TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, share, and discover short videos. It currently has over 1 billion monthly active users globally (Source). While many enjoy using TikTok, some users may eventually want to delete their TikTok account permanently. There are a few common reasons why a user may want to delete their TikTok account:
- Privacy concerns – TikTok collects user data which some find intrusive.
- Addiction – Spending too much time scrolling can be addictive and unproductive.
- Cyberbullying – TikTok can lead to bullying, unwanted attention or harassment.
- Distraction from priorities – The constant stream of content can be distracting.
- Boredom/loss of interest – Users may simply get bored of the app over time.
Fortunately, it is possible to permanently delete a TikTok account for those who no longer wish to use it. The process involves a few simple steps which we will cover in this guide.
Reasons to Delete TikTok Account
One of the main reasons many people choose to delete their TikTok account is due to privacy and data concerns. TikTok has faced scrutiny over its data collection practices and security protocols. Critics worry that TikTok may share user data with the Chinese government, as the app is owned by a Chinese company (Time).
Specifically, TikTok has been accused of collecting sensitive user data like locations, browsing history, and biometric data. There are concerns that this data could be exploited by the Chinese government for surveillance or espionage purposes (Kaspersky). TikTok also lacks certain security features like two-factor authentication that could better protect user accounts.
Many find the privacy risks associated with TikTok too concerning and opt to delete their account entirely as a result. Doing so eliminates the app’s access to your personal data and removes your content from their systems.
How to Delete TikTok Account
Deleting your TikTok account can be done directly through the TikTok app on your mobile device. Here are the steps to delete your TikTok account:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right corner (the 3 horizontal lines).
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap on “Account” and then select “Delete account”.
- Select the “Delete account” option again to confirm.
TikTok will then begin a 30 day countdown before your account is permanently deleted. During this time your account will be deactivated and inaccessible to you. All of your videos and data will be removed after the 30 days.
To immediately delete your TikTok account without waiting 30 days, you will need to contact TikTok support directly according to their guidelines: https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/deleting-an-account/deleting-an-account
Waiting Period Before Deletion
When you request to delete your TikTok account, the platform doesn’t delete it right away. Instead, TikTok initiates a 30-day waiting period before permanently deleting the account (source: https://www.quora.com/I-recently-requested-to-delete-my-TikTok-My-account-was-deactivated-and-confirmed-to-be-deleted-in-30-days-but-it-said-I-can-reactivate-it-at-any-time-If-I-reactivate-it-will-it-still-permanently-delete-my-account).
This 30-day period serves as a grace period in case you change your mind about deleting your account. During this time, your account is deactivated but not yet permanently removed. You can still reactivate your account within 30 days and regain access.
The waiting period prevents people from immediately and irreversibly deleting their accounts in haste. It gives users time to consider their decision before TikTok deletes all account data for good (source: https://www.avast.com/c-delete-or-deactivate-tiktok).
Deleting Without the Waiting Period
If you want to delete your TikTok account right away without waiting 30 days, there are some account deletion tools and services you can use:
Some users have reported success using services like AccountKiller to immediately delete their TikTok account. These services essentially gain access to your account and change the email, password, and other details to make the account inaccessible.
However, there are some risks to be aware of when using third-party account deletion services:
- You have to provide your TikTok login details, which raises security and privacy concerns.
- The service could potentially abuse or misuse access to your account.
- TikTok may be able to detect and reverse any changes made by the service.
- Use of these services likely violates TikTok’s Terms of Service.
Some users on Reddit recommend immediately changing the email, password, and other account details yourself before deleting as a safer alternative. However, this still leaves your account accessible for 30 days if you change your mind.
In summary, while services and techniques exist to bypass the 30 day waiting period, they involve security trade-offs and may not work reliably. The safest approach is still to delete your account directly through TikTok’s interface and wait out the 30 day period.
What Happens When Account is Deleted
When a TikTok account is permanently deleted, all of the content associated with that account is removed from TikTok’s servers. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, they will delete or anonymize your account information within 30 days of receiving a deletion request.
This means any videos you’ve posted, comments you’ve made, messages you’ve sent, and any other data tied to your account will no longer be accessible on TikTok. Your profile, likes, followers, and any other public activity will all be erased from the platform.
Essentially, a deleted TikTok account and all of its data is wiped from existence on TikTok’s systems. The content cannot be recovered once the 30-day deletion period is over. This provides a clean break for people who no longer wish to have an account or presence on the platform.
Reactivating a Deleted Account
If you change your mind after deleting your TikTok account, you may be able to reactivate it within 30 days. According to WikiHow’s article 3 Easy Ways to Recover a TikTok Account, deleted accounts remain in TikTok’s system for 30 days before being permanently removed.
To reactivate your account within 30 days of deletion:
- Re-download the TikTok app if you deleted it.
- Open the app and tap “Log in.”
- Enter your username and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, tap “Forgot password?” to reset it.
- You’ll be prompted to verify your account information.
- After verification, tap “Reactivate.”
Your account should then be restored with all previous data intact. However, if 30 days have passed since deletion, the account cannot be recovered.
Creating a New Account After Deletion
After deleting your TikTok account, you are free to create a brand new account right away if you choose. There is no waiting period required before making a new account after deletion.
You can also reuse the same username from your old deleted account when creating your new one. Usernames are freed up immediately after an account is deleted, so you can quickly claim your old username on the new account.
To create a new TikTok account after deleting your old one:
- Download the TikTok app if you don’t already have it.
- Open the app and tap the profile icon.
- Tap “Create Account”.
- Enter your information including the username you want to use.
- Follow the rest of the on-screen prompts to finish creating your account.
That’s all there is to it! You’ll be able to start fresh with a new TikTok account right away using the same username as before.
Key Takeaways
Here are some of the key takeaways from this guide:
– The main steps for permanent TikTok account deletion without waiting 30 days are: Go to account settings, select “Delete account”, confirm password, then select “Delete account” again on the next page. This will immediately delete your account without having to wait 30 days.
– Deleting your TikTok account permanently means all your videos, likes, comments, and data will be removed. The username will become available for anyone else to claim.
– The main pros of deleting your TikTok account are improved privacy, more control over your data, and avoiding the addictive nature of the platform. The main con is losing access to videos, comments, and connections.
– You can reactivate a deleted TikTok account within 30 days by logging in. After 30 days, the deletion is permanent. You can sign up for a new account any time with the same email or phone number.
– Overall, permanently deleting your TikTok account without the 30 day waiting period gives you immediate removal of your presence on the platform if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about permanently deleting a TikTok account:
Can I delete my TikTok account right away?
No, when you request to delete your TikTok account, there is a 30-day waiting period before the account is permanently deleted as per TikTok’s policy. This is to prevent unauthorized deletions and give users a window to reactivate their account if they change their mind.
Is there any way to bypass the 30-day waiting period?
Unfortunately, there is no official way to delete your TikTok account immediately without waiting 30 days. This waiting period is mandatory as per TikTok’s guidelines.
What happens to my TikTok account after it’s deleted?
Once your TikTok account is permanently deleted after 30 days, your profile, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be removed from TikTok servers and cannot be recovered, according to TikTok’s support page.
Can I reactivate my deleted TikTok account?
No, once your TikTok account is permanently deleted after 30 days, there is no way to reactivate or recover it. The deletion is irreversible.
Can I sign up for TikTok again after deleting my account?
Yes, you can create a new TikTok account using a different email and phone number after your previous account is permanently deleted.
