What It Means to Reset a TikTok Account
Resetting a TikTok account is different from deleting it. When you delete your TikTok account, your profile, username, videos, likes, comments, and all other data is permanently removed. However, when you reset your TikTok account, your profile and username are saved, but all of your video content, likes, comments, and other data is cleared from your account.
According to TikTok’s support site, resetting your account “deletes all of your videos, likes, followers, comments, shares, drafts and settings.” However, it keeps your username, profile information, and login intact so you can easily log back into your account after resetting it [1].
Resetting an account essentially wipes the slate clean, removing all old content while allowing you to keep your username and profile. It’s a way to start fresh on TikTok without having to create an entirely new account.
When You Might Want to Reset Your TikTok Account
One of the main reasons you might want to reset your TikTok account is if you want to start fresh with new content and brand. For example, if you started your account years ago as a teenager posting silly videos, but now want to use TikTok to promote your business, resetting can help you essentially erase your past content and gain more control over your brand image moving forward.
Resetting gives you a blank slate to redefine your account’s focus and content strategy without previous videos getting in the way. It allows you to present a more cohesive brand and theme right from the start, rather than trying to pivot an established account in a totally new direction. According to Reddit users, resetting your account to start fresh has worked well for some people trying to rebrand on TikTok.
You may also want to reset if your current FYP (“For You Page”) is stuck showing certain types of content that don’t align with your goals. Resetting clears out your logged interests and past engagement so the algorithm can relearn your preferences from the beginning. As one Redditor describes, “I wanted a fresh start so I could get a FYP with content I actually wanted to see.”
Overall, if your current account and FYP no longer fit your goals or interests, resetting gives you a chance to remake your TikTok presence in the way you want from the ground up. Just be aware it also means losing your current followers and past content in the process.
How to Reset Your TikTok Account
Resetting your TikTok account can be done easily through the TikTok app or website. Here are the steps:
In the TikTok app:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the 3-line menu icon in the top right and select “Settings and privacy”.
- Select “Manage account” and then tap on “Delete account”.
- Select “Delete account” again to confirm.
On the TikTok website:
- Go to TikTok.com and log into your account.
- Click on your profile icon in the top right and select “Settings”.
- Under “Account” settings, click on “Delete account”.
- Select “Delete account” again to confirm.
After confirming, your TikTok account will be deleted and reset. You can sign up again with the same username if you’d like.
What Happens When You Reset a TikTok Account
Resetting a TikTok account essentially clears out all of the content, followers, likes, comments, and data associated with the account. According to Screen Rant, resetting your account will remove all of your previously uploaded videos and wipe your profile clean. Your followers will be removed, and you will no longer be following anyone. All likes and comments on your videos will be erased.
The key thing that remains after resetting a TikTok account is the username. You get to keep your @username, but everything else associated with the account is deleted. So resetting gives you a fresh start on TikTok while retaining your unique handle. This can be helpful if you want to rebrand your account or restart your TikTok without having to create an entirely new username.
Overall, resetting clears everything on your profile and gives you a blank slate, while letting you hold onto your original account name. It’s almost like opening a brand new account, except you skip the step of choosing a new handle.
What You Should Do Before Resetting
There are a couple important steps you should take before resetting your TikTok account:
Download any videos you want to keep – Once you reset your account, all of your previously posted videos will be deleted. So make sure to save any videos you want to keep before resetting your account.
Notify followers – Let your followers know that you’ll be resetting your account so they aren’t surprised when your past videos disappear. You can let them know through a video post, comment, message, or updating your profile bio.
Consider saving your profile photo – Your profile photo will also be deleted when you reset your account. If you want to easily use the same profile photo for your fresh account, save it to your camera roll or computer before resetting.
Back up your drafts – Any draft videos or posts you have in progress will also be wiped when resetting. If you have unfinished content you want to keep, download or screen record drafts before the reset.
These steps will help you preserve anything important before giving your account a fresh start.
