TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2022. On TikTok, users can create and share fun videos, follow accounts that interest them, and interact with content. Like other social media platforms, TikTok allows users to deactivate their accounts. This means the account will no longer be viewable to others while logged out, but it stays saved on TikTok’s servers.
In this article, we’ll look at what happens when you deactivate your TikTok account, how to deactivate and reactivate your account, how long deactivation lasts, and the pros and cons of deactivating a TikTok account. We’ll also discuss permanently deleting a TikTok account versus deactivating it. Ultimately, this guide will provide a comprehensive overview on the topic of deactivating a TikTok account.
What Happens When You Deactivate
When you deactivate your TikTok account, your profile, videos, likes, follows, and all other account information is hidden and inaccessible to you and others on TikTok. According to TikTok’s Help Center, “You won’t have access to your account, but we’ll keep your data so you can recover it if you choose to reactivate your account later” (source).
Essentially, deactivating makes your account disappear from the platform temporarily. Your username will not show up in searches or on any videos you’ve liked or commented on. Other users will not be able to view your profile or any of your content. You will be logged out of your account and unable to access it until you choose to reactivate it again.
How to Deactivate Your TikTok Account
Deactivating your TikTok account is simple to do:
- Open the TikTok app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select “Manage my account.”
- Tap “Delete account” on the next screen.
- Select “Temporarily disable my account” on the pop-up prompt.
- Confirm you want to deactivate your account.
Once you complete these steps, your TikTok account will immediately be deactivated. Your profile, videos, likes, comments, and other data will be hidden until you decide to reactivate your account. According to TechCult, deactivating your account is easy to do directly within the TikTok app.
How Long Deactivation Lasts
When you deactivate your TikTok account, there is no official time limit for how long it can stay deactivated before being automatically deleted. According to TikTok’s support article, accounts can remain deactivated indefinitely until the user decides to reactive it.
TikTok does not set a time limit on deactivation like some other social platforms do. For example, Instagram automatically deletes deactivated accounts after 30 days. But on TikTok, an account can stay deactivated for as long as the user wants.
The main time limit with TikTok deactivation is if you want to reactivate the account later. Deactivated accounts can only be restored for up to 30 days after deactivating. After 30 days, the deactivation becomes permanent deletion. But if you log back in within 30 days, you can seamlessly reactivate as if nothing changed.
So in summary, deactivated TikTok accounts do not expire and can remain dormant indefinitely, unlike other sites. The only deadline is the 30 days users have to reactivate before the account is gone for good.
Reactivating Your Account
If you choose to deactivate your TikTok account temporarily, you can easily reactivate it later and regain full access. Here are the steps to reactivate your TikTok account:
Log in using the email, phone number, username or social media account associated with your TikTok profile. You will be prompted to enter a verification code sent to your email or phone. Once verified, your account will automatically be reactivated.1
After reactivating, you will regain access to your profile, draft videos, messages, effects and all previous content. The data and content associated with your account will be fully restored. You can continue using TikTok normally as if you never deactivated your account.
The reactivation process is quick and simple. Within minutes, you can have your old TikTok profile back up and running. Just be sure to use the same contact information associated with the deactivated account when logging back in to verify your identity.
Permanently Deleting Account
If you decide you want to permanently delete your TikTok account and don’t ever want the option to reactivate it, you can request for TikTok to permanently delete your account. According to TikTok’s support site, “If your account is permanently deleted, your profile, videos, comments, likes, followers, etc. will be permanently removed from our servers and we will no longer have records of any data associated with your account” (source).
To request permanent deletion of your TikTok account, you need to submit a deletion request directly through TikTok’s support site. You cannot permanently delete your account directly within the app. On the support site, select “I want to permanently delete my account” and follow the on-screen prompts to submit the request. TikTok notes it may take up to 30 days to process account deletion requests (source). During this time, you will not be able to reactivate or access your account.
What You Can Do While Deactivated
When your TikTok account is deactivated, you can still access the TikTok app and browse content, but with limited capabilities. Here are the key things to know about what you can and can’t do on a deactivated TikTok account:
You can’t post any new videos, go live, comment on other people’s content, like or follow other users, or message other users. Basically all interactive features are disabled.
However, you can still browse the For You feed, search for content and accounts, and watch videos. Your profile and previous content will not be visible, so you can access TikTok anonymously without others knowing it’s you.
So in summary, deactivating limits your ability to interact but still allows you to consume content as a passive, invisible viewer.
Pros of Deactivating Your TikTok Account
There are several benefits to temporarily deactivating your TikTok account rather than deleting it entirely. Some of the main advantages include:
Temporary Break From the Platform
Deactivating gives you a chance to take a break from the constant stream of content on TikTok. According to one source, “Despite the variety of content available on the platform, removing TikTok has done wonders for my mental health and productivity.” (https://studybreaks.com/tvfilm/ditch-tiktok/) Taking a break can help reduce distractions and give you a chance to focus on other things.
More Privacy and Reduced Screen Time
With your account deactivated, you won’t show up in other users’ feeds or searches. This gives you more privacy. Deactivating also naturally reduces your screen time spent endlessly scrolling through TikTok. You can use this time on more productive or fulfilling activities instead.
Cons of Deactivating Account
One potential downside of deactivating your TikTok account is that you may lose followers and growth during the deactivated period. Since your account will not show up in feeds or be searchable, new users will not be able to find and follow you. Additionally, existing followers may assume you have left the platform and unfollow your account. According to some users, deactivating for even a short time can result in a noticeable drop in followers.
Another con is that by deactivating, you may miss out on trends, opportunities, and viral moments happening on TikTok. The platform moves quickly, with new sounds, challenges, and memes arising daily. While your account is deactivated, you won’t be able to participate in these trends or capitalize on opportunities to grow your audience and views. Some creators have found it difficult to regain momentum after returning from an extended break. However, this risk depends on the goals for your account and duration of deactivation.
Overall, the main potential downsides are stalled growth and missing out on trends. However, many find the pros outweigh these factors, especially if deactivating for a short time to take a mental break from the app. The impact also depends on the individual account – larger established creators may notice less of an effect compared to smaller, growing accounts.
Conclusion
In summary, deactivating your TikTok account removes your profile and content from the platform while retaining your data should you choose to reactivate. Your username also becomes available for anyone else to claim after 30 days of inactivity. Deactivation lasts for up to 30 days, after which your account will be permanently deleted if not reactivated.
While deactivated, you won’t be able to log in or use TikTok’s features, but you can still reactivate your account at any time during the 30 day window by logging back in. Permanently deleting your account is an irreversible process that erases all of your information right away.
Overall, deactivating can be a good option if you need a break from TikTok but think you may want to return in the future. Just be aware your username and videos could be gone for good after 30 days. If you are certain about leaving TikTok permanently, deletion is the way to go.
