TikTok is a video-sharing app famous for creating original short-form videos that millions consume daily. The For Youfeed (FYF) keeps many users engaged with the platform, burning many hours inside the app. Despite the app’s popularity, usingTikTokcan come with caveats. The app takes a toll on your phone’s storage, always filling the cache. The more the cache accumulates, the more impact it has on the app’s performance. You’ll experience crashes, lag, or audio problems more frequently.
Sometimes, we experience bugs, malfunctions, or server problems while using the TikTok app and website. No matter the problem, following some basic troubleshooting steps should be enough to resolve it. If you’re still in a bind, we identified the most reported TikTok issues and fixes that work on almost anyAndroid tablet, phone, and Apple device.
How to use TikTok and other data-sucking apps without giving up your privacy
Protect your privacy on TikTok and other apps with our guide
The 12 most commonly reported TikTok issues
TikTok relies on an internet connection for most of its operation, so you need a strong Wi-Fi reception to run it smoothly. A weak signal can cause the app to lag, crash, or corrupt the videos you upload. Junk files or faulty hardware can also contribute to a malfunctioning app.
You could contact the TikTok support team to fix these problems, but the live chat is no longer operational. Instead, it has a Help Center with article resources focused on learning and navigating the platform. If you’re short on time, use the list below to identify the issue:
After identifying the TikTok issue, use the following steps to troubleshoot it.
Close or force stop TikTok
If youclose apps on your phone, all their foreground processes end, such as notifications and videos playing while they are open. This solution works if TikTok crashes or lags frequently. Force stop the app if you may’t get it to open.
Force stopping an app causes your device to end its foreground and background activity. The background activities include updates and ads that download or run even after closing the app or switching to another one. The process should cut off TikTok from the caches it stored on your device, resetting it to normalcy. You may lose unsent messages or video recordings in progress.
Clear cache and data
Caches are files that applications store on your device when you interact with them. This data allows them to load faster every time and allows you to access some content offline. When you watch a video on TikTok, the app records the activity and stores it in your device’s memory. The more videos you watch, the more storage caches consume, causing the app to freeze, glitch, or crash more frequently when it’s full.
Caches can become corrupt when they’re outdated.Clear them to free storageand resolve TikTok issues. Clearing an app’s cache is different from wiping the data. When you clear data, you erase the cache and saved user information, as well as settings. This data isn’t gone permanently. You can retrieve it when you log in to the app.
Check your internet connection
A weak network signal can impact your experience on TikTok. Turn mobile data or airplane mode on and off to refresh the connection. If you’re sharing your Wi-Fi connection with multiple people, consider removing their devices until you’re done using the app. If that isn’t possible, switch to a different network oruse another device as a hotspot.
As a last resort,reset your network settingsif the connection doesn’t improve. This solution causes you to lose all Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth configurations. If the problem persists, TikTok may be down. Check the platform’s uptime status withDowndetector. The website tells you how many people reported outages for applications within a day and the most common issues.
Use a VPN to bypass location restrictions
Following the TikTok ban in many countries, you might be unable to use the app if you’re in an affected location. To bypass this restriction, use a VPN. A VPN masks your real-time whereabouts and IP address so that you can connect with TikTok’s servers, regardless of location. Although you may be tempted to get a free one, it isn’t considered safe. Most VPN developers profit from running ads and selling user data (even if their Terms of Service claims otherwise).
VPNs with subscriptions offer more security guarantees. Since you’re giving them money to protect your online presence, they don’t share your data with third parties without your consent. If you aren’t sure which one is best for you, we reviewed thebest VPNs for your phoneand computer.
Request videos from creators
TikTok allows content creators to turn off the download option for their videos. The button is grayed out when the block is active, preventing you from saving the posted video. TikTok automatically turns off downloads for users under 16 or with private accounts. Private accounts can remedy this issue by reverting to public mode, butunderage TikTok accountscannot remove these restrictions.
The problem is not you. It’s TikTok. you’re able to’t do anything about it unless you slide into the creators' DMs and ask them to share the videos. Use a third-party downloader app if you want those videos. This is n’t a solution we advise you to take because of privacy and security concerns.