What You Should Know About Resetting
There are some key things to be aware of if you are considering resetting your TikTok account. First, you can only reset your account once per month. TikTok limits account resets to prevent abuse. So after resetting, you’ll need to wait 30 days before being able to do it again.
Resetting your account also completely erases your engagement and analytics. This includes your followers, likes, comments, shares, views — everything gets wiped clean. So if you’ve built up an audience and engagement on your current account, be prepared to start over from scratch.
According to this source, resetting your account also resets the recommendations you see in your For You feed. The TikTok algorithm essentially starts over in terms of learning your interests and preferences. This can be a pro or con depending on your goals.
Overall, resetting your account is a major change, so be sure you understand the implications before going through with it. Use this option cautiously and only if necessary. Oftentimes, there are better solutions for improving your TikTok presence.
Pros of Resetting a TikTok Account
Resetting your TikTok account allows you start fresh creatively and build a new brand from scratch. Some of the key benefits of resetting include:
You can reinvent your creative direction and try new video styles without being tied down by your previous uploads. This gives you more freedom to experiment. As one Reddit user said when considering whether to restart their account, “I want to go for a different niche and different content.”
Resetting clears your profile history and allows you to curate a tighter, more cohesive grid and channel brand from the beginning. You can strategically plan content and aesthetics without having to work around or delete old videos.
The algorithm favors new accounts, so you may get more views and faster growth starting fresh. TikTok’s “For You” recommendations will be wide open to help a new account find its audience.
You can separate professional and personal content by managing two accounts. Or sidestep an old username you may have outgrown.
Overall, resetting gives you a blank canvas and fresh start to rebuild your brand and following from scratch according to your current creative goals.
Cons of Resetting a TikTok Account
There are several drawbacks to resetting your TikTok account that you should be aware of before going through with a reset:
You’ll lose all of your followers. One of the biggest cons of resetting your TikTok account is that you’ll lose all of the followers you’ve gained. This means you’ll have to start over from zero followers and will have to rebuild your audience from scratch. Depending on how large your follower count was, this can be a major setback.
You’ll lose all of your engagement and likes. In addition to losing followers, resetting your account also means losing all of the likes, comments, and overall engagement you had on your past videos. This engagement and social proof can be hard to build up again.
You won’t have access to your old videos. Once you reset your TikTok account, all of your previously posted videos will be gone. Resetting deletes your entire TikTok posting history, so any iconic, popular or sentimental videos you had will no longer be available on your profile.
Who Should Consider Resetting Their Account
There are a few key groups of TikTok users who may want to consider resetting their accounts:
Influencers Looking to Rebrand
Influencers or creators who want to change up their image or branding might find resetting their account useful. It allows them to wipe the slate clean and start fresh with new content aligned to their revamped brand (https://screenrant.com/tiktok-for-you-page-algorithm-reset-how-to/).
Those Dealing with Controversies
If an account has been involved in any controversies, harassment, or other reputation-damaging incidents, resetting the account can help distance it from the past. Essentially, it allows the user to start over with a clean slate.
Accounts with Stagnant Growth
For accounts that feel “stuck in a rut” and aren’t seeing their desired growth and engagement, resetting the algorithm may help get the account back on track (https://www.alphr.com/reset-tiktok-account/). It forces TikTok to reevaluate the account and can lead to new opportunities.
Tips for Rebuilding Your Account After a Reset
If you decide to reset your TikTok account, you’ll be starting over from scratch. While this can feel daunting, there are some best practices you can follow to quickly rebuild your account:
Re-engage your previous followers. Let your followers know you’ve reset your account and encourage them to follow your new profile. Make an announcement post on other social media platforms directing people to your new TikTok handle.
Create high-quality content consistently. Post new videos daily that are relevant, useful, entertaining, or educational for your target audience. Strive to improve the quality of each video.
Leverage best practices for growth. Use relevant hashtags, post content at optimal times, and engage with your audience. Collaborate with influencers in your niche to gain more exposure. Participate in trends and challenges.
While resetting means starting over, it also provides a blank slate to rebuild your account even stronger. By re-engaging your followers and creating stellar content, you can get your new account off the ground.