If you are having trouble finding your TikTok account, don’t worry – there are a few easy steps you can take to get back into your account. Here are some of the most common reasons your TikTok account may be inaccessible, along with solutions for each scenario:
You’re logged into the wrong account
The most common reason you can’t find your account is because you’re logged into a different TikTok account than the one you’re looking for. When you open the TikTok app, check the profile icon in the bottom right corner to see which account you’re currently using.
If you’re logged into an account you don’t recognize or don’t want to use, tap the profile icon to log out. Then log back in with the email, phone number, or username associated with the TikTok account you’re trying to find.
You forgot your password
If you try logging into your account but get an error saying your password is incorrect, you may have simply forgotten your password. Not to worry – recovering your password is easy.
On the TikTok login screen, tap “Forgot password?” and enter the email or phone number for your account. TikTok will send you an email or text with a link to reset your password. Click the link, create a new password, and then log back into your account.
Your account is temporarily blocked
TikTok may temporarily block your account if they suspect suspicious activity, such as someone trying to log in from a new device or location. Usually the block is lifted within 24 hours.
Check your email – TikTok should have sent you an email explaining why your account was blocked and when access will be restored. Once the block is lifted, you can log back into your account as normal.
Your account was banned
If your TikTok account has been banned for violating community guidelines, you will not be able to access it. TikTok bans accounts permanently and does not allow users to regain access after a ban.
You can appeal the ban by filing a dispute through TikTok’s app or website. Explain why you believe the ban was a mistake. However, keep in mind that less than 1% of banned accounts successfully appeal their ban.
If your appeal is denied, your only option is to create a brand new TikTok account and start over. Be sure to read up on TikTok’s rules to avoid getting banned again.
Your username changed
If your TikTok username changed, you may be searching for your old username and unable to find your profile. This can happen if TikTok changed your username due to violations or if someone else took your original username after you changed it.
First, check if you have any notifications about a username change. If not, try searching for your new username or the email/phone number on your account. You can also log out and log back in to sync your profile to your current username.
You deactivated your account
If you chose to temporarily deactivate your TikTok account, you will not be able to access it until you reactivate it. Deactivating pauses your account but does not delete any of your content.
To reactivate your account, just log back into TikTok using your username or the email/phone number on your account. Your profile and videos will restore as normal.
You deleted your account
If you permanently deleted your TikTok account, it is gone forever along with all of your videos and data. TikTok does not allow you to retrieve deleted accounts.
However, if you changed your mind shortly after deleting your account, quickly contact TikTok support. If it has been less than 30 days, they may be able to recover your account. But after 30 days, there is no way to get a deleted account back.
Your account was hacked
If someone else gained access to your account and changed the login details, you may no longer be able to get into your TikTok profile. This is known as account hacking.
Immediately report the hacking to TikTok. Provide proof that you are the rightful account owner, such as older emails from TikTok tied to the account. TikTok will work to investigate and restore access to the legitimate account owner.
Also change passwords on any accounts that used the same password as your TikTok account to prevent further hacking.
You’re searching the wrong username
It seems obvious, but double check that you are searching for your exact TikTok username. With millions of users, it’s easy to mix up account names. Be sure you have the spelling, underscores, dashes, and capitalization entered correctly.
If you have multiple TikTok accounts, check that you are searching under the username for the specific account you want to find.
Your account is glitching
In rare cases, a technical glitch may make your TikTok account temporarily unavailable. Issues like server outages can prevent access to your account for a short time.
Check the TikTok Status page to see if the app is experiencing known issues. Try logging out and back in, clearing your app cache/data, or reinstalling the app to resolve any glitches.
If the problem persists more than a few hours, contact TikTok support for help recovering your account.
You have the wrong app
TikTok combines the former Musical.ly app and the current TikTok app into one service. However, old Musical.ly user accounts did not automatically transfer over to the new TikTok.
So if you are opening the Musical.ly app, your old Musical.ly videos and account will be there. But you won’t find them within TikTok, which is a separate app.
Install the latest version of TikTok to access your new TikTok account and videos. Your Musical.ly content unfortunately can’t be merged into TikTok.
Contact TikTok support
If you still can’t find your TikTok account after trying all troubleshooting steps, reach out to TikTok support directly for help.
In the TikTok app, go to your profile and tap the three-dot menu > Report a Problem > Account and Profile > Contact Support. Explain your issue accessing your account.
You can also submit an account access request through TikTok’s support website or email [email protected]. Provide details on your account handle, email, and anything else that can verify you as the account owner.
TikTok support can investigate issues, reset passwords, recover deleted/hacked accounts, and help troubleshoot any other problems accessing your profile and videos.
Create a new account
If TikTok is unable to recover your account (or you’re positive it was permanently deleted/banned), your final option is to create a brand new TikTok account and start fresh.
Use a new email and password when you sign up. Build your new profile, follow users, make videos, and rebuild your audience.
While starting over may seem daunting, look at it as an opportunity to reinvent your presence and content strategy!
Key takeaways
- Double check you’re logged into the correct TikTok account before searching for your profile.
- Reset your password if you cannot remember your login details.
- If your account is temporarily blocked, wait 24 hours and try accessing it again.
- Permanently banned accounts cannot be recovered – you will need to create a new account.
- Contact TikTok support if troubleshooting does not restore access to your account.
