Why You Might Want to Log Out of TikTok
There are several reasons why you may want to log out of your TikTok account from time to time:
Protect privacy/security – Logging out of TikTok can help protect your privacy and account security, especially if you are using a shared or public device. TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data privacy protections and security in recent years (https://time.com/6265651/tiktok-security-us/). Logging out ensures your account activity and information is not accessible from that device.
Use someone else’s device – If you are using someone else’s smartphone, computer, or other device and have logged into your TikTok account, logging out removes your access and clears any of your account information from that device.
Clear watch history and recommendations – Logging out resets the watch history and recommendations used to personalize your TikTok feed, so you can start fresh with a new set of suggestions when logging back in.
Temporary break from the app – Some users like to log out for a short social media detox or mental health break from the addictive TikTok scroll. This can help reset your habits and screen time.
How TikTok Logouts Work
Logging out of your TikTok account is different from deleting your account entirely. When you log out, your account still exists but you will have to log back in with your username and password to access it again. TikTok stores your profile information, videos, drafts, messages, and other data even after you log out. Logging out does not delete or remove anything from your account.
The main thing that happens when you log out of TikTok is that you will be required to reenter your login credentials the next time you want to access your account. You will be prompted to log back in using either your username/password or by connecting to other accounts like Facebook or Google that you may have originally used to create your TikTok account. Your account itself remains intact in TikTok’s systems.
So in summary, logging out pauses your access to your account while deleting your account permanently removes it. Logging out is temporary while deletion is permanent. When logging out, your information stays in TikTok’s system but you have to login again to regain access to your account.
Logging Out on iOS
To log out of your TikTok account on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Open your profile tab by tapping the “Me” icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the 3-line menu icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- A menu will appear – select “Log out” to fully log out of your TikTok account on the iOS device.
Once you tap “Log out”, you will be logged out of your TikTok account and returned to the TikTok home page. You can then log into a different TikTok account if you wish. Logging out closes the app session and you will need to enter your password again next time you log in. It does not delete or disable your account.
According to The Cell Guide, logging out is recommended if you are sharing your device with others or worried about account security. It ensures no one else can access your account from that device until you log back in.
Logging Out on Android
To log out of your TikTok account on an Android device, follow these steps:
First, open the TikTok app on your Android phone or tablet. From the main feed, tap on the “Me” tab in the bottom right corner to open your profile.
In the top right corner of your profile screen, tap on the 3-dot menu icon. This will open up a menu of options.
From this menu, select the “Log out” option. TikTok will log you out of your current account.
You can now either close the app or log into a different TikTok account if desired. Logging out this way ensures your account details are not left open on that device.
To log back in later, simply re-open the TikTok app and enter your username and password when prompted.
Logging Out on Desktop
Logging out of your TikTok account on a desktop is easy. Just follow these steps:
1. Open TikTok on your desktop and click on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will open up a dropdown menu.
2. In the dropdown menu, click on “Log out”. This option will be at the very bottom of the menu.
That’s it! TikTok will log you out of your account on that device. You’ll be returned to the homepage where you can choose to log into a different account or browse TikTok anonymously.
Logging out on desktop ensures that no one else can access your account from that computer without re-entering your password. It’s a good idea to log out if you are using a public or shared computer.
Logging Out of TikTok Website
If you want to log out of your TikTok account on the TikTok website, the process is straightforward:
- Go to https://www.tiktok.com and ensure you are logged into your TikTok account.
- In the top right corner of the page, click on your profile icon.
- A dropdown menu will appear. Select the “Log out” option.
This will immediately log you out of your TikTok account on the website. You will be redirected to the TikTok homepage after logging out. If you want to log back in, you will need to re-enter your username and password.
Logging out on the TikTok website only logs you out of that web browser. If you are logged in on the TikTok app on your mobile device, or on another web browser, you will remain logged into those. You would need to manually log out of each platform separately.
Also Logging Out of Connected Accounts
When you log out of your TikTok account, you may also want to disconnect any other social media accounts you have linked to it. TikTok allows you to connect your account to other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. to more easily share content between them.
Linking social accounts to your TikTok makes it very convenient to simultaneously post videos to multiple platforms. However, it also means that when you are logged into TikTok, you are automatically logged into any linked accounts as well.
So when logging out of TikTok, you likely want to also log out of connected accounts for privacy and security reasons. You can do this manually on each platform, or unlink the accounts within TikTok first which will automatically log you out.
To unlink accounts in the TikTok app, go to your profile, tap Edit Profile, select Linked Accounts and then tap the X icon next to any you wish to disconnect before logging out of TikTok.
Additionally, check any permissions you may have granted TikTok to access things like your contacts, camera, location, etc. You can adjust these settings for improved privacy after logging out of your account.
What Happens When You Log Out
When you log out of your TikTok account, you will immediately lose access to the account. You will no longer be able to view your profile, videos, messages, or make any changes to the account until you log back in.
However, logging out does not delete your account or data. Your profile information, posts, likes, followers, and other account details will still be stored by TikTok. Your viewing history and recommendations may still be influenced by your past activity for a short time after logging out.
Over time, the TikTok algorithm will reset as you remain logged out. Recommendations become based more on general trends rather than your personal viewing history. Any draft videos or messages saved in the app will be deleted upon logging out according to TikTok’s privacy policy.
In summary, logging out pauses your access and activity on your account. But your data, profile, and some usage patterns may still persist in TikTok’s systems even as recommendations and the app experience resets.
Logging Back In After Logging Out
After logging out of your TikTok account, logging back in is simple. You have a couple options to log back in:
- Use your username and password – Open the TikTok app and tap the “Log in” button. Enter your username and password and tap “Log in” to access your account.
- Connect with Google/Facebook/Apple – On the login screen, tap “Log in with Google”, “Log in with Facebook”, or “Continue with Apple” if you previously connected your TikTok account to one of these platforms. This will log you back into your TikTok account.
Logging back in after logging out is fast and easy. TikTok securely saves your login credentials so you can quickly access your account again when needed. For more details, visit TikTok’s help center article on logging in.
Deleting Your TikTok Account
If you want to permanently remove your TikTok account instead of just logging out, here are the steps to fully delete your account:
On the TikTok app:
- Tap on your Profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the Menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings and Privacy > Account > Deactivate/Delete Account.
- Tap on “Delete account” and confirm again by tapping “Delete.”
According to TikTok’s privacy policy, after an account is deleted, TikTok deletes or anonymizes your data within 30 days. This includes your profile info, videos, comments, likes, etc. However, some data may persist if there are legal obligations to retain it.
Deleting your account completely removes it, unlike just logging out which keeps your account active but logs you out of the current session. With account deletion, the process cannot be reversed.
