TikTok is a popular social media platform where users can create and share short videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing apps in recent years.
Sometimes TikTok users may wish to take a break from the platform or delete their account entirely. When a user requests account deletion on TikTok, the account is deactivated for 30 days before being permanently removed. During this 30 day window, the account can be easily reactivated if the user logs back in.
However, the process becomes more complicated if a user wants to restore their account after the 30 day window has passed. The purpose of this article is to examine how users can reactivate a TikTok account after it has been deleted for over 30 days.
Why Users Delete TikTok Accounts
There are several reasons why TikTok users decide to delete their accounts according to various sources. Many users delete their accounts due to changing privacy concerns about how much personal data TikTok collects as reported by this Quora post. Others delete their accounts to avoid negative comments or harassment from other users, which can especially be an issue for younger users based on findings from this article.
Additionally, some users find TikTok to be too addictive or time-consuming so they decide to delete their accounts to break the habit and get back their time as covered in this guide. Finally, users may simply get bored with the app over time or stop using it, so they delete their accounts to clear out unused social media profiles.
TikTok’s 30 Day Restore Policy
When a TikTok account is deleted, the account and all of its data are not immediately wiped from TikTok’s servers. Instead, TikTok implements a 30 day restore window where deleted accounts can be easily reactivated with no data loss (Business Insider, 2022).
This 30 day restore period is a security feature implemented by TikTok to allow users to reverse accidental account deletions. Within 30 days of deletion, users can log back into their account using the same username and password and reactivate it from the Account Settings page (WikiHow, 2022). All of the account’s previous data including videos, likes, comments, messages, effects, drafts, and profile information will be intact.
However, after the 30 day window has passed, deleted TikTok accounts and their data are permanently removed from TikTok’s servers. At that point, it becomes very difficult if not impossible for users to recover their old account. The 30 day restore period gives users a chance to change their mind after deleting their account while still being able to get their account back easily.
What Happens After 30 Days
After an account is deleted, TikTok gives users 30 days to reactivate it before it is permanently deactivated. During this 30-day grace period, the account is deactivated but the profile, videos, likes, followers, and other data are still retained on TikTok’s servers.
Once the 30 days have passed, the account and all associated data are permanently deleted by TikTok and can no longer be recovered. As Taplink notes, “It will be deleted automatically within 30 days, no more actions required of you.” At this point, there is no way for even TikTok to retrieve the deleted profile, videos, likes, comments, and other account details.[1]
So if you wait 30 days after deleting your TikTok account, it is gone for good. TikTok clearly states in their privacy policy that accounts deleted after 30 days are permanently removed along with all personal information and user content.[2] There is no recovering data or undoing the deletion.
Reactivating After 30 Days
Unfortunately, it is not possible to restore a TikTok account after 30 days from when it was deleted. According to TikTok’s help center, deleted accounts can only be recovered within 30 days before they are permanently removed from TikTok’s systems.
After the 30 day window, previous users cannot reactivate their old deleted accounts. The account username, videos, followers, and all other data associated with the account will be completely erased by TikTok after 30 days.
As stated in this Business Insider article, “After 30 days, deleted TikTok accounts are permanently removed and can’t be recovered.” There is no way around this 30 day limitation set by TikTok.
If the 30 day window has passed, the only option is to create a brand new TikTok account. Users cannot restore, reactivate, or reinstate a TikTok account after the 30 day deletion period.
Creating a New TikTok Account
If the 30 day window has passed, the deleted TikTok account is permanently removed and cannot be recovered. However, users can simply create a brand new TikTok account to start fresh.
When creating a new account after a previous deletion, it’s important to note that none of the old account details will carry over. This includes previous videos, followers, likes, comments, etc. The new account is essentially starting from scratch.
While users can sign up with the same email or phone number as their old deleted account, TikTok will treat the new account as entirely separate. Previous usernames are also permanently deleted and cannot be reused on a new account.
Overall, creating a new TikTok account is quick and easy after a previous deletion. But users will be building their audience and content from zero again without access to the old account’s data. For those looking for a fresh start, opening a new account lets them do just that on TikTok after 30 days.
Best Practices
Before deleting a TikTok account, users should be certain they want to proceed. Deleting an account is permanent after 30 days and cannot be undone. Those having second thoughts about deleting their account should consider deactivating it instead, which pauses the account while retaining all data.
It’s also wise to download all account data beforehand, including videos, messages, profile information, and more. TikTok allows users to download this archive from account settings. Saving this data provides a backup if the user later wishes they could recover their old account.
Additionally, users should remove any personal information from their account before deletion. This includes info in the bio, usernames, associated emails or phone numbers, and details like location or school within videos. Removing PII helps preserve privacy after the account is gone.
Taking these steps allows a more seamless, regret-free account deletion. While TikTok only permits account recovery within 30 days, being cautious from the start prevents wishing a deleted account could be restored down the road.
TikTok Account Recovery Scams
Unfortunately, there are various scams claiming that deleted TikTok accounts can be restored for a fee. These scammers often reach out via social media sites like Facebook or Instagram, or through text/WhatsApp messages, claiming they work for or have contacts at TikTok to recover accounts.
However, according to TikTok’s official support page, no third party can recover a deleted TikTok account, even after 30 days. The company warns users to avoid any unsolicited messages offering account recovery services, as these are fraudulent. TikTok emphasizes it will never proactively reach out to users in this manner.
Users on Reddit have also corroborated that any offers to restore deleted TikTok accounts for money are 100% scams. No hackers or outside agencies have the capability to recover accounts on behalf of users.
In summary, be wary of any random messages claiming they can recover your deleted TikTok account. There is no legit third party service that can restore accounts once deleted, even if you’re willing to pay. Any such offers are fraudulent scams aimed at stealing money or personal information.
Appealing Account Deletion
Once a TikTok account is deleted, whether by the user or by TikTok, it can be very difficult to get it restored. According to TikTok’s support site, the main reasons TikTok will reverse an account deletion are if the account was banned incorrectly or if the account belonged to a minor (source).
For regular user-initiated account deletions, there is typically no appeal process. The only option is to create a new account. TikTok’s support articles state that account deletion is meant to be permanent, and users should only delete their accounts if they are certain (source).
In rare cases, users have reported success appealing by contacting TikTok support and providing proof of ownership of the deleted account. However, this process is not guaranteed and most deleted accounts remain permanently deleted.
Conclusion
In summary, if a TikTok account is deleted, either by the user or TikTok, there is a 30 day window to restore the account. This is done by logging into TikTok using the email, phone number, username or ID associated with the deleted account and requesting account restoration within 30 days of deletion.
After 30 days have passed since the account deletion, it is not possible to recover or reactivate the deleted TikTok account. The account is permanently removed from TikTok’s systems and cannot be restored. Users will have to create a brand new account after 30 days.
The key takeaway is that the 30 day window is the cutoff period for TikTok to recover deleted accounts. Once past 30 days, no appeals or requests will lead to the account being restored. Users should be certain before deleting their TikTok account, as the action cannot be reversed after a month has gone by.
