TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. On TikTok, users can create and share short videos, ranging from 15 seconds to 3 minutes in length. With so much content being created and posted every day, sometimes users end up deleting videos for various reasons.
However, once a TikTok video is deleted by the user, it is permanently removed from the platform and there is no way to recover it directly through TikTok. This often disappoints viewers who wanted to watch a video again or archive their favorites before deletion. There is some speculation that TikTok retains deleted videos on its servers for a period of time before erasing them completely, but this data is inaccessible to regular users.
In this article, we’ll examine if there are any methods or third party tools that allow recovering or viewing deleted TikTok videos. We’ll also look at steps users can take to preserve their content before deleting and discuss TikTok’s deletion policies.
Can You See Deleted TikToks?
No, deleted TikTok videos are not viewable to the general public. Once a TikTok is deleted by the creator, it is permanently removed from the platform and cannot be accessed again according to users on Reddit. The video will no longer show up under the creator’s profile or under any hashtags it was posted with. Even if you had previously liked or commented on the video, it will no longer be accessible in your history. The only person who can view a deleted TikTok is the original creator through their account history for a limited time.
TikTok does not have a feature to recover or browse deleted videos. They are intended to be permanently erased, unlike platforms like Instagram that send deleted content to an archive. So if you come across a “deleted TikTok” on another platform, it is likely a reupload or screenshot, not the original video. The creator has full control over deleting content and removing it from public view.
When a TikTok is Deleted
When you delete a video on TikTok, it is permanently removed from your profile and cannot be recovered. According to TikTok’s support page, deleting a video subtracts from the overall view count on your profile. The view count shows how many times your videos have been watched by other users.
To delete a video, open the TikTok app and tap on the “Profile” icon in the bottom right. Go to the video you want to delete and tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner. Select “Delete” and confirm you want to permanently delete the TikTok. The video and any comments will be removed immediately.
Once a video is deleted, there is no way to recover it through the TikTok app. However, if the video was downloaded or screen recorded by other users before it was deleted, copies may still exist on other platforms. But the original video will no longer be viewable or accessible on your TikTok profile.
Recovering a Deleted TikTok Account
If you recently deleted your TikTok account, you may be able to recover it within 30 days of deletion. Here are the steps to recover a deleted TikTok account:
1. Reinstall the TikTok app on your device and open it.
2. Tap “Log in” and then tap “Trouble logging in?”
3. Select “I forgot my password” and enter your phone number or email associated with your deleted TikTok account.
4. You will receive a 6-digit verification code to enter. Enter it and tap “Next”.
5. Create a new password for your TikTok account and confirm it.
6. Tap “Log in” and you should now be able to access your previously deleted TikTok account.
This recovery process allows you to restore your deleted TikTok account as long as you complete it within 30 days. After 30 days, deleted TikTok accounts cannot be recovered. So make sure to act fast if you regret deleting your TikTok account. You’ll be able to restore your previous videos, followers, and all of your account details.
Using TikTok Shadowban Detector Tools
There are third-party sites and tools that can help detect if your TikTok account has been shadowbanned, such as:
Shadowban Tool – This site analyzes your TikTok profile and determines if your account has been shadowbanned based on engagement and reach. You simply enter your username and it provides a full report.
TikTok Shadow Ban Check – This is a hashtag on TikTok that features videos explaining signs of shadowbans and recommending detector sites. The hashtag community helps identify shadowbanned accounts.
These tools examine factors like views, likes, comments, follower growth, and content violations to determine if you are shadowbanned. They provide insights into whether your posts are being suppressed in feeds and search. While not officially endorsed by TikTok, they can be useful indicators if you suspect you’ve been shadowbanned.
Downloading TikToks Before Deleting
One way to save TikToks before deleting your account or the app is by downloading them directly from the TikTok app. According to TikTok’s help center, you can download a video by going to the video in the app, tapping the Share button on the side, and then tapping “Save video” [1]. The video will then be saved to your device’s photo gallery.
You can also use third-party apps and sites to download TikTok videos without having the TikTok app installed. Sites like TikTokDown and online video downloaders allow you to enter the URL of a TikTok video and download an mp4 file. However, many of these third-party downloaders violate TikTok’s terms of service.
