What is TikTok?
TikTok is a popular social media app for creating and sharing short videos. It was launched in September 2016 by ByteDance, a Beijing-based company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming. As of December 2022, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide according to Backlinko.
TikTok allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos on any topic. It provides easy-to-use video editing tools that allow users to combine videos, images, text, effects, sounds and more. Users can follow other creators, share videos, and interact with videos through likes, comments and more. Its algorithm is very effective at determining user interests and preferences to provide a personalized, entertaining video feed.
Originally launched as Douyin in China in September 2016, TikTok rapidly gained popularity worldwide after its launch and acquired its international counterpart Musical.ly in 2017. It was then relaunched as TikTok for markets outside of China. According to Business of Apps, TikTok was the most downloaded app of 2020 and continues to see massive growth.
Why you may need to know your TikTok password
There are a few key reasons why you may need to access or reset your TikTok password:
To log in on a new device – If you get a new phone or want to log in to TikTok on a friend’s device, you’ll need your password to access your account. Resetting your password can help if you don’t remember it.
To change your password – It’s good security practice to periodically change your passwords, especially for frequently used accounts like social media. You’ll need your current TikTok password first before you can change it to something new.
To recover your account – If you get locked out of your TikTok account, resetting your password may help you regain access. You’ll go through a verification process to prove you’re the account owner.
TikTok passwords are important for accessing your account across devices and maintaining control of your profile. Having access to your password or being able to reset it easily lets you keep your TikTok account secure.
Ways to recover your TikTok password
If you forgot your TikTok password, there are a few ways you can try to recover and reset it:
Reset via email
You can reset your TikTok password by using the email address associated with your account. Go to the TikTok login page and tap “Forgot password?” Enter your username or the email for your account and TikTok will send you a password reset email with a verification code 1. Open the email, enter the code, and you’ll be able to create a new password.
Reset via phone number
If you have a phone number connected to your TikTok account, you can use it to reset your password. On the login screen, tap “Forgot password?” and enter your phone number. TikTok will text you a 6-digit verification code that you can use to create a new password 2.
Reset via secret questions
When you created your TikTok account, you may have set up secret questions as a recovery option. On the login page tap “Forgot password?” and tap “Reset with secret questions” if available. Answer your secret questions correctly to reset your password.
Reset password via email
If you have access to the email address associated with your TikTok account, you can reset your password via email. Here is the step-by-step process:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on “Log In” at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap on “Forgot password?” below the password field.
3. Select “Reset by email” and enter the email address associated with your account. Tap “Send code” (Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/log-in/reset-password).
4. Check your email inbox for a 6-digit verification code from TikTok and enter it on the app.
5. Create a new password and confirm it.
6. Tap “Done” and you will be logged in with your new password.
Reset via Phone Number
If you have access to the phone number associated with your TikTok account, you can use it to reset your password through the following steps:
- Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
- Tap on ‘Log In’ at the bottom of the screen.
- Select ‘Use phone/email/username’.
- Choose ‘Phone’
- Enter your phone number and tap ‘Next’.
- You will receive a 6-digit verification code via text message. Enter this code and tap ‘Next’.
- Choose a new password and re-enter it to confirm.
- Tap ‘Done’ to reset your password.
Once you enter the verification code, TikTok will prompt you to create a new password. Your password will then be reset, allowing you to access your account again.
This method is useful if you have the same phone number linked to your TikTok account. However, if you no longer have access to that number, you will need to use another method to reset your password.
Reset via secret questions
If you’ve set up security questions in your TikTok account, you can use them to reset your password if you’ve forgotten it.
Here is the step-by-step process to reset your TikTok password using secret questions:
- Open the TikTok app and tap ‘Log in’ on the home screen.
- Tap ‘Forgot password?’ below the password field.
- Tap ‘Verify by security questions’.
- Enter your TikTok username or the email/phone number linked to your account.
- Select your secret question from the dropdown and enter the answer.
- Tap ‘Submit’.
- You will receive a verification code via email or text.
- Enter the verification code and tap ‘Submit’.
- Create a new password and re-enter it to confirm.
- Tap ‘Reset Password’.
Your TikTok password will now be reset. Going forward, make sure to save your new password in a safe place.
For more details on setting security questions, see TikTok’s security question guide.
Retrieve via saved passwords
One of the easiest ways to recover your TikTok password is to check your browser or password manager like Google Chrome, Safari, or 1Password. Most modern browsers and password managers securely save your passwords and allow you to view them.
For example, in Google Chrome you can go to Settings > Autofill > Passwords to see a list of saved passwords. You can then search for “TikTok” to find your saved login info. Similarly, in Safari on iOS you can go to Settings > Passwords to view and search saved passwords [1].
Dedicated password managers like 1Password also securely store passwords which you can retrieve at any time by simply logging into your password manager account. So check there as well if you use a dedicated password manager app or browser extension.
As long as you have the password saved in your browser or password manager, retrieving your TikTok password takes just a few clicks. Just be sure to only view passwords on your own personal devices for security.
What if you can’t reset password
If you are unable to reset your TikTok password through email, phone number, or secret questions, you will need to contact TikTok support directly to regain access to your account. To prove ownership of the account, you will need to provide personal information associated with the account such as your username, email or phone number used to sign up, date of birth, and any other details you may have used when creating the account. TikTok support can use this information to verify you as the account owner.
According to TikTok’s help center article on logging in and troubleshooting (https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/log-in/reset-password), you can contact their support team through the app by going to Profile > Settings and privacy > Report a problem. This will open an in-app chat with their support team who can assist you. Alternatively, you can submit a request online through their contact form at https://www.tiktok.com/contact?lang=en explaining your situation and providing account details.
TikTok emphasizes that you should never buy or sell a TikTok account, as that violates their Terms of Service. Work directly with their support team to regain access to your own account through the official channels.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security on top of your TikTok password by requiring you to enter an additional code or approval when logging in. This makes it much harder for someone else to access your account, even if they obtain your password. Two-factor authentication is especially recommended for TikTok creators and influencers who want to protect their accounts.
To enable two-factor authentication on TikTok:
- Open your profile and go to Settings > Privacy and Safety > Two-Factor Authentication
- Select your preferred method – SMS text message, email, or authentication app
- Follow the prompts to set up the authentication and verify your identity
With two-factor enabled, you’ll need to enter both your password and the authentication code to successfully sign in to TikTok. While this adds an extra step, it provides crucial protection against unauthorized access. For TikTok creators whose accounts are valuable assets, taking this security precaution is highly recommended.
Best practices for TikTok password security
When it comes to securing your TikTok account, the most important thing is using a strong, unique password. TikTok recommends choosing a password that is at least 6 characters long and uses a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (Keep your account secure). Avoid using personal information or common words that could be easily guessed.
You should also make sure the password is unique and not used for any other accounts, as reusing passwords increases vulnerability across multiple services (Internet Safety: 20 Tips for TikTok Security). Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords.
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security, requiring both your password and a verification code sent to your phone when logging in. 2FA makes it much harder for anyone else to access your account (Privacy and Security | TikTok).
Other tips include not sharing your password with anyone, logging out of public or shared devices after use, and updating your password periodically or if you suspect any unauthorized access. Following security best practices helps keep your TikTok account and data safe.
