Many users want to delete their old TikTok account for various reasons – perhaps the account contains old content they no longer want associated with them, or they want to start fresh with a new account and persona. However, deleting a TikTok account can be difficult if you’ve lost access to the email or password originally used to register it.
The goal of this guide is to outline the various methods and options for deleting an old TikTok account when you’ve forgotten the login credentials. We’ll explore techniques like trying to log in, using linked social media accounts, contacting TikTok support directly, and verifying account ownership through phone/email. Even if you can’t directly log in, there are still ways to either delete the account or leave it abandoned and start fresh with a new one. Read on to find the solution that works for your situation.
Try Logging In
The first step you should try is logging into your old TikTok account to see if you can gain access. Even if you don’t remember the exact email and password you used, try entering some common or old passwords you may have used, as well as any old email addresses. Sometimes you may actually be able to log back in even if you don’t have the precise credentials memorized.
Go to the TikTok login page and try entering multiple different combinations of old/common passwords along with any email addresses you may have used to set up the account originally. Keep trying different variations – you may get lucky and guess the right password and email to access your old account again.
The key is to systematically try as many different password and email address combinations from your memory as possible. With some persistence, you may just stumble upon the correct credentials and regain access to your old TikTok profile. This takes some trial and error, but is worth a shot before exploring more complicated options to delete the old account.
Use Social Media
If you originally signed up for your TikTok account using a social media platform like Facebook, Twitter, or Google, you may be able to log back into your TikTok account through that platform. Here are the steps to try logging in via connected social media:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap ‘Log in’.
2. Tap ‘Continue with Facebook’, ‘Continue with Twitter’, or ‘Continue with Google’ depending on which platform you used to create your account initially. This will redirect you to that platform to log in.
3. Enter your login credentials for the social media platform and authorize TikTok to access your account.
4. If the login is successful, you will be redirected back to TikTok and logged into your old account. You can then proceed to change your password or delete the account.
This login method relies on your TikTok account still being connected to your social media account. If you previously disconnected the accounts or deleted the social media account entirely, you will not be able to log in this way. However, it is still worth trying in case the accounts are still linked.
For more details, see TikTok’s log in support page.
Contact TikTok
If you cannot access your account to delete it directly through the app, you can submit an account deletion request directly to TikTok through their website. TikTok has a form specifically for requesting account deletion at https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/delete-my-account.
On this page, you will need to provide your phone number or email address associated with the lost account. TikTok will send a confirmation code to verify your identity. Once verified, you can submit the request to delete the account permanently.
According to TikTok, account deletion requests are generally processed within 24 hours. Once deleted, the account profile, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be removed. The username will also become available for anyone to claim.
Verify With Phone/Email
If you can’t remember your password but have access to the email or phone number associated with your old TikTok account, you can try to verify account ownership and potentially gain access. Go to the TikTok login page and click “Forgot password”. Enter the email or phone number for the account. TikTok will send a verification code that you can use to prove you own the associated contact information.
For email verification, the code will be sent to your email inbox. For phone number verification, the code will be sent via text message. Enter the 6-digit verification code on the TikTok page to confirm you own the contact information. If verification is successful, TikTok will prompt you to create a new password for your account so you can login again.
This verification process acts as proof that you own or have access to the account contact information. Providing the correct verification code allows you to regain access to a lost account. Just make sure the email or phone number you enter still corresponds to the old TikTok account you want to recover.
Delete the App
One way to logout of your old TikTok account is to simply delete the TikTok app from your devices. This will remove any cached sessions that may still be logged in. Once the app is deleted, the account will essentially be logged out on that device.
However, deleting the app alone does not delete your account or remove your content from TikTok’s servers. Videos, drafts, likes etc. will still be retained by TikTok. You will need to take additional steps to fully delete the account.
According to Reddit users, deleting the app will not delete draft videos stored on TikTok’s servers: “No, it will still keep them. Unless you uninstall the app or delete the cache you’ll be fine.” (Source)
Change Password
If you regain access to the email or phone number associated with your old TikTok account, you can reset your password. On the TikTok login page, click “Forget Password?” and enter the email or phone number for the account. TikTok will send you a 6-digit code to verify your identity. Enter the code, and you’ll be able to create a new password to log back into your account. This allows you to access the account again without losing any of your existing content. See TikTok’s support article for step-by-step instructions on how to reset your password.
Once you’ve regained access to your account, you should immediately change your password to something new that only you know. Go to your profile, tap the three-line menu, choose “Settings and privacy,” select “Privacy,” and tap “Change password.” Enter your current password and new password to update it. This will help prevent anyone else from accessing your account if they previously knew or guessed your old password.
Make a New Account
If you’ve exhausted all options and still can’t regain access to your old TikTok account, the simplest solution may be to just create a brand new account. First, uninstall the TikTok app from your device and reinstall it to start fresh. When prompted, enter a new email address and password that you have not used before for TikTok.
The benefit of making a new account is you can move on with a clean slate. Just be sure to jot down and securely save your new login credentials somewhere, so you don’t lose access again down the road. Also, consider using a password manager to keep your passwords organized and secure.
While losing your original TikTok account may feel frustrating, a new account gives you the opportunity to rebrand yourself or start over. Focus on creating great new content to rebuild your following. With persistence and consistency, you can grow your new TikTok profile.
Avoid Losing Access In The Future
Here are some tips to avoid losing access to your TikTok account in the future:
- Make sure to connect your account to an email address you access regularly. This will allow you to reset your password if needed (TikTok Support).
- Set up two-factor authentication for added security. You’ll need access to your phone or authenticator app to log in (4K Download).
- Back up your account data regularly in case you ever need it. You can download your TikTok data to store elsewhere.
- Save your password in a safe place in case you forget it. Consider using a password manager.
- Take note of the phone number, email, username and any other account details needed to log in or recover access.
Keeping your login info handy and enabling extra security can prevent losing access to your account. Backing up data gives you a copy if needed. Stay organized and you can avoid TikTok access problems down the road.
Other Options
Here are a few other potential options to try recovering access to your old TikTok account:
Contact TikTok support directly through their help center at https://support.tiktok.com/en. You can submit a request for account recovery assistance. Be sure to provide as many verifiable details as possible like your username, phone number, email, etc.
Check if you connected your TikTok account to any third party social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You may be able to use those accounts to help verify your identity and regain access.
As a last resort, you can try creating a new TikTok account with a different username. You won’t have access to your old videos or followers, but you can start rebuilding your presence on TikTok.
If none of these options work, your old TikTok account may be permanently inaccessible unfortunately if you cannot provide the original login details.
