Confirm You Own the Account
Before trying to recover your lost TikTok account, it’s important to have proof that you are the legitimate owner. TikTok’s support team will require evidence that you own the account in order to assist with recovering access. This prevents fraudulent attempts to gain control of accounts that don’t belong to you.
According to TikTok’s support article, you will need to provide details like the original email or phone number used to create the account, the date the account was created, devices previously used to access the account, and billing information if purchases were made. Verified accounts also require submitting a photo ID that matches the name used during verification.
Reddit users also recommend having screenshots of your profile page, videos you’ve posted, and conversations to prove ownership. The more details you can provide, the easier it will be to convince TikTok that you are the legitimate account holder.
Taking the time to gather evidence you own the account before contacting TikTok for help will make the process faster and avoid denials since you can’t prove it belongs to you. Their support team needs solid proof of ownership to justify granting access to an account.
Contact TikTok Support
The best way to recover your lost TikTok account is to directly contact TikTok support. You can reach out to TikTok support in a few ways:
Email: Send an email to [email protected] explaining your situation and requesting account recovery assistance. Be sure to include your username and any other details that can verify you as the account owner.
In-app support: Open the TikTok app, go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu icon, then select “Support” to navigate to the in-app support options. Here you can explain your issue and submit an account recovery request.
TikTok advises going through their official support channels for account recovery. Avoid any third party services claiming they can recover your account, as these may be scams.
Provide Account Details
When contacting TikTok support to recover your account, it is crucial that you provide as many details about the account as possible. This will help verify that you are the legitimate owner of the account.
Important details to have on hand include:
- Your username
- Any email addresses associated with the account
- Phone numbers used to register or verify the account
- Profile photo or description
- Names of followers or followed accounts
- Approximate date the account was created
- Locations where the account was accessed
Providing accurate information on when the account was created, the associated email and phone, any purchases made, and specific content will go a long way in convincing TikTok support that you are the rightful account owner. Having multiple details that only the legitimate account holder would know increases your chances of a successful recovery.
Do your best to gather as much relevant account info as possible before reaching out to TikTok. This will avoid delays and make it more likely support can verify your identity and restore access to your account.
Verify Your Identity
An important part of recovering your locked TikTok account is verifying your identity. TikTok will want to ensure the person trying to access the account is the legitimate owner.
To verify your identity, TikTok may ask you to upload a photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Make sure the ID photo clearly matches your profile picture. TikTok may also require you to take a selfie video to match against your ID photo.
Providing valid ID is crucial for TikTok to confirm you are the account owner. If you cannot supply proper identification, TikTok may not be able to give you access back to your account. Be ready to provide your latest identification documents when prompted.
Note that TikTok may ask for ID verification as part of the recovery process even if your account was not locked due to suspicious activity. Verifying yourself is a standard step to retrieve access to your account.
Check Backup Email/Phone
If you set up a backup email or phone number when creating your TikTok account, you may be able to use it to recover access. Go to the TikTok login page and click “Forgot password.” You’ll be prompted to enter either your username, email, or phone number. If you enter your username, TikTok will send a password reset link to the email or phone associated with your account.
However, this will only work if you had previously added a backup email or phone number. TikTok allows setting up 2-factor authentication with a phone number, which could also help you regain access. But if no backup contact info was provided, you won’t be able to reset the password this way.
According to TikTok’s support site: “If you forget your username, email, or the other login method you used to log into TikTok, you can look up all your login methods by entering the mobile phone number associated with your account.” (source)
Request Password Reset
If you had previously linked a backup email address or phone number to your TikTok account, try requesting a password reset. On the TikTok login screen, tap “Forgot password?” and enter your username. You will then be prompted to enter the backup email or receive a code through text message to verify your identity.
This is often the easiest way to recover access to a lost TikTok account. As long as you can still access the backup contact information, you can have a password reset link or code sent through. Follow the instructions to create a new password and log back in.
According to TikTok’s support article “How to reset a TikTok account password,” this method allows you to reset your password without having to contact TikTok support directly. However, if you no longer have access to the backup contact information, you will need to go through the account recovery process.
Cite: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/how-to-reset-a-tiktok-account-password?lang=en
Be Patient
The TikTok account recovery process can often take some time. TikTokSupport warns that it may take up to 30 days for them to fully review your account and identity information. This lengthy timeframe is due to the high volume of requests they receive. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back right away. Keep checking your email and the app for updates. TikTok recommends periodically logging into your account to see if you regain access. However, avoid logging in too frequently as this can trigger additional security lockouts.
Sometimes the recovery process requires persistence. You may need to submit multiple support tickets or provide additional verification information before TikTok grants access. While frustrating, know that TikTok prioritizes user security and wants to thoroughly verify account ownership. Remain patient yet diligent in regularly following up. With perseverance, you should eventually regain entry to your TikTok account.
Avoid Suspicious Services
Be wary of third party services claiming they can recover your locked TikTok account. Many of these are scams that could compromise your account further. According to Security.org, some third party services may try to steal personal information or install malware. It’s best to avoid sharing your account details with any outside service and only work directly with TikTok support. Reputable companies like TikTok do not need external services to regain access to your own account.
Enable Security Features
Once you have recovered access to your TikTok account, it is important to enable additional security features to help prevent future lockouts. According to https://readwrite.com/how-to-protect-your-tiktok-account-from-hackers/, two key features to enable are backup contact info and two-factor authentication.
Adding a backup email address and phone number to your TikTok account allows you to easily reset your password if you get locked out again. TikTok will send a password reset link to these backup contact methods. Make sure to use an email and phone number only you control.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring both your password and a verification code sent to your phone when logging in. This prevents unauthorized access even if someone obtains your password. According to https://nordpass.com/blog/how-to-change-tiktok-password/, enabling two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to secure your TikTok account.
Taking the time to setup backup contact info and two-factor authentication after regaining access to your account can prevent many headaches in the future. Your TikTok account and data will be much more secure.
Prevent Future Lockouts
Once you regain access to your TikTok account, there are steps you can take to prevent getting locked out again in the future:
- Don’t share your login information or password with anyone, even friends or family. Sharing logins is one of the top ways accounts get compromised or locked.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your account for extra security. This requires you to enter a code from your phone anytime you login from a new device.
- Make your password long, complex, and unique. Avoid common words, phrases, or patterns.
- Keep your login details and password updated. If you suspect your information has been compromised, change it right away.
- Be wary of suspicious links and downloads that can compromise your account. Only install apps from official app stores.
- Check back on your account often and look for any suspicious activity. Knowing your typical usage patterns makes spotting issues easier.
Staying vigilant about account security is the best way to avoid the headache of dealing with another lockout. Enabling extra protections and not sharing your login information will go a long way towards keeping your account safe and accessible.