If you plan to delete your TikTok account, it’s best to first go through and download any videos you want to keep directly from the TikTok app. This will ensure you have high-quality copies saved before your account and data are deleted.
Banned Hashtags and Videos
TikTok uses automated moderation to determine the types of content that are not appropriate for the platform. As a result, certain hashtags get banned if they are associated with prohibited or dangerous content. According to IQ Hashtags, some banned hashtags on TikTok include #sexy, #vape, #guns, #drugs, #suicide, and others related to dangerous challenges or illegal activities.
TikTok does not provide an official public list of banned hashtags. If you use a banned hashtag, it simply won’t show up or work as intended on your videos. Your videos may also get flagged for review if they contain prohibited content. If you repeatedly post videos that violate TikTok’s community guidelines, your account may get banned as well.
To avoid issues, do some research before using any provocative or risky hashtags. You can search for a hashtag and see if any content comes up for it. Checking a hashtag analyzer tool that detects banned hashtags can also help identify ones to avoid.
Overall, steer clear of hashtags related to dangerous, unethical, or highly controversial topics. Focus on positive content that aligns with TikTok’s rules. Using the right hashtags will make your videos more discoverable by your intended audience.
Contacting TikTok Support
If you need help recovering a deleted TikTok account or video, the best option is to directly contact TikTok Support. There are a few ways to get in touch with them:
You can submit a request through the in-app reporting feature. Open the TikTok app, tap the “Me” tab, go to the “Support” section, and select “Report a Problem.” Choose the issue you need help with and submit your request.
You can also email TikTok Support at [email protected]. Be sure to include your username and any other relevant details in your email so they can assist you properly.
Additionally, some users have had success reaching out to TikTok via Twitter. You can tweet @TikTokSupport describing your issue and asking for help recovering a deleted account or video.
According to TikTok’s Help Center, “If you accidentally delete your account, contact us immediately. We’ll try our best to recover your account if it’s been less than 30 days since deletion.” So time is of the essence if you want to restore a deleted account.[1]
While TikTok Support may not always be able to fully restore deleted content, contacting them directly gives you the best chance of recovering your lost TikTok account or videos.
TikTok Alternatives
With TikTok’s popularity, several other apps have emerged as competitors in the short-form video space. Here are some of the top alternatives to TikTok:
Triller is one of the most direct TikTok competitors. It offers similar short video creation tools and feeds. Triller has found significant popularity with its music and celebrity partnerships (Source).
Instagram Reels enables users to create 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and creative tools. As Reels is built into Instagram, it already has access to an established user base. However, some users complain that the TikTok-style vertical video format feels out of place on Instagram (Source).
YouTube Shorts taps into YouTube’s over 2 billion monthly users. The TikTok-esque offering allows short videos up to 60 seconds long. YouTube Shorts aims to be a central destination for short video content, though the experience does not yet feel as seamless as TikTok (Source).
Snapchat Spotlight highlights entertaining short videos in a dedicated Spotlight feed. Videos can be up to 60 seconds long. Snapchat offers cash prizes as an incentive for creating quality content. However, competition is high, making it harder for new creators to stand out (Source).
Other alternatives like Lomotif, Cheez, Kwai, and LIKE also provide similar short video creation tools. While most TikTok competitors are still maturing, they provide additional options as short-form video continues to thrive.
Conclusion
In summary, there is no definitive way to view deleted TikTok videos. Once a video is deleted by the creator or removed by TikTok, it is no longer accessible through the app or website. However, there are some third-party sites that claim to allow searching for deleted videos, though their effectiveness is questionable.
If you want to save a video before it gets deleted, your best option is to download it directly from TikTok or use a third-party downloading tool while it’s still live. You can also try contacting TikTok support in case of an accidental deletion. For creators who have had their accounts banned, recovery options are very limited unfortunately.
While deleted TikToks may seem lost forever, users still have some options to find and save videos they want to keep. But ultimately, once content is removed from the platform, retrieving it becomes very difficult if not impossible in most cases.
