the Envelope to Default Levels

Audacity does not feature a single "Reset Envelope" button, but you can restore your original track levels using the following methods:

Method 1: Remove Points Manually

  1. Activate the Envelope Tool (F2).
  2. Drag each custom control point outside the track boundaries until none remain.
  3. If the master envelope line is positioned away from the track edges, click and drag the outer boundary line back to the top and bottom edges of the track to restore full, unattenuated volume (0 dB).

Method 2: Discard Unsaved Changes

If you have applied numerous control points during a recent editing session and have not yet saved or performed other critical edits:

  1. Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac) repeatedly to undo the creation of the control points.
  2. Check the History window via View > History to revert directly to the state immediately before you enabled or adjusted the Envelope Tool.