How to Delete TikTok Account and What Happens Next?

Velina Nenova
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Updated · Oct 13, 2022

Velina Nenova
Social Media and Digital Marketing Expert | Joined March 2022

Velina describes herself as passionate media savvy and a versatile individual with numerous differen... | See full bio

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You can quickly delete TikTok at any time.

And if you reconsider later, there’s a way to restore it.

This article covers these and all other TikTok deactivation questions.

Let’s dive right in:

How to Delete a TikTok Account?

You can delete your TikTok account from a mobile or desktop device.

If you follow the steps below, the process will take only a few minutes.

How to Deactivate TikTok on the Mobile App?

Android and iOS users can delete their TikTok accounts by following these steps:

  1. Go to your TikTok Profile.
  2. Navigate to Settings and privacy by clicking on the three lines in the top right corner.
  3. Choose Manage account.
  4. Tap on Delete account.
  5. Choose one of the options under Why are you leaving TikTok? or press Skip.
  6. The app will ask whether you want to download your data. To deactivate TikTok, confirm you wish to Continue.
  7. On the next screen, you’ll be informed about the 30 days reactivation period, after which you lose your data forever. Press Continue.
  8. An account verification will screen appear:
    • If you have a standard account made with a phone number or email, you must enter the verification code TikTok sends you.
    • If you used Google, Apple, Facebook, or another service to sign up, you must log in with them.
  9. After the verification, Pick Delete account.
  10. Confirm deletion one last time.

How to Delete a TikTok Account on a Computer or Browser

You can delete TikTok from a desktop computer or browser by going to TikTok.com.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Log in to your account on TikTok.com.

2. Hover over your profile picture.

3. From the menu, pick Settings.

Settings window under profile picture icon open

4. Navigate to Manage account.

Manage account window open

5. Press Delete under Account control.

6. Click on Continue on the next screen.

Delete TikTok Account window

7. TikTok will ask you to verify your account through a QR code, phone, email, username, Facebook, Google, Twitter, or another service. Press on the most relevant option for you.

8. Tap on Delete account next.

9. Press Delete for final confirmation.

Will Deleting TikTok Delete Uploaded Videos?

If you delete your TikTok account, all of your videos will disappear forever after 30 days. During that period, your profile (and videos) won’t be publicly visible.

Within those 30 days, you can reconsider and reactivate your profile at any moment without losing your videos.

However, you can download all your data and save it outside the TikTok app before the deletion process starts.

If you simply uninstall TikTok from your phone without deleting the account, the videos will stay intact on your profile.

Will Deleting TikTok Delete Messages?

Unfortunately, chat messages may still stay visible to others after deleting your TikTok account.

Moreover, you cannot unsend TikTok DMs on the receiving end. When you delete them, they disappear only in your part of the chat.

So if you don’t want the other side to have access to your messages, a deactivated TikTok account won’t do the trick.

Backing Up Uploaded Data

TikTok provides two methods of downloading your data. If you plan to delete your account, it’s advisable to make a backup beforehand, just in case.

Request Data

Here’s how to request your information from a phone:

  1. Open TikTok and click on the three lines in the top right corner.
  2. Got to Privacy and safety – Privacy – Personalization and data – Download your data.
  3. Select TXT or JSON file type and press Request data. At this point, TikTok needs a few days to process your request.
  4. Afterwards, the file will be under Privacy and safety – Privacy – Personalization and data – Download your data – Download data.
  5. Tap on Download.

The downloaded file will include your account settings, profile information, and comments history. However, it won’t have your videos. You have to download them manually.

Manual Video Download

If you want to cancel TikTok and save all your uploads, the only way is to download them one by one.

Here’s how to download TikTok videos via the app:

  1. Pick one of your videos.
  2. Press the three dots.
  3. Click on Save video.

Reactivating a Deleted Account

Once you’ve learned how to deactivate your account, it’s good to know how to recover it, in case you reconsider. You have 30 days to reverse the process.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Open the TikTok app.
  2. Log in with your old credentials.
  3. Click on Reactivate.

Wrap Up

Knowing how to get a TikTok account deleted by following clear steps is better than having to figure it out yourself.

TikTok has a straightforward account cancellation process that informs you of what to expect.

Deactivation is not final within the 30-day grace period. After that, data recovery is impossible. 

If you’ve decided to close TikTok for good, make sure you back up your data in advance.

FAQ.


Why can’t I delete a TikTok account?

Here are the most common reasons why TikTok can’t be deleted:

Banned Account

When TikTok bans an account, the user cannot configure it in any way, deletion included.

So if you get a ban notification upon opening the app, you’ve violated TikTok’s terms and conditions. This might be due to an inappropriate public comment, uploading prohibited content, or incorrect banning.

What you can do is contact TikTok and appeal for an incorrect ban. You’ll get a response in about a week or so. 

Once you unban the account, you’ll be able to delete it.

Lack of Contact Information

Closing TikTok requires a verified email or phone number. Inaccurate information may prevent account deactivation.

System Glitch

If the steps on how to delete a TikTok account aren’t working, there might be a glitch.

Try one of these suggestions to bypass it:

  • Update TikTok
  • Log out and back in
  • Delete the account on TikTok.com via a browser

Poor Internet Connection

Weak internet is the obvious culprit, so we couldn’t leave it aside.

When you request a TikTok cancel, poor internet might stop it from processing. The simplest fix is to switch between data usage and Wi-Fi. Restarting the router might also help.

TikTok’s Down

When TikTok’s down, there’s nothing you can do except waiting. It’ll go up at some point, so you just keep checking.

How can I delete my TikTok account permanently without login?

The only way to get your TikTok account deleted without logging in is to contact support.

The purpose of logins is to verify your identity, which is why you need them to deactivate your account.

If you’ve forgotten your password, you can retrieve it through email.

However, if your email is no longer active, you must reach TikTok’s support for assistance.

Make sure you remember your credentials when creating the account.

These tips might help:

  • Always provide an email that you actually use
  • Write down all your passwords somewhere safe and keep track of changes
  • Use an active phone number and a functioning mobile phone

If your email gets deleted because you don’t use it, you won’t be able to recover a forgotten TikTok password. However, if that email is still available, you can register it again.

If you’ve signed up to TikTok with a phone number, you’d need a functioning mobile device to receive a code to verify the deletion.

Why won’t TikTok let me delete my account?

There might be a system bug that stops you from canceling TikTok.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Log out and log in again
  • Restart your phone
  • Uninstall and reinstall the app
  • Try deleting the account on TikTok.com
  • Use another browser

If these suggestions don’t work, contact TikTok’s support.

How long does it take to delete a TikTok account?

A deleted TikTok account takes 30 days to disappear permanently. During that period, you can reactivate it at any time.

During deactivation, other users won’t be able to:

  • Read your old comments
  • Watch your videos
  • Find your profile
  • Go to your profile through the DM chat

However, all your direct messages will remain in the chat.

Reactivating the account gets things back to normal.

Final deletion erases:

  • All your videos
  • Your drafts
  • DMs on your end (the person you chatted with can still see your messages)
  • Your profile picture, contact information, links
  • Your settings

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Velina Nenova

Velina Nenova

Velina describes herself as passionate media savvy and a versatile individual with numerous different interests, most a result of her Media & Communications BA. She has also developed a keen interest in Digital Marketing and Advertising. Her never-ending desire to constantly learn new things and enrich herself and her ultimate dream to go around the globe before 45 are her driving forces.

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