TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. In January 2020, TikTok introduced Stories, which are videos that disappear after 24 hours, similar to Stories on other platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
Users may want to find their old TikTok Stories for several reasons. Stories capture unfiltered, authentic moments, so people may want to look back on memories and reminisce. Others may want to save particularly funny, meaningful, or viral Stories before they disappear. Some may need to retrieve old Stories for practical purposes, like locating a recipe they shared or reminding themselves what they talked about on a certain day.
This article outlines several methods for locating old TikTok Stories after they have expired. We’ll cover viewing your own archived Stories, using third-party apps, searching on social media, finding reposts, recovering deleted Stories, contacting friends who may have seen your Story, using paid recovery services, and understanding the ephemeral nature of Stories.
Viewing Your Own Old TikTok Stories
When you share a TikTok story, it is automatically saved in your own personal archive within the app (1). From the archive, you can view any stories you’ve shared for up to 48 hours after posting.
To view your TikTok story archive:
- Open the TikTok app
- Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right
- Tap on the menu icon in the top right (three horizontal lines)
- Select “Stories Archive”
Here you’ll see small thumbnails representing each story you’ve shared. Tapping on one will play it back. Stories remain accessible in your archive for up to 48 hours after posting (2).
After 48 hours, the story disappears from your archive and can no longer be accessed in-app. So if you want to save an old story long-term, you’ll need to use another method.
(1) https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-stories/
(2) https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-stories/
Using Third-Party Apps
One option for saving old TikTok stories is to use third-party apps that allow downloading TikTok videos and stories. Apps like TikSave, SnapTik, and Sfile let you save TikTok videos without watermarks to your device’s storage.
To use these apps to find old stories:
- Download and install the TikTok saving app on your device.
- Open the app and log in using your TikTok account.
- The app will display your profile and story archive where you can browse and save old stories.
- Tap on a story to open it, then use the app’s save function to download it to your device storage.
- The downloaded story will be saved as a video file without watermarks that you can replay anytime.
Using third-party apps provides an easy way to recover and save old TikTok stories that would otherwise expire after 24 hours. Just be sure to only use reputable apps to avoid security risks.
Searching on Social Media
One way to find TikTok stories after they expire is by searching on other social media platforms where people commonly repost TikTok content. For example, many TikTok videos and stories get shared on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. You can search by relevant hashtags or the original TikTok user’s handle to see if their story was reposted anywhere.
On Instagram, search hashtags like #TikTok and #TikTokStory to find compilations and reposts. You can also search an individual TikTok user’s handle to see if any of their content was reposted. The same goes for Twitter – search hashtags and handles to uncover reposts of TikTok stories.
Facebook has many public groups dedicated to sharing TikTok videos which can be a goldmine for finding reposted stories. Search relevant groups using keywords like “TikTok” and scan recent posts. There are also compilation channels on YouTube that repost TikTok content. Search the video titles and descriptions for keywords related to your story.
While searching social media doesn’t guarantee you’ll find a specific expired story, it’s worth looking through these platforms to see if someone happened to repost the TikTok story you’re trying to recover. Reposts allow the story to live on even after the 24-hour expiration on TikTok.
Finding Reposts on TikTok
One way to find your old TikTok stories is by searching for reposts. When a TikTok goes viral, it often gets reposted by many other users. This can help extend the life of your story as it reaches new audiences.
To find reposts of your TikTok stories, first search for keywords, usernames, hashtags, or sounds associated with your original video. For example, if your TikTok featured a particular song, search for that song title. You may find that your video has been reposted by others using the same music.
You can also search for distinct lines of text or audio from your original TikTok video. Phrases that you said or text that you overlaid on your video can be searched to uncover reposts. Just type the exact words into the TikTok search bar and scroll through results.
TikTok’s algorithm tends to push viral content into more feeds. So if your story resonated widely, you’re likely to find reposted versions as you search. It takes a bit of clever searching, but finding reposts can help you resurface old TikTok stories you thought were gone.
