TikTok adds watermarks to all videos uploaded to the platform by default. A TikTok watermark is the small TikTok logo that appears in the bottom right or left corner of videos. The purpose of the watermark is to attribute credit and prevent people from reposting TikTok videos without permission.
Watermarks act as a form of copyright protection and branding for TikTok. They allow people to easily identify videos that originated on TikTok. The watermarks also discourage users from downloading and reuploading content without consent, since the TikTok logo remains visible. Overall, watermarks help protect original creators on TikTok and prevent content theft.
Understanding TikTok Watermarks
TikTok applies watermarks to videos for branding and attribution purposes. There are a few different types of watermarks TikTok uses:
The main watermark is the large TikTok logo that appears on the bottom or bottom corner of videos. This watermark identifies the content as coming from TikTok.
Usernames are also commonly watermarked on videos. The original poster’s username appears in the bottom corner or along the bottom to credit them as the creator.
Some videos also contain a small location watermark showing the general area where the video was recorded. This provides context on where TikTok videos originate.
Finally, sounds and music used in TikTok videos may contain a watermark from the artist, label, or license holder. These music watermarks demonstrate proper attribution.
In summary, TikTok uses watermarks like logos, usernames, locations, and music credits to brand content and give credit to creators and rights holders (Source). Understanding the purpose behind each type of watermark is helpful context when learning how to remove them.
Why Remove the Watermark?
There are various reasons why people may want to remove the TikTok watermark from their videos before sharing them elsewhere:
To maintain branding – The watermark can detract from your brand if you want to reuse TikTok videos on other platforms. Removing it allows you to keep your videos on-brand.
Aesthetic preferences – Some find the watermark distracting or unappealing. Removing it creates a cleaner look.
Avoid promoting TikTok – If shared elsewhere, the watermark credits TikTok rather than your own account or platform. Removing it avoids indirectly promoting TikTok.
Anonymity – The watermark identifies your TikTok username. Removing it allows uploading TikTok videos anonymously.
Copyright issues – The watermark indicates the video is from TikTok. Removing it could prevent copyright claims or issues when uploading elsewhere.
Downloading the Video
The first step to removing the watermark is to download the TikTok video to your device. This allows you to edit the video file locally before re-uploading. To download a TikTok video:
1. Open the TikTok app and find the video you want to download. Tap the ‘Share’ button below the video.
2. Select ‘Save video’ to save the video file to your camera roll or gallery. You can also use third party apps like TikDownloader to download TikTok videos.
3. The video will now be saved to your device without the TikTok watermark. You can now import it into a video editing app to edit out the watermark.
Downloading the original video ensures you have the highest quality file to work with before re-uploading. You can also download videos in HD quality up to 1080p resolution.
Using Video Editing Software
To edit out the TikTok watermark, you’ll need to download and use video editing software on your computer. Some of the best options for beginners include:
- Adobe Premiere Elements – This full-featured editing software has easy-to-use tools for cropping, adding overlays, and more.
- CyberLink PowerDirector – An affordable option with a helpful guide mode for new users.
- Wondershare Filmora – Filmora makes basic editing like cropping very simple with an intuitive interface.
Look for a tool with cropping, text overlays, and multi-track timeline capabilities. Avoid complex professional software if you’re just starting out. Focus on a program with a straightforward interface to quickly edit your TikTok clips.
Cropping Out the Watermark
One of the easiest ways to remove the TikTok watermark is to simply crop it out. This involves trimming the edges of the video to get rid of the watermark text or logo. Here are the steps:
- Download the TikTok video to your device using a third party app or website. Make sure to download the highest resolution available.
- Open the video file in a video editing app like Inshot, Capcut, or Kinemaster.
- Go to the crop tool and adjust the crop area to cut off the sides or bottom edge where the watermark is located.
- Zoom in and precision trim to ensure the watermark text or logo is completely removed.
- Export and save the cropped video. The watermark should now be removed.
The advantage of cropping is that it doesn’t reduce video quality. However, you may lose some of the original framing. Check the edited video to ensure no important action or content got cropped out along with the watermark.
For reference, see this tutorial: Remove watermark or logo from any video on mobile
Adding a Color Bar Over Text
One easy way to cover up a text watermark without blurring or cropping the video is to add a colored bar or shape over the watermark text. Most video editing apps like Filmora, Movavi, and Adobe Premiere Pro allow you to overlay simple shapes and graphics on your video.
To do this, first import your TikTok video into your video editor. Then add a colored rectangle, bar, or other shape over the watermark text. Make sure the shape fully covers the text. You can play with the transparency of the shape so the video is still visible underneath. Choose a color that blends well into the video so the shape isn’t too distracting.
Position the shape directly over the watermark text. You may need to resize or rotate the shape to properly cover the text. Once positioned, the color bar will block the watermark text from being visible. This avoids having to blur or crop the video.
When done, export your video from the editor. The color bar will remain overlaid on top of the text. Then you can re-upload the watermark-free version to TikTok or other platforms.
Re-uploading the Edited Video
Once you have finished editing the video and removing the watermark, you will need to re-upload the video back to TikTok. Here are the steps for uploading your edited video without the watermark to TikTok:
1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the plus (+) icon to start a new video post.
3. Select “Upload” and choose the edited video from your camera roll or gallery.
4. You can add any effects, sounds, captions etc. like normal.
5. When you are ready, tap “Next” to go to the posting screen.
6. Add any hashtags or a description. You can also change the privacy settings.
7. Tap “Post” to publish your edited, watermark-free video to TikTok!
That’s it! Your edited video without the TikTok watermark will now be live on your TikTok profile for your followers to see.
Copyright Considerations
Removing the watermark from a TikTok video you recorded yourself is generally allowed under fair use principles. However, removing the watermark from someone else’s video can raise copyright issues. According to TikTok’s Terms of Service, users own the content they post, including the video and audio. Downloading, reposting or modifying someone else’s video without permission can infringe on their copyright.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act also provides penalties for intentionally removing or altering copyright management information like watermarks without authorization. So removing the watermark from someone else’s TikTok video and reposting it as your own is not only unethical but also illegal.
The safest approach is to only remove watermarks from videos you have created yourself. If you want to reuse content from someone else’s TikTok video, it’s best to seek their permission first or provide proper attribution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, removing the TikTok watermark from your videos can be done through various methods like downloading the original video and then cropping out or covering up the watermark using video editing apps. However, this may raise copyright concerns, so it’s important to only share edited videos for personal use and ensure proper attribution if reposting anywhere else online. The watermark is there to protect TikTok’s copyrights, but the techniques covered here allow you to customize videos for your own purposes. Just be mindful of copyright laws and fair use standards when editing and re-sharing TikTok videos without the original watermark.
Overall, with the right tools and techniques, you can successfully remove or cover up the TikTok watermark from your own videos. This allows you to customize and stylize videos for use beyond the TikTok platform. While removing the watermark is possible, do so ethically and legally.
