What Does Deactivating TikTok Mean?
Deactivating your TikTok account is different from deleting it. When you deactivate your TikTok account, you temporarily disable it without erasing any of your content or followers. Your profile, videos, likes, comments, and followers will all still be there if you choose to reactivate your account later.
According to TikTok’s support page, “Deactivating your TikTok account allows you to put it on a temporary hold. When you’re ready to get back on TikTok, you can reactivate your account and pick up right where you left off.”
So in summary, deactivating your TikTok account puts it in a dormant state where it is hidden from other users and not accessible. Your data is retained so that you can easily reactivate whenever you want to start using TikTok again.
Sources:
https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/deactivate-your-account
Why Would You Want to Deactivate TikTok?
There are a few key reasons someone may want to temporarily deactivate their TikTok account rather than fully deleting it:
Take a break from the app – TikTok can be highly addictive and time consuming. Deactivating allows you to take a break without losing your content and followers. This is helpful if you want to focus on other things for a while or feel you’ve become too reliant on the app.
Avoid cyberbullying or harassment – Unfortunately, cyberbullying is common on social platforms like TikTok. If you become the target of bullying or harassment, deactivating can provide immediate relief while still preserving your account.
Manage screen time – For parents or individuals trying to reduce screen time, deactivating TikTok removes the temptation without permanently deleting the account.
Assess whether to fully delete – Deactivating can serve as a test period to evaluate if you want to permanently delete your TikTok or simply take a temporary break.
How to Deactivate Your TikTok Account
Deactivating your TikTok account is simple and can be done directly through the app in just a few steps:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the 3-line menu icon in the top right corner and select “Manage my account”.
3. Select “Delete account” and then choose “Temporarily disable my account” on the next page.
4. Enter your password when prompted to confirm you want to deactivate your account.
5. Tap “Temporarily disable account” again to complete the deactivation process.
As per How Do I Temporarily Disable TikTok? on TechCult, following these steps will deactivate your TikTok account and make your profile and videos invisible to other users.
How Long Can a TikTok Account Stay Deactivated?
There is no limit on how long a TikTok account can stay deactivated. Once an account is deactivated, it will remain in that state until the user decides to reactivate it.
According to TikTok’s support page, “You can reactivate your account at any time by logging back into your account and following the instructions.”
So in essence, a TikTok account can stay deactivated indefinitely, whether it’s for 30 days or 30 years. The choice is up to the user. As long as the account is not deleted, it can be brought back to active status through reactivation.
TikTok does have an inactive account policy where if an account is inactive for 180 days, the username may become available for others to claim. However, this only applies to inactive accounts, not deactivated ones. As stated by TikTok, “An inactive account is an account that has not been logged into at least once in the previous 180 days.”
So the bottom line is – there is no time limit on how long you can keep your TikTok account deactivated. It will remain dormant until you decide to reactivate it.
What Happens When Your TikTok is Deactivated?
When you deactivate your TikTok account, your profile and videos will be hidden from other users on the platform. Essentially, it will appear as if your account no longer exists – people will not be able to find or view your profile or content. You also will not be able to post new videos, comment, message, or otherwise interact with the TikTok community while deactivated.
According to TikTok’s support site, “You won’t have access to your account, and no one else will be able to view your profile or videos.” However, TikTok does note that deactivating your account does not delete any of your information or content – it remains stored on their servers, though inaccessible to anyone. Your followers, likes, comments, and other data associated with your account will also be retained if you choose to later reactivate.
So in summary, deactivating hides your profile and prevents any use of your account, but your data remains intact and can be restored if you log back in and reactivate the account. It’s essentially a temporary decommission versus a permanent deletion.
Sources:
https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/deactivate-your-account
https://www.makeuseof.com/tiktok-how-to-tell-deleted-deactivated-account/
Can You Reactivate a Deactivated TikTok Account?
Yes, you can reactivate a deactivated TikTok account at any time by simply logging back into your account. According to TikTok’s support site, to reactivate your account you just need to:
- Log into your account using the same login credentials you had previously used.
- Tap on the “Reactivate” button to recover your account.
