If you get an “account not found” error when trying to access your TikTok account, it likely means your account has been banned or deleted. There are a few reasons why this may have happened and some steps you can try to get your account back.
Why am I getting an account not found error on TikTok?
Here are the main reasons you may be seeing an account not found message when trying to access your TikTok account:
- Your account was banned by TikTok
- Your account was deleted, either by you or by TikTok
- You have the wrong username entered
- The account was deactivated
Account banned by TikTok
TikTok may ban accounts that violate their Community Guidelines. Some common reasons for bans include:
- Posting illegal, dangerous or inappropriate content
- Spamming or artificially boosting engagement
- Impersonating another user
- Underage users
- Violating copyright or trademark laws
If your account was banned, you would have received an email from TikTok informing you. Banned accounts cannot be recovered.
Account deleted by you or TikTok
Your TikTok account may have been deleted either by you or by TikTok. Reasons TikTok may delete an account include:
- Account was inactive for an extended period
- User had a duplicate account
- Account was compromised or hacked
If you deleted your own account, it cannot be recovered. If TikTok deleted your account, you may be able to appeal the deletion.
Wrong username entered
Double check that you are entering the correct username for your account. It’s easy to mix up a letter or two, resulting in an account not found error.
Account deactivated
TikTok may deactivate accounts that are deemed “at risk” for breaking community guidelines. You will receive an email if your account is deactivated. These accounts can be reactivated by logging in and completing any requested actions.
How to recover or restore a deleted or deactivated TikTok account
If your account was banned by TikTok, unfortunately there is no way to recover it. However, if your account was deactivated or deleted by TikTok, you may be able to restore it by following these steps:
- Login to your TikTok account if you can still access it. If not, reset your password.
- Go to the account settings and look for any alerts about your account being at risk or facing deletion.
- Complete any actions requested by TikTok such as verifying your account information or deleting violating content.
- Submit an appeal to TikTok requesting that your account be restored. Explain why you believe the deletion was a mistake.
- Wait for a response from TikTok support. This can take anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks.
Success in recovering a deleted account depends on the reason it was removed in the first place. If it was simply inactive or flagged accidentally, you have a good chance of getting it back by following TikTok’s guidelines. However, if it was banned for more serious violations, the appeal is less likely to work.
What to do if someone hacked your TikTok account
If you think someone hacked your account and got it banned or deleted, try these steps to recover it:
- Do a password reset on your TikTok account email address in case the hacker gained access.
- Contact TikTok support and explain that your account was hacked. Provide details on when/how you think this happened.
- Ask TikTok to restore your account and remove any unauthorized changes made by the hacker.
- Strengthen your account security going forward: change password to a strong one, enable two-factor authentication, revoke any suspicious third party apps.
Providing the details around the hacking to TikTok support can help them investigate and restore your account. You may also need to submit a police report about the hacking depending on their process.
Steps to take if you can’t recover your deleted TikTok account
If you go through all the proper channels but are unable to recover your deleted TikTok account, here are some next steps to consider:
- Create a new TikTok account and start fresh. Use a new distinct username.
- Contact TikTok support to see if they can migrate your old videos to your new account.
- Change your social media handles on other platforms to your new TikTok name so fans can find you.
- Use your other social media accounts to let fans know about your new TikTok profile.
- Enhance security on your new account to prevent future issues.
While it takes time to rebuild, creating a new account can let you start posting videos again without missing a beat. Provide lots of value to followers with consistent posting and engagement as you grow your new audience.
Precautions to prevent your TikTok account from being deleted
Here are some tips to help keep your TikTok account in good standing:
- Carefully read and follow all TikTok Community Guidelines.
- Avoid buying followers or artificially inflating engagement metrics.
- Don’t post illegal, dangerous or inappropriate content.
- Credit music properly, avoid unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
- Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication.
- Don’t grant account access to untrustworthy third-party apps.
- Turn on account privacy settings such as comment filtering.
- Report harassing comments or accounts immediately.
- Log in regularly so account doesn’t become inactive.
Being thoughtful about what you post and proactively securing your account are the best ways to ensure TikTok has no reason to delete your profile. But mistakes happen, so understand their recovery process in case you need to use it.
Can someone else take your old TikTok username?
If your TikTok account is permanently deleted, either by you or by TikTok, then yes, your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim. Usernames are unique on TikTok, no two accounts can have the same name.
So if your @username account is removed from TikTok, anyone can come along and create a new account under that same name. They don’t have to be a current TikTok user to do so either.
That’s why it’s important if you want to try restoring your account, to go through TikTok’s account recovery process as soon as possible. This may prevent your unique name from being taken in the meantime. But if too much time passes, someone else may snap it up.
If that happens, you unfortunately have no recourse with TikTok to reclaim your old username. You will have to come up with a new name when creating a new account profile.
Mistakes to avoid if your TikTok account is deleted
Learning your TikTok account has been deleted can be devastating, especially for creators who rely on it. While the instinct may be to react quickly, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes, such as:
- Trying to create a new account right away – give TikTok’s appeal process a chance first before starting fresh
- Attempting to circumvent a ban with a new account – TikTok will likely just ban that one too
- Spamming TikTok with appeals – sending one thorough, reasoned appeal is best
- Pleading with random TikTok employees on social media – go through proper support channels
- Giving out your password to third-parties promising account recovery – this is always a scam
Staying calm, gathering information, and working methodically through TikTok’s official support process is the best way to maximize your chances of recovering or restoring your account if possible. Have patience as it can take time.
Steps to finding a lost TikTok account you still have access to
Sometimes you may get the “account not found” error simply because you lost access to your username. If you still have access to the account’s email or phone number, you can try retrieving your username:
- Go to TikTok and tap “Log in” then “Forgot password?”
- Enter the email or phone number associated with your lost TikTok account.
- TikTok will send you an email or text with a link to reset your password.
- Reset your password via the provided link and log into your account.
- You will now be able to see your account’s username by going to your profile.
However, if you no longer have access to your account’s email or phone number, it becomes much more difficult to recover the username. Your best bet is trying common username variations you may have used. Look up each attempt to see if the account still exists.
FAQs about TikTok account not found issues
Why did TikTok delete my account?
Common reasons TikTok deletes accounts include prolonged inactivity, violations of community guidelines, having a duplicate account, or suspected hacking/compromise of the account. You should receive an email notification if TikTok deletes your account.
How long does it take TikTok to respond to an appeal?
It can take anywhere from 24 hours up to a few weeks to hear back after submitting an appeal to TikTok. It depends on their support volume. Follow up after a week if you’ve heard nothing.
What happens to my videos if my account is deleted?
If your TikTok account is permanently deleted, either by you or by TikTok, all the videos you posted will also be deleted and become inaccessible to public view.
Can I restore a deleted TikTok account without email or phone number?
No, without access to either the email or phone number associated with your TikTok account, you have very little chance of restoring a deleted profile. These are required for the account recovery process.
Does TikTok notify you before deleting your account?
In most cases, TikTok will send an email warning before they permanently delete an account, giving you a chance to take corrective action. However, accounts banned for severe violations may be deleted without notice.
