Why You Might Want to Permanently Delete TikTok
There are a few key reasons why someone may want to permanently delete their TikTok account rather than just temporarily deactivating it for 30 days:
Privacy concerns around data collection have been one of the main issues surrounding TikTok. TikTok has access to large amounts of user data and has allegedly shared confidential user information with the Chinese government, according to some reports (CRS Report). Many users are uncomfortable with how much of their personal data the app can access.
Permanently deleting TikTok can help reduce screen time and distraction. The app is notoriously addictive and can easily suck up hours of time scrolling. Removing it altogether can help break the habit for some users.
Deleting the app also frees up storage space on your device that was being taken up by the app and all its videos. TikTok can use up a considerable amount of storage, so removing it clears space for other apps and uses.
How to Delete Your TikTok Account
To delete your TikTok account through the mobile app:
- Open the TikTok app and log into your account
- Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner to go to your profile page
- Tap on the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu
- Tap on “Manage account” and then “Delete account”
- Enter your password when prompted to confirm you want to delete your account
Once you enter your password, your account will be scheduled for deletion. TikTok notes it takes about 30 days for your account to be completely removed from their systems.
If you change your mind, you can cancel the account deletion by logging back in within 30 days. After 30 days, deletion is permanent.
What Happens When You Delete TikTok
When you delete your TikTok account, your profile, videos, comments, likes, and all other data associated with your account will be removed (1). However, TikTok does not immediately delete all of your data. They keep it stored on their servers for 30 days after account deletion (2, 3). During this 30 day period, your account is deactivated and inaccessible to you or anyone else.
You won’t be able to log into your deactivated account or access any of your previous content. Other users will see that your account no longer exists if they try to view your old profile or videos. TikTok states this 30 day timeframe allows people who accidentally deleted their account to recover it if they change their mind (1).
After 30 days, TikTok will permanently erase all data associated with the deactivated account. Once past the 30 day window, there is no way to reactivate or recover a deleted TikTok account.
Sources:
(1) https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/delete-account
(2) https://www.today.com/money/how-delete-tiktok-account-2020-t190205
(3) https://www.avast.com/c-delete-or-deactivate-tiktok
How to Permanently Delete TikTok Before 30 Days
If you don’t want to wait 30 days for your TikTok account to be permanently deleted, you can contact TikTok support to request immediate and permanent deletion.
To do this, go to the TikTok “Report a Problem” page and select the “Delete My Account” option. Then choose “Delete my account immediately” and explain why you need your account deleted right away.
TikTok will review your request and may ask you to provide proof of identity. This is to ensure someone else isn’t trying to delete your account without your permission.
In some regions like the EU and California, TikTok is legally required to comply with user requests to delete accounts and data permanently. Citing privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA may help get your account deleted sooner.
If TikTok agrees your reason for urgent deletion is valid, they can bypass the normal 30 day waiting period. This will permanently wipe your account and videos from their systems right away.
Deleting the TikTok App vs. Account
There is an important distinction between simply deleting the TikTok app from your device and fully deleting your TikTok account. Removing the TikTok app from your phone or tablet only deletes the app locally and does not delete your account or data. Your TikTok account, videos, likes, comments, and all other associated data will still exist and remain active even if the app is no longer installed on your device.
In order to permanently delete your TikTok presence, you need to completely delete your TikTok account. This removes all of your TikTok data from their servers and disables your account. Once your TikTok account is deleted, your profile, videos, likes, followers and all other data will be permanently erased and cannot be recovered. The TikTok app can always be redownloaded from the app store, but a deleted TikTok account and its data are gone forever.
So in summary, deleting just the TikTok app only removes it locally from your device. Your account and information still exist unless you fully delete your TikTok account through the account deletion process. Be certain that you actually want to delete your TikTok presence before going through with permanent account deletion.
What Happens to Your TikTok Videos
When you delete your TikTok account, all of the videos you have posted will be permanently deleted as well. According to Reddit user u/VideoEditingBy on this Reddit thread, your videos will no longer be accessible to other users once your account is deleted.
However, even though your videos are deleted from TikTok’s servers, there is still a chance they could exist elsewhere on the internet. As Quora user Anshul Saxena explains in this post, your videos may have been cached, downloaded or reposted by other users before you deleted them. So there is no way to fully remove their traces from the internet once they have been posted.
Alternatives to Deleting TikTok
While deleting your TikTok account permanently will remove all of your content, there are some alternatives to consider if you don’t want to take such a drastic step:
Deactivate Account Temporarily
Instead of deleting your account, you can temporarily deactivate it. This will make your account private and hide your profile and videos. To reactivate it, just log back in with your username and password. Deactivating gives you a break from TikTok without losing everything permanently.
Make Account Private
Another option is to make your account private so only people you approve can see your videos. Go to your profile, tap the three dots, choose Privacy and Safety, and toggle on “Private Account.” This lets you control who follows you without deleting the account.
Remove App from Homescreen
You can also just delete the TikTok app from your homescreen without deleting your account. This makes it harder to access TikTok since you have to redownload the app to log back in. It provides some distance without fully committing to deleting your account.
Reactivating Your TikTok Account
If you change your mind after deleting your TikTok account, you may be able to reactive it within 30 days. To reactivate your deleted TikTok account within 30 days:
- Download the TikTok app and log into your account using your username and password. TikTok will detect your deleted account and prompt you to restore it.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your account. TikTok will reactivate your account with all your previous videos, followers, and settings.
According to Business Insider, your deleted TikTok account remains recoverable for up to 30 days after deletion. However, after 30 days have passed, there is no way to retrieve your old TikTok account. You will have to create a brand new account with a new username.
So if you change your mind soon after deleting your account, make sure to log back in within 30 days while your account is still recoverable. After a month, your only option is to start fresh with a new TikTok profile.
Deleting TikTok on iPhone vs Android
The process of deleting TikTok from an iPhone or Android device is very similar overall. Here are the key steps for each platform:
On iPhone:
- Go to the Settings app
- Select your profile icon at the top
- Scroll down and tap on the TikTok app
- Tap “Delete App” and confirm
On Android:
- Open the TikTok app
- Go to your profile by tapping the “Me” icon
- Tap on the three dot menu icon in the top right
- Go to “Settings and privacy”
- Select “Manage account”
- Tap “Delete account”
The main difference is that on iPhone you delete the app from the Settings app, while on Android you delete your account from within the TikTok app itself. But the end result is the same – removing TikTok from your device.
Conclusion
To summarize, there are a few main steps to permanently deleting your TikTok account before the 30 day waiting period:
- Go to your TikTok account settings
- Select “Manage account” then “Delete account”
- Select “Permanently delete my account”
Note that while this will immediately deactivate your account, fully erasing your data from TikTok’s servers is difficult if not impossible. TikTok states they take steps to anonymize and aggregate data after account deletion, but your videos, comments, likes, etc may still exist in some form.
Overall, deleting your TikTok can free you from an addictive app and regain privacy. However, this is an irreversible action, so consider alternatives like temporarily disabling your account if you may want to return someday. Take time to weigh the pros and cons before choosing to permanently delete TikTok.
