Why You Might Want to Deactivate Your TikTok Account
There are a few key reasons why someone may want to temporarily deactivate their TikTok account:
Take a break from the app/social media – TikTok can be addictive and time-consuming. Deactivating gives you a chance to take a break and reset. This is especially helpful if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling for hours.
Avoid distractions – For students or those with busy schedules, deactivating TikTok can remove distractions and help you focus on academics, work, or personal goals.
Gain perspective – Stepping back from TikTok lets you see how much time you really spend on the app and evaluate if it’s healthy for you.
Mental health break – The constant comparisons and feedback on TikTok can negatively impact mental health. Deactivating allows you time away to improve your wellbeing.
Refresh your interest – If your FYP isn’t showing content you like anymore, deactivating and reactivating can help the algorithm reset and show you new videos aligned with your interests.
How to Temporarily Deactivate Your TikTok Account
Deactivating your TikTok account through the app is simple and only takes a few steps. Here is how to temporarily deactivate your TikTok account:
1. Open the TikTok app on your device and log into your account.
2. Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap on the three lines “hamburger” icon in the top right corner to open the menu.
4. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
5. Tap on “Account” under the “Settings” section.
6. Tap on “Deactivate account” and then confirm by tapping “Deactivate” again.
7. Enter your password when prompted to confirm you want to deactivate your account.
After following these steps, your TikTok account will be temporarily deactivated but not deleted. You can reactivate it within 30 days by simply logging back in with your username and password. Deactivating through the app is the easiest way to take a break from TikTok while keeping your account intact.
What Happens When Your TikTok Account is Deactivated
When you deactivate your TikTok account, it is temporarily hidden and inaccessible to you and others. According to TikTok’s support page, your profile, videos, likes, follows, comments, and messages will no longer be visible to any users https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/deactivate-your-account.
Essentially, deactivating makes it seem like your account has been deleted or removed, even though it still exists behind the scenes in TikTok’s system. During the deactivated period, your username also becomes available for others to claim if they wish.
Deactivating your account hides all traces of your presence and activity on TikTok during the time your account is inactive. It’s as if you never had an account in the first place. However, this deactivated state is temporary and reversible if you choose to reactivate within 30 days.
How Long You Can Keep Your TikTok Account Deactivated
When you deactivate your TikTok account, it will remain in a deactivated state for 30 days before being permanently deleted, according to TikTok’s support page. During this 30 day period, you can still reactivate your account and recover your data.
TikTok gives users a grace period before deleting accounts so that those who change their mind can easily undo deactivation. As explained on Quora, the 30 day deactivated period is standard practice for many online platforms before permanently removing accounts.
So in summary, your deactivated TikTok account will be held for 30 days, but after that it will be permanently deleted with no way to recover it.
Reactivating Your TikTok Account Within 30 Days
If your TikTok account has been deactivated for less than 30 days, you can easily reactivate it through the app. Here are the steps to reactivate your deactivated TikTok account in the app settings:
- Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap “Account” and then “Deactivate account”.
- Tap on “Reactivate account” on the next screen.
- Enter your password to reactivate your account.
Once you enter your password, your TikTok account will be fully reactivated with all your previous content and followers intact. The process is quick and easy as long as you reactivate within 30 days of deactivating your account.
What You’ll Lose if Account is Deactivated Over 30 Days
If your TikTok account remains deactivated for more than 30 days, your account and all associated data will be permanently deleted from TikTok’s servers. This includes the following:
- Your profile page, username, bio, and profile photo
- All your previously posted videos and drafts
- Your followers and following lists
- Your liked videos collection and other account activity data
After 30 days, your account will no longer exist on TikTok. The username will become available for anyone else to claim. You will not be able to simply reactivate the account – you would have to start fresh and create an entirely new account from scratch.
So if you think you may want to use TikTok again in the future, be sure to reactivate your account within 30 days of deactivating. Otherwise, you risk losing your TikTok presence permanently.
Creating a New TikTok Account After Deactivation
If your TikTok account has been deactivated for over 30 days, you will not be able to reactivate your old account and will need to create a new one. Here are the steps to make a new TikTok account after deactivating your previous one:
1. Download the TikTok app on your device from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the TikTok app and tap “Sign up”.
3. Enter your email address or phone number and tap “Next”. You’ll need to use a different email/phone number than your previous deactivated account.
4. Create a username and password for your new account. Make sure your new username is different from your old one.
5. Follow the rest of the on-screen prompts to set up your new account.
6. Personalize your profile and adjust preferences as desired.
Once your new account is created, you can start fresh with a new TikTok profile. Just be sure to use new login credentials compared to your deactivated account. If you try to sign up with the same info, TikTok may block you from activating multiple accounts.
Tips for Taking a Successful TikTok Break
If you feel like you need a break from TikTok, there are some steps you can take to make it a beneficial and productive experience:
- Log out of the TikTok app so you aren’t tempted to check it mindlessly
- Mute TikTok notifications on your phone so you don’t get distracted by them
- Tell your friends and followers you’re taking a break so they know not to tag or message you
- Remove the app from your homescreen to reduce the urge to tap on it
- Find other hobbies and activities to fill your time rather than scrolling TikTok for hours
- Schedule specific TikTok-free times or days, like weekends or evenings
- If you slip up, don’t beat yourself up – just reset your goals
Taking proactive steps like logging out, muting, and removing the app from your homescreen can help ensure your TikTok break is restorative and beneficial. Checking in periodically about your goals with friends can provide accountability. Most importantly, fill your time with activities that make you feel refreshed. Refer to this article for more tips on taking a productive social media break.
Pros of Deactivating Your TikTok Account
Deactivating your TikTok account can have several benefits. According to one source, two major pros are improving productivity and reducing screen time.
Without the constant draw of the TikTok feed and Explore page, you’ll likely find yourself with more free time in your day. You can spend that time on hobbies, interacting with friends and family, exercising, reading, or other activities. With less mindless scrolling, you may feel more motivated and focused.
Relatedly, taking a break from TikTok will cut down the amount of time you spend staring at your phone screen. Social media apps can lead to excessive screen time that has negative effects. By deactivating TikTok, you can improve your digital wellbeing and reduce exposure to blue light from your devices.
Overall, if you find TikTok is an endless distraction taking up too much of your day, deactivating your account can help reclaim your productivity and give your eyes a break.
Cons of Deactivating Your TikTok Account
One potential downside of deactivating your TikTok account is that you may lose followers and engagement. When your account is deactivated, you stop showing up in your followers’ feeds. Over time, this can cause your followers to move on and engage with other accounts. According to one source, this potential loneliness and isolation is a major con of quitting social media in general (Pros and Cons of Quitting Social Media).
Another major con is the fear of missing out, or FOMO. When you deactivate your TikTok account, you no longer have access to your For You feed or can see what friends and creators are posting. This can lead to feeling left out and disconnected from pop culture trends. You may worry about not staying up to date on viral dances, memes, or other popular content. Some find it difficult to quit social media cold turkey because they feel like they are missing out on something important.
