TikTok is a social media platform that launched in 2016 and allows users to create and share short videos up to 60 seconds long. It features a range of editing tools and effects that allow users to get creative with their videos. As of 2022, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Some key features of TikTok include:
- Video editing tools – Trim, splice, add filters, text, emoji, stickers, sounds/music
- “Duets” and “Reactions” that allow users to collaborate with others’ videos
- “Stitch” feature to splice clips together
- Powerful recommendation algorithm that learns user preferences
- Discover page to browse trending content and hashtags
TikTok allows engagement through likes, comments, shares, and using branded hashtags. It has become a popular platform for brands and marketers looking to reach TikTok’s young user base.
Can You Edit TikTok Videos After Posting?
Yes, TikTok allows users to make edits to their videos after posting them. While there are some limitations, in most cases it is possible to edit elements of a TikTok video retroactively if needed. This includes being able to change the video itself, text elements like the caption or hashtags, and other key aspects of the post.
According to TikTok’s help content, editing a video after posting can be done by tapping the three dot menu on a posted video and selecting “Edit” [1]. This will open editing options to alter the video, text, effects and more. There are some exceptions – once a video goes viral, editing may be disabled.
Overall, the ability to edit a published TikTok video gives users flexibility to modify and optimize their content after seeing initial engagement and feedback. minor tweaks or even major changes are possible in most cases if done soon after posting.
Editing Options
TikTok provides several options for editing your videos after posting. You can edit the captions, sounds, effects, and more. Here are the main editing options available:
Captions – You can edit the text captions added to your video. This includes changing the text, font, color, etc.
Sounds – TikTok allows you to change the audio track or add multiple sounds to your posted video (Source: BoostMeUp). You can replace or overlay sounds.
Effects – Special effects like filters, text, and stickers can be edited after posting. You can tweak existing effects or add new ones.
Trim – The trim tool lets you cut down longer videos by selecting a shorter start and end time.
While limited compared to editing a draft, these options allow you to refine and customize your video after it’s live on TikTok.
How to Edit a Posted TikTok Video
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots on how to edit a video you have already posted on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page. Tap on the video you want to edit.
- Tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Edit video” from the menu options.
- This will launch the TikTok video editor. You can now trim the video, add effects, text, sounds etc.
- Once you finish editing, tap “Save” to save the changes.
- You will be prompted to either “Repost” the edited video or “Replace original”. Tap “Replace original” to update the posted video.
That’s it! The edited video will now replace the originally posted video on your TikTok profile.
Editing Restrictions
TikTok places certain limitations on editing posts after they have been published. The most notable restriction is that you cannot change the actual video file itself. This means you can’t trim the length, swap out clips, or make any other edits to the video content once it’s posted.
The only aspects of the video you can edit are the text elements – the caption, hashtags, mentions, and stickers. You cannot add or remove stickers either, only rearrange the existing ones.
According to this article, the inability to edit the video clip is one of the main restrictions of TikTok’s built-in editing tools. While you can customize templates, you are limited in modifying a completed video.
So in summary, the key editing limitations are:
- Cannot modify actual video content
- Cannot add/remove stickers, only rearrange
- Cannot extend or trim video length
Editing Considerations
Before editing a posted TikTok video, there are some things to keep in mind:
Analytics – Any views, likes, comments, and shares you received on the original video will be reset when you repost an edited version. Be aware that you’ll be starting over with 0 analytics. Consider downloading your analytics for the original video before deleting and reposting.
Audience – Your audience may be confused or disappointed if they return to a video they previously engaged with only to find it’s been replaced. Be thoughtful about substantially changing content your audience already enjoyed.
Trends – If the original video was timely or tied to a trend, completely changing it could make the content seem irrelevant. Editing should preserve the original context and intent.
Comments – All comments on the original video will be deleted. You can screenshot valuable feedback to take into account when re-editing. But be aware reposting will remove any conversation.
Hashtags – Any hashtags you used on the original post will need to be re-added. Hashtag strategy should remain consistent when reposting an edited version.
While small tweaks can refine a TikTok video, substantial changes come with tradeoffs. Keep these considerations in mind before recutting content that is already public.
Reposting an Edited Video
If you make edits to a video that has already been posted, you’ll need to repost the new edited version for your changes to go live on your profile. Here are the steps for reposting an edited TikTok video:
- Open the edited video in the TikTok app
- Tap the share button on the bottom right (the arrow icon)
- Select “Repost” from the share options
- The video will now be queued up to post again as a new video, even though it’s an edited version of a previous video
- Tap “Post” to publish your edited video
Once you repost the edited version, it will appear on your profile in place of the original video. Any likes, comments, and views on the original will reset. You can delete the original video after reposting the edited version if you don’t want both versions to appear on your profile.
What Happens to Likes & Comments?
When you edit and repost a video on TikTok, the previous engagement (likes, comments, shares) will be reset to zero. TikTok treats an edited and reposted video as a brand new video, so it will not retain the engagement from the original post.
This means any likes, comments or shares you had previously received on the video will be gone. The engagement will restart at zero once you repost the edited version. Your followers and viewers will have to like, comment and share the new version if they want to interact with it.
According to a 2021 study titled “Like, Comment, and Share on TikTok: Exploring the Effect of Emotional Valence on Engagement Behavior” published in The Journal of Social Media Research, reposting an edited video results in a loss of engagement momentum from the original (Cheng, 2021).
So if your goal is to keep building engagement on a particular video, editing and reposting may not be the best approach, as it resets all metrics to zero. However, if your aim is to improve the content itself, then reposting an edited version can still be worthwhile despite the engagement reset.
Pros and Cons of Editing
There are some advantages and disadvantages to editing a TikTok video after it has been posted. Here are some of the main pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- You can fix any mistakes or improve the quality of the video after seeing how it performs.
- Editing allows you to refine the video content to better appeal to your audience.
- Additional edits can boost engagement as viewers return to see the changes.
Cons:
- Editing takes more time and effort compared to posting the original video.
- You may lose some momentum or impact if people have already seen and engaged with the original video.
- Frequent editing can annoy followers who feel “baited and switched.”
Overall, editing can help maximize the quality and performance of your content if done thoughtfully. But avoid excessive edits that disrupt the viewer experience.
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible to edit TikTok videos after posting, but the editing capabilities are limited. You can trim the video length, replace the audio, add text overlays, filters and effects, but you cannot edit the existing video content itself.
Edits are best done soon after posting, before a video accumulates a lot of engagement. Reposting an edited video means starting over with views, likes and comments. While retaining the original engagement is ideal, having the ability to update videos with improvements can outweigh losing some initial traction.
The convenience of editing a posted TikTok video needs to be weighed against potential drawbacks like confusing viewers and impacting future distribution. Minor edits are unlikely to cause issues, but significant changes may warrant reposting as a new video instead. Evaluate the situation carefully when deciding if and how to edit.
With the proper strategic approach, TikTok’s editing tools provide helpful creative flexibility, allowing you to easily refine and enhance content after it goes live. Just be mindful of the limitations.