It’s important to stress the dangers of third-party downloader apps. All TikTok videos are subject to copyright laws, and using any other means to download them crosses into infringement. Before you download videos, ensure you have the right to use them.
Log in to your TikTok account
You can’t bookmark or like videos and view comments when you use TikTok in a web browser without signing in. You can see the comments on the mobile app, but you can’t like or bookmark videos. You cancreate a TikTok account in minutesif you don’t have one. If you’re signed in and can’t interact with posts, log out and enter your account again.
Another possible cause of the issue is keyword filters. Creators can choose words they don’t want to see in their comment section. If you post the comment, TikTok doesn’t display it. Also, you aren’t notified that the filter is active or know which words the creator blocked. Use your intuition and remove vulgar words from your comment.
Review TikTok’s guidelines
If the engagement on your account is unusually low, TikTok may have shadowbanned you. A shadowban happens when the app blocks your account without notifying you. Your videos don’t appear on the FYF, in hashtag feeds, under TikTok sounds, or in search results. Also, you stop receiving as many likes and comments or new followers as before.
While the argument about shadowbans being a real concept is ongoing, TikTok stated that its algorithm can affect your visibility if you violate its policies. According to theirAccounts web page:
Repeatedly posting content that is allowed on our platform but not eligible for the FYF may lead to the account and its content being harder to find in search.
If you aren’t sure what you’re doing wrong on TikTok, review its community guidelines and reassess your content strategy to avoid being shadowbanned.
Enable app permissions
By default, TikTok mutes the microphone when you enter the duet mode. This setting isn’t noticeable right away, so you don’t hear any sound when you record. Turn it on before you make a recording. Otherwise, you’ll redo the whole thing.
Also, check that TikTok has permission to use the mic. If you don’t hear any sound on the app, correct that with the permission settings. Use the following steps to change the permission settings and turn on your mic on TikTok.
Turn on Duet mic on TikTok
Change TikTok’s permission settings on Android
Change TikTok’s permission settings on iOS
Remove enhancement filters
By default, TikTok applies a beauty enhancement effect to your face when you open the camera. Some people like it because it smoothens and brightens their appearances mildly, compared to others on the app that go overboard. Other people dislike it as it’s a false representation of what they look like.
If you decide the effect is not for you, turn it off. Use the following steps to get rid of it:
Turn off video compression
you may activate high-quality uploads before posting a video. This feature ensures that TikTok doesn’t compress your video too much and preserves its quality. If you turned on data saver in the app’s settings menu, you may want to turn it off. The feature compresses videos and images to limit how much bandwidth your device consumes when you watch or upload videos.
Tap thetoggle switchbesideAllow high-quality uploadsto adjust these settings on your device.
Disable the Data saver on TikTok
Update and reinstall TikTok
App developers release regular updates with security enhancements, new features, and bug fixes. It’s a good idea toupdate TikTok to the latest versionto enjoy these perks. You only see these changes instantly when you turn on automatic updates in the Google Play Store. Uninstall the app if that solution doesn’t work.
When you delete TikTok, your device wipes every bit of its data. This way, you can reinstall and use it as a new app. The wiped data includes caches, permission settings, saved account details, and drafts. If you don’t want to lose your drafts, save them locally before deletion. When it’s done, download the app again.
Wait for the problem to go away
This solution may sound counterproductive, but it works in certain situations. For example, if you exceed the maximum number of five login attempts, TikTok temporarily bans your IP address, putting you in a timeout.
you’re able to’t access your account even if you use the website during that period. There’s no precise time when the platform lifts the ban, so check in regularly. If you can’t wait it out, use a VPN or switch your Wi-Fi network to a different one.
TikTok may be more than you bargained for
Technical issues aside, theTikTok app has raised concernsand criticisms regarding its security and privacy practices, leading to a widespread ban in several countries. In the US,Montana was the firstto lead the train. Taiwan, Australia, and others have gradually followed suit. So, it may be time toretire your accountand look intosafer TikTok alternativesto stay out of the crossfire.
