There are a few reasons why someone may need to delete a TikTok account that they don’t have access to:
- Child’s account – Parents may want to delete their child’s TikTok account if they feel their child is spending too much time on the app or is exposed to inappropriate content.
- Deceased relative’s account – If a relative passes away, family members may want to delete their TikTok account and all associated data.
- Hacked account – If someone’s TikTok account gets hacked, they will need to delete the account if they cannot regain access.
- Fake/imposter account – People may want to remove fake or imposter accounts using their name or image without their consent.
In these situations, the person wanting to delete the account does not have the password or access to the account themselves. Therefore, they need to go through TikTok’s account deletion process for accounts you don’t own.
Contact TikTok Support
To contact TikTok’s support team about account deletion, you should use the contact form on their website or send an email. On TikTok’s Contact page (https://www.tiktok.com/about/contact?lang=en), select your country and request type. Then fill out the contact form with details about your request. You can also email [email protected] with your request.
In your request, explain that you need to delete a TikTok account that you don’t have access to. Provide as much information as possible, like the username, email or phone number associated with the account. Be polite and clearly state that you are asking them to permanently delete the account due to lack of access.
Provide Proof of Identity
To verify your identity and relation to the account, TikTok will ask you to provide copies of official documentation such as:
- Government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport)
- Birth certificate
- Legal documents proving relation to the account holder (e.g. marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate showing relation for parent)
According to TikTok’s verification requirements, you’ll need to provide a photo or scanned copy of your ID that clearly shows your full name, photo, and date of birth. For privacy, you can cover up sensitive information like the ID number.
Having valid proof of identity and relation ready will help streamline the verification process with TikTok support.
Confirm Account Ownership
TikTok will ask you to confirm your ownership of the account you want to delete. This is an important verification step to prevent unauthorized account deletions.
To confirm account ownership, TikTok may ask you to provide information like your email address or phone number associated with the account. According to TikTok’s support page, you may need to provide a copy of a valid government ID that matches the information previously associated with the account.
TikTok states that providing accurate information is the only way to verify account ownership or your relationship to the account holder. TikTok’s support specialists will review the information you provide to confirm you have the authority to delete the account before processed the request.
If you are unable to provide documentation that satisfies TikTok’s verification requirements, they may deny your deletion request. Having access to the registered email, phone number, or device used to create the account can help verify ownership.
Submit Deletion Request
Once you have provided documentation to prove your identity and ownership of the account, you can submit the official deletion request to TikTok. Here are the steps:
1. In the TikTok app, tap ‘Profile’ at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select ‘Settings and privacy’.
4. Tap ‘Account’, then ‘Deactivate or delete account’.
5. Tap ‘Delete account permanently’.
6. Enter the email address or phone number associated with the account when prompted.
7. Select a reason for deleting your account.
8. Tap ‘Delete’ to submit your request.
Once you complete these steps, TikTok will process your deletion request. It may take up to 30 days for your account to be fully deleted. You will receive confirmation via email once the process is complete.
Await Response
Once you have submitted the deletion request, you will need to wait for TikTok to process and respond. According to TikTok’s support page, it can take 24-48 hours for them to respond to most requests [1]. However, some users have reported much longer wait times, sometimes up to a month or more [2].
While you wait, you will not be able to access the account. If the account was banned for being underage, TikTok says they allow 113 days for a response [3]. Be prepared that you may not hear back immediately. Continue checking the email associated with the account regularly for a response.
Troubleshooting Issues
There are a few common issues that may prevent you from deleting an account you don’t have access to right away. Here are some potential solutions:
If you get an error saying the account is not associated with your device, try deleting the TikTok app and reinstalling it before attempting to delete the account again. This Reddit user found this resolved the issue.
TikTok may require you to wait 30 days after initially requesting account deletion. This is a security measure, but if you need it deleted sooner, contact TikTok support and explain the urgency of your request.
If someone has changed the password and email on the account you’re trying to delete, you’ll need to provide proof of identity to TikTok through government IDs. TikTok support can then confirm you are the original account owner.
Accounts of deceased relatives can be deleted by providing a death certificate and obituary to TikTok support. It may take some time for them to process your request.
If you continue having trouble getting an unaccessible account deleted, you may need legal assistance to compel TikTok to remove the account and content. This should be a last resort.
Alternatives if TikTok Refuses Account Deletion
If you’ve gone through the proper channels to request deletion of an inaccessible TikTok account and TikTok refuses or ignores the request, there are a few alternative actions you can take:
You can report the account to TikTok for impersonation or other policy violations. Provide details on why you believe the account should be removed. TikTok may investigate and delete the account if it violates their terms.
As a last resort, you may want to contact relevant legal authorities about the situation, especially if the account is posting content pretending to be you without consent. They may be able to compel TikTok to take action or pursue other legal remedies.
Other options could include publicly disavowing the account on your own social media profiles or consulting an attorney about additional steps. The key is persevering through alternate resolution methods if TikTok does not cooperate with account deletion requests.
Preventing Future Issues
Here are some tips to avoid needing to delete an inaccessible TikTok account again:
- Set up family pairing to maintain access to your child’s account.
- Enable strong password recovery options like email or phone number verification so you can reset the password if needed.
- Don’t let others use your account – create separate accounts to maintain control.
- Check account settings periodically and look for unauthorized changes.
- Enable login approvals or two-factor authentication as added security.
- Keep account info and login credentials somewhere safe but accessible in case you need them.
Taking preventative measures can help avoid losing access and the hassles of trying to delete an account you can’t access down the line.
Summary
In summary, here are the key steps to request the deletion of a TikTok account you don’t have access to:
First, contact TikTok Support through their official channels. Provide proof of your identity and request to delete the specified account. Be prepared to confirm your ownership of the account through verification of details only the original creator would know.
If TikTok Support is able to verify your identity and ownership of the account, they can submit a deletion request. However, the process may take some time and involve going back and forth with more information. Be patient and have all relevant details ready.
If you run into issues like an unresponsive support team or inability to provide adequate verification, consider alternative resolution methods or account prevention tactics instead. But with valid proof, TikTok Support should be able to fully delete an inaccessible account on your behalf.
Following through with the proper channels is the safest approach to protect your privacy and permanently remove unwanted accounts. This summarizes the key steps involved in requesting deletion of a TikTok account you can’t directly access.
