TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps worldwide with over 1 billion monthly active users globally as of 2024 (Source). The app, known for its short-form videos, is particularly popular with Gen Z users with over 2 thirds of TikTok’s U.S. audience being between the ages of 10 and 29 (Source).
Like most apps, TikTok regularly releases updates to fix bugs, improve features, and enhance overall user experience. Keeping apps updated is important to get the latest features and security patches. Outdated apps may suffer performance issues or vulnerabilities that updated versions have addressed. Generally it’s recommended to keep all apps, including TikTok, updated to the latest stable version.
Determine Your Current TikTok Version
The first step in updating TikTok is to determine what version you currently have installed on your device. This will tell you whether you’re totally up to date or need to update to a newer version.
On iOS devices like iPhones and iPads, you can find your current TikTok version by going to the App Store and tapping on your profile icon in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap on TikTok. On the App Store listing, you will see the current version listed below the Open button.
On Android devices, open the Play Store app and tap on the hamburger menu in the top left corner. Go to My apps & games > Installed > TikTok. The version number will be listed below the app name.
You can then compare your version to the latest TikTok version available. If your current version is lower, you’ll need to update the app to get the newest features and fixes.
Back Up Your Videos
It’s important to back up your TikTok videos before updating the app to avoid losing any of your data or content. With over 1 billion videos viewed daily, and 34 million new videos uploaded per day, TikTok hosts an enormous amount of user generated content. You don’t want an app update to accidentally wipe out your profile and all your hard work creating videos.
To back up your TikTok videos:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
- Select “Manage my account” from the menu.
- Tap on “Data and privacy.”
- Select “Download your data.”
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Tap “Export.” This will begin preparing your data archive.
- Once ready, you will receive a notification that your data is available to download.
- Return to “Data and privacy” and select “Download your data” again.
- Tap “Download” on the archive to save it to your device.
This archive will contain all of your TikTok videos as well as other account data. Keep it backed up externally until after you’ve verified the app update was successful.
Update Through the App Store/Play Store
The easiest and most convenient way to update TikTok is directly through the app store you originally downloaded it from. For iOS users, open the App Store on your device and tap on your profile icon in the top right corner. Tap “Updates” to see any available updates for your apps. If TikTok has an update available, you’ll see “Update” next to it – tap this to update to the latest version.
For Android users, open the Google Play Store app and tap on the hamburger menu icon in the top left. Go to “My apps & games” to see apps with available updates. Tap “Update” next to TikTok to get the latest version. The app store method is simple and ensures you always have the most current TikTok release.
According to Business of Apps, TikTok had over 1 billion monthly active users in 2022, making it one of the most popular apps globally. Keeping it updated allows you to enjoy the latest features and optimizations as TikTok frequently rolls out new versions.
Update Manually
If you don’t want to update TikTok through the app store, you can manually download the latest version of the app directly from TikTok’s website.
Update TikTok Manually on iPhone/iPad
Follow these steps to manually update TikTok on your iOS device:
- Go to TikTok’s website on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the “Download” button.
- This will take you to the TikTok page on the App Store. Tap “Update” to download the latest version.
- Once the update is complete, open TikTok to start using the new version.
Update TikTok Manually on Android
Here’s how to manually update TikTok on your Android device:
- Go to TikTok’s website on your Android phone or tablet.
- Tap the “Download” button.
- This will start downloading the latest APK file for TikTok. When prompted, tap “Install” to start the installation.
- Once the update is finished, open TikTok to begin using the new version.
Manually updating ensures you get the latest TikTok version as soon as it’s available. The process is quick and easy on both iOS and Android devices.
After Updating
After the update is complete, you will need to log back into your TikTok account. When logging back in, make sure to use the same username and password as before. TikTok should retain all of your data, likes, followers, and videos after an app update.
However, it doesn’t hurt to double check that everything is still there. Take a look at your profile, videos, likes, and followers to make sure nothing was lost in the update process. You can also scroll through your main TikTok feed to ensure the videos, sounds, and effects are loading properly.
If you do notice anything missing after an update, try restarting the app and logging back in. If the issues persist, you may need to contact TikTok support for further assistance recovering lost data.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues when updating the TikTok app, here are some common problems and solutions:
If the update fails to download or install, first check that you have enough storage space on your device and a stable internet connection. Restarting your device can also help. If issues persist, try uninstalling TikTok completely before reinstalling the app.
The update may fail if your device software is not up to date. Make sure your operating system and other apps are current before attempting to update TikTok.
Sometimes app updates can get stuck when there are issues with app permissions. Check that TikTok has the proper permissions enabled, like access to storage, camera, etc. Disable and re-enable permissions if needed.
If videos aren’t loading after an update, try force quitting the TikTok app and restarting it. Clearing the app cache and data can also help resolve loading issues.
For other problems, check TikTok’s help documentation or contact their customer support. Reinstalling TikTok as a last resort can often fix persistent technical issues.
TikTok Update Frequency
On average, TikTok releases a new version of their app every 10-12 weeks. Major updates come every 3-4 months, while minor updates and bug fixes happen more regularly.
TikTok is constantly testing new features and making algorithm tweaks behind-the-scenes. These changes are usually rolled out to users incrementally rather than all at once in an update. For example, in December 2021 it was revealed that TikTok had been experimenting with a dislike button for comments (Source).
When TikTok does push a significant update to the app stores, they will highlight the major changes, improvements, and new features in the release notes. Some updates have introduced significant shifts like longer 3 minute videos or the algorithm being tweaked to promote originality.
Overall, TikTok tends to update their app more frequently than other social platforms. This allows them to quickly test and implement new features to improve the user experience. Checking the app store every 1-2 months for an update is recommended to get the latest features.
Notable Recent TikTok Updates
TikTok is continuously releasing new features and updates to improve the user experience. Here is an overview of some of the latest notable updates:
In October 2022, TikTok launched a new Profile Kit that allows creators to showcase up to six videos on their Linktree profile for more discovery.
TikTok introduced an “Add Yours” sticker in September 2022 to enable trends and challenges. Users can create a video using the sticker to invite others to participate.
In August 2022, TikTok expanded its Creative Exchange marketplace to global users, allowing creators to license and sell their content.
TikTok launched LIVE subscriptions in June 2022, letting creators earn monthly revenue from fans who subscribe during LIVE videos.
New editing features were added in May 2022 like video trimming, filters, and editing sounds. The app also added HD video uploads.
In April 2022, TikTok enabled longer videos of up to 10 minutes for all users to provide more creative flexibility.
Conclusion
Updating your TikTok app regularly is important to stay current with the latest features and optimizations. To recap, you can update your TikTok app through the App Store or Google Play Store, or manually download the latest version from TikTok’s website. Be sure to back up your videos before updating in case anything goes wrong.
Staying updated allows you to take advantage of TikTok’s newest capabilities as soon as they become available. For example, recent updates have brought green screen and subtitle features, effects and filters, privacy controls, and algorithm improvements to create a more personalized feed.
In the future, we can expect TikTok to further refine its recommendations through artificial intelligence, roll out more augmented reality effects, expand livestreaming capabilities, tighten security, and potentially integrate ecommerce. While the core functionality will likely stay the same, regular updates help keep the app fresh and engaging for users.
Overall, updating TikTok regularly is a simple process that helps you stay current. With new features and optimizations released every few weeks, updating frequently ensures you get the most out of your TikTok experience.