Once you complete these steps, your deactivated TikTok account will be fully restored with all of your previous videos, followers, and data intact. You can then continue using TikTok as normal. The deactivation process does not delete or remove anything from your account, it just puts it in a temporary dormant state. So reactivating brings your account back to life as it was before being deactivated.
According to TikTok’s support site, reactivating a deactivated account is quick and easy. You can do it anytime you choose to start using TikTok again after a break.
Will Deactivating TikTok Delete Your Videos?
No, deactivating your TikTok account does not delete your videos from TikTok’s servers. According to TikTok’s support page, deleting a video removes it from your profile, but does not remove it from TikTok’s systems entirely (1).
This means that even if you deactivate your account, all of your previously posted videos will remain on TikTok’s servers and will still be visible to others if they have the direct link. Deactivation simply removes access to the account – it does not delete or remove any of the account’s existing content.
Some users recommend never deleting TikTok videos so as not to lose the views, even if the video is outdated or you want it removed from your profile (2). This is because views still help your account, even if the videos are no longer publicly visible on your profile.
So in summary, deactivating your account does not affect your existing videos at all. They remain on TikTok’s servers and keep any views they already had. The videos simply won’t be associated with your account profile anymore until you reactivate.
Sources:
(1) https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/creating-videos/editing-posting-and-deleting
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiktokhelp/comments/ox7q51/why_you_should_almost_never_delete_your_tik_tok/
What About Followers When Deactivating?
When you decide to deactivate your TikTok account, your followers will remain, but they won’t be able to view your profile or content. According to TikTok’s Help Center, “Other users will no longer be able to find or view your account” when it is deactivated.
So even though your number of followers stays the same, those followers essentially lose access to your profile. They won’t see your videos on their For You page or in any feeds. You also won’t show up in their Following list while deactivated.
Essentially, deactivating puts your account on hold and removes you from the TikTok community while keeping your data intact. Your followers stay attached to your account but in name only. As TikTok explains, “No one else will be able to find or view your deactivated account.”
If you choose to reactive your account within 30 days, all of your followers will be waiting for you when you return. Deactivating temporarily pauses your presence while preserving your follower count.
## Should You Fully Delete Instead of Deactivating?
Deactivating your TikTok account is a reversible action – you can easily reactivate your account later if you choose. Fully deleting your account is permanent after 30 days and cannot be undone.
Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding between deactivating and deleting your TikTok account:
Pros of deactivating:
- You can take a break from TikTok but still have the option to reactivate your account in the future.
- Your profile, posts, followers and following will all be saved if you reactivate.
- Deactivating is quick and easy to do.
Cons of deactivating:
- Your data is still stored on TikTok’s servers while deactivated.
- You may be tempted to reactivate your account if you don’t fully commit to leaving.
Pros of deleting:
- Permanently removes your data and presence from TikTok.
- Helps you fully commit to leaving TikTok for good.
- Stops you from accessing your old videos and analytics.
Cons of deleting:
- Process takes 30 days and cannot be reversed.
- You lose your account history, followers and materials.
Overall, deactivating gives you more flexibility if you may return to TikTok, while deleting is better for a clean break. Consider your reasons for leaving TikTok when deciding between the two options.
Deactivating TikTok FAQs
Here are some common questions about deactivating your TikTok account:
Can I reactivate my account after deactivating? Yes, you can reactive your TikTok account anytime within 30 days of deactivating by simply logging back in. After 30 days the account will be permanently deleted.
Will deactivating delete my videos? No, deactivating your account does not delete your videos or profile information. Your profile and videos remain visible to others while deactivated.
Can someone else take my username if I deactivate? No, your username remains reserved for you while deactivated and cannot be taken by another user.
What happens to my followers if I deactivate? Your follower count remains the same when you deactivate. You do not lose any followers. They will still see your profile and videos while deactivated.
How long can TikTok stay deactivated? You can keep your TikTok account deactivated for up to 30 days before it is permanently deleted by TikTok.
Does deactivating delete my FYP feed? Yes, deactivating will reset your For You feed and it will have to rebuild after reactivating.
Can I still use TikTok if my account is deactivated? No, you cannot access your account or post/comment on TikTok while your account is deactivated.
