It can be frustrating when you want to delete your TikTok account but can’t log in to do so. There are many reasons why you may want to permanently remove your account – privacy concerns, lack of use, too addicting, etc. But not being able to access your account makes the process more difficult.
This guide will walk through steps on how to delete a TikTok account you’re locked out of. We’ll explore ways to try logging in again, contacting TikTok support, submitting a deletion request without logging in, using a backup email if available, and checking linked social media accounts. With some persistence, you can get the account removed.
Try Logging In Again
If you can’t access your TikTok account, the first step is to try logging in again, even if you’re sure you have the right password. According to Leo Notenboom, the most common reason people can’t log in is that they aren’t typing their password correctly.
Slow down and carefully enter your username and password, double checking that caps lock is off and you have the right character case. If you’re still running into trouble, try resetting your password by selecting “Forgot password?” on the login page. You’ll be able to reset and recover access if you can confirm your account details.
If you’ve tried your most commonly used passwords and reset options without success, it’s time to contact TikTok support for further help regaining access to your locked account.
Contact TikTok Support
If you can’t regain access to your account on your own, the next step is to reach out to TikTok’s support team for assistance. You can contact TikTok support in a few ways:
Go to TikTok’s Contact Support page and select the “Account access” category. Here you can explain your situation and submit an inquiry. TikTok aims to respond within 24 hours.
On the TikTok app, go to your profile page and tap the “Report a problem” link. Choose “Account access” as the issue type and provide details. This will also submit a request to TikTok’s support team.
You can also try reaching out to @TikTokSupport on Twitter. Explain that you are locked out of your account and provide your username. They may be able to assist you through DM.
When contacting support, be ready to provide details to verify your identity such as your username, email address or phone number associated with the account, date of birth, and any other info that could help TikTok confirm you are the account owner.
Submit Deletion Request
If you cannot log into your TikTok account to delete it, you can submit an account deletion request directly through TikTok’s support page. Here are the steps:
1. Go to https://www.tiktok.com/login/delete/account.
2. Enter the email address or phone number associated with the TikTok account you want to delete.
3. Click “Search” and select your account.
4. Enter the reason you want to delete your account and any additional details.
5. Click “Submit request” to complete your account deletion request.
TikTok notes it may take around 30 days to process account deletion requests. You’ll receive confirmation via email once your request has been processed and your account deleted.
Provide Account Details
When submitting an account deletion request, you will need to provide some key account details so TikTok can verify you are the account owner. According to TikTok’s support page, the main pieces of information needed are:
- Your username
- The email address or phone number associated with your account
- Date of birth used for the account
Providing accurate information about your username, email/phone, and date of birth will help TikTok confirm your identity and process the deletion request. Make sure to enter the details precisely as they appear on your account. If you don’t remember some details, try your best guess as TikTok will cross-check the information.
In some cases, TikTok may ask for additional verification such as a code sent your email or phone. Be ready to access your email or SMS messages if prompted for further authentication. Accurately providing the requested account details is key for deleting a TikTok account you can’t log into.
Wait for Confirmation
After submitting the account deletion request, you will need to wait for TikTok to process it. Note it may take some time to fully delete the account. According to TikTok’s support page, it can take up to 30 days for an account to be permanently deleted after the deletion request is received. This is because TikTok wants to ensure people have time to change their mind in case of accidental deletion requests.
TikTok states: “If you requested to delete your account, your account will be deactivated immediately and then deleted from our systems in 30 days.” So don’t be alarmed if your account still appears active right after submitting the request. Give it several weeks and keep checking before expecting it to fully disappear.
The waiting period gives users a chance to cancel the deletion if they regret their decision or submitted the request by mistake. As long as it’s still within 30 days, you may be able to recover the account by logging in again or contacting TikTok support.
After 30 days have passed though, the account should be permanently erased from TikTok’s systems. At that point, it is likely too late to recover it. Just be patient during the waiting period and don’t assume the request failed if your account doesn’t vanish instantly.
Use Backup Email
If you provided a backup email address when creating your TikTok account, you may be able to use it to reset your password and regain access. Here are the steps:
- Go to the TikTok login page and tap “Forgot password?”
- Choose the “reset via email” option.
- Enter your TikTok username and the backup email address you provided.
- TikTok will send a password reset link to that email address if it matches their records.
- Click the link in the email to reset your password and log back into your account.
Having a backup email on your TikTok account can be extremely useful if you get locked out. It provides another avenue to regain access and delete the account if needed. Just make sure the backup email is current and that you can access it. For more details, see this guide from Dexerto.
Check Other Social Media
If your TikTok account was linked to other social media profiles like Facebook or Twitter, you may be able to use those accounts to regain access to your TikTok. Here are the steps:
Go to the Facebook or Twitter app and log into the account connected to your TikTok. In settings, look for any options related to “Linked Accounts.” You should see TikTok listed there if it was previously connected.
Tap on the TikTok link. This should redirect you to TikTok and automatically log you into your account. If you see your TikTok profile, the accounts are still linked and you’ve successfully accessed your TikTok account again.
If you don’t see the option to connect to TikTok, the accounts may have become unlinked. In that case, you won’t be able to use Facebook or Twitter to get back into TikTok. You’ll have to go through TikTok’s account recovery process instead.
Checking social media links can provide a handy backdoor into TikTok if you’re locked out. But if the accounts are no longer connected, you’ll need to use TikTok’s official recovery options.
Consider Making New Account
If you are unable to recover access to your old TikTok account even after contacting TikTok support, creating a brand new account is an option. According to this Quora post, the TikTok algorithm will give a new account a fresh start, so your new videos will not be affected by poor performance of your previous videos.
When making a new account, you’ll want to use a different email and phone number than your old account if possible, since TikTok limits one account per phone number. However, according to a Reddit user, you can change the phone number on your new account later if needed, as long as you have access to both your old and new phone numbers.
The main downside of starting fresh is losing your previous followers and videos. But if you are set on deleting your inaccessible account anyway, making new content on a new profile is a simple alternative.
Conclusion
In summary, if you are unable to log into your TikTok account and want to delete it, there are a few options available.
First, double check that you are using the correct email/username and password to log in. Reset your password if needed. You can also try contacting TikTok support directly and ask them to delete the account on your behalf. Provide as many account details as possible like your username, email, phone number, etc. to verify ownership.
Additionally, check if you have access to the email account linked to your TikTok profile. Use this email to submit an account deletion request or reset your password. TikTok should notify you once the account has been deleted.
If you are still unable to gain access to the account, consider making a new TikTok profile instead. And be sure to log out from any devices that may have retained your login details.
With some patience and persistence, you should be able to fully delete your old TikTok account even without access. Wishing you the best of luck!