Recovering Deleted TikTok Stories
Recovering deleted TikTok stories can be challenging, as the app does not have a built-in feature to restore deleted content. Once a TikTok story is deleted, it is permanently removed from TikTok’s servers. However, there are a few methods that may help recover deleted TikTok stories:
If the story was deleted recently, check the “Recently Deleted” folder in the TikTok app. This holds deleted content for up to 30 days before permanent removal. Simply tap “Restore” on the video you want to recover.
Use a third-party TikTok recovery app like Recoverit to scan your device and restore deleted TikTok videos from the cache or storage. This can help even if the video is not in the “Recently Deleted” folder.
If the video was shared before deletion, try searching on sites like Twitter, Instagram or YouTube to see if someone reposted it. You may be able to recover the video that way.
As a last resort, you can try contacting TikTok support to see if they can recover the video. However, success is not guaranteed. Going forward, be sure to frequently backup your TikTok videos externally so they can be restored if deleted.
Contacting Friends
One way you may be able to recover old TikTok stories is by reaching out to friends who follow you on TikTok. Since TikTok stories disappear after 24 hours by default, your friends may have saved copies or screen recordings of your old stories.
You can contact friends directly through TikTok’s messaging feature to ask if they happen to have any of your old stories saved. Explain that you’re trying to recover some old stories that you no longer have access to. Some friends may be willing to share these with you if they have them.
You can also reach out to friends outside of TikTok through text, email, social media or other communication channels. Make a specific request for them to check if they have any old TikTok stories of yours that you could have a copy of. They may be able to search through their camera roll or files if they previously saved your stories.
While there’s no guarantee that friends have saved your old stories, it’s worth reaching out. Close friends who enjoy your content may have preserved some of your past TikTok stories that you can recover by contacting them.
Paid Recovery Services
Some companies claim they can recover lost or deleted TikTok videos and stories for a fee. However, there are risks and limitations to using these kinds of services.
These companies usually charge a flat rate or monthly subscription to attempt to retrieve deleted content. However, TikTok’s terms of service state that the company has no obligation to retain data, so there is no guarantee that deleted content can be recovered.
You also have to consider whether paying a third party for an attempt at content recovery is worthwhile, especially if the content is permanently deleted. There are risks in providing login credentials to external services. Make sure to do thorough research on any paid recovery service before using it.
While paid recovery could potentially work in some cases, it’s not a sure solution. Accepting the impermanent nature of social media stories may be healthier than spending time and money trying to revive deleted posts. If you have regret over removing content, it may be best to simply create new stories going forward.
Accepting Story Impermanence
One of the key aspects of TikTok stories is their ephemeral, temporary nature. Unlike regular TikTok posts, stories disappear after just 24 hours. This impermanent quality creates a sense of urgency and immediacy for viewers. But it also means that old stories can be difficult or impossible to find once they expire.
It’s important to manage expectations around keeping or recovering expired stories. The TikTok platform is designed for sharing temporary, in-the-moment content that’s timely and relevant. Stories are meant to capture spontaneous, candid moments rather than enduring posts. So once a story expires, there’s no guaranteed way to get it back.
Accepting the ephemeral aspect of stories can help avoid disappointment when an old favorite disappears. It also allows fully enjoying stories in the present, knowing they’re just a short-lived capture. Rather than counting on permanent archives, viewers can appreciate stories as passing glimpses into someone’s day or thoughts.
Of course, nothing ever truly disappears from the internet. While old TikTok stories won’t be officially accessible, they may resurface through reposts or other unofficial archives. But stories are best engaged with in real-time, embracing their designed impermanence.
Conclusion
To recap, there are several options to find old TikTok stories you’ve posted or others have posted:
- View your own stories archive within the TikTok app for up to 24 hours after posting
- Use third-party apps like TikTok Downloader or Repost to save copies of stories
- Search hashtags and profiles on TikTok to find reposts of stories
- Contact friends who may have taken screenshots or recordings of your stories
- Try paid recovery services to restore deleted content, with no guarantee of success
The key takeaways are that TikTok stories are ephemeral, and designed to only last 24 hours unless you or someone else saves a copy. Your best options are to download your own stories after posting using a third party app, or checking TikTok later to see if your story was reposted. Otherwise, remember that story impermanence is part of the TikTok experience.
