Getting unexpectedly logged out of TikTok can be frustrating. One minute you’re scrolling through your For You feed, and the next minute you’re back at the login screen. There are several potential reasons why TikTok may suddenly log you out, including expired login sessions, network issues, outdated app versions, device settings, corrupted data, and problems on TikTok’s servers. This article will explore the main causes behind random TikTok logouts and provide troubleshooting tips to help you stay logged in.
Expired Login Session
The most common reason for getting logged out of a TikTok account is an expired login session that logs users out after a period of inactivity. According to TikTok’s support article (How to Get Account Back If Login Expired), login sessions on the app are valid for a limited time only. If users don’t perform any actions on TikTok for an extended period, they will get automatically logged out and be required to log back in.
TikTok’s login sessions typically expire after 30 minutes of inactivity according to users on Reddit (Tiktok session expired). This means that if you leave TikTok open but don’t interact with the app for half an hour, it will log you out and show the “session expired” message. The session length seems to be the same whether you are using TikTok on iOS, Android or on the website.
To avoid getting logged out, it’s recommended to remain active in the app by liking videos, commenting, or refreshing your feed. If the session does expire, you just need to log back in with your username and password as normal.
Bad Network Connection
An unstable internet connection, whether on WiFi or cellular data, can frequently cause TikTok to log users out of their account. This issue arises because TikTok requires a consistent network connection to maintain the login session. When the connection is intermittent or drops out entirely, it will interrupt TikTok’s ability to verify your account credentials. This triggers the app to log you out as a security measure [1].
There are a few things you can try to troubleshoot network connectivity issues that lead to logging out of TikTok:
- Restart your router if on WiFi to refresh the connection
- Toggle airplane mode on and off on your mobile device
- Try switching to a different WiFi network or cellular data if available
- Check for any software updates to the TikTok app
- Consider using a VPN service for a more stable connection
If you continue having network problems that interrupt your TikTok sessions, you may need to contact your ISP or cell carrier for assistance. Having a strong, consistent internet connection will prevent frequent dropouts that cause TikTok to log you out randomly.
Outdated App
An outdated version of the TikTok app can sometimes cause conflicts that result in users getting logged out of their accounts (TikTok Version History). TikTok regularly releases updates to fix bugs, improve features, and enhance overall performance. However, if your TikTok app is severely outdated, it may not be compatible with the latest updates on TikTok’s servers.
When your outdated TikTok app tries to communicate with the servers, there could be compatibility issues that disrupt the login session and lead to sudden logouts. To avoid this problem, it is highly recommended that you keep your TikTok app up-to-date and install the latest version whenever it becomes available. The most recent version at the time of writing is TikTok 32.7.6 for Android and 24.1.0 for iOS.
Updating to the newest TikTok version can prevent conflicts with the servers that cause unexpected logouts. It also ensures you have access to all the latest features. You can easily update the TikTok app through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your device.
Device Settings
Some device settings like power saving can interfere with TikTok functioning and cause you to get logged out unexpectedly. For example, if you have battery saver enabled or background app refresh disabled, this can prevent TikTok from running properly in the background and maintaining your login session. Similarly, having optimized battery charging enabled may cause issues with staying logged in if it’s preventing TikTok from accessing the network consistently.
To avoid getting logged out due to device settings, check that you don’t have extreme power saving measures enabled that are overly restrictive. Make sure TikTok can refresh in the background and isn’t being put to sleep aggressively. You may need to add TikTok to any battery optimization whitelist your device has. Lastly, make sure your device isn’t manually killing the TikTok app from memory for any reason through task managers or ram boosters. Adjusting these device settings can help resolve random logouts related to resource constraints on your device.
Sources:
[1] https://support.tiktok.com/en/log-in-troubleshoot/log-in/my-account-logged-out-automatically
Corrupted App Data
One of the most common causes of getting logged out of TikTok randomly is having corrupted app data. Over time, the cache and data stored by the TikTok app can become damaged or corrupted, leading to improper functioning and unpredictable app behavior like random logouts. According to TikTok’s support page, clearing your TikTok cache can help resolve random logout issues.
Here’s how to clear the TikTok cache on both iOS and Android devices:
On iOS devices like iPhones:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right
- Tap on the 3 lines icon in the top right to open the menu
- Go to Settings > Clear Cache to clear stored cache data
On Android devices:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right
- Tap on the 3 lines icon in the top right to open the menu
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Storage > Cache > Clear to clear cached data
Clearing the cache forces the app to rebuild its temporary data files and can resolve corrupt data issues causing problems like random logouts. If the issue persists even after clearing cache, reinstalling the TikTok app can also help by wiping all app data and starting fresh.
Account Security Issues
Getting logged out can sometimes indicate unauthorized access attempts to your account. Check your account’s security settings and activity log to look for any suspicious activity.
Go to your TikTok profile and tap the menu icon in the top right. Select “Settings and privacy” then “Security” to review your security settings. Make sure two-factor authentication is enabled, and that you recognize all devices logged into your account.
You can also review your recent account activity under “Account activity” in the Security section. Look for any logins, comments, likes, etc. that you don’t recognize. TikTok will notify you of logins from new devices or locations here as well.
If you see any suspicious activity, change your password immediately and remove any unfamiliar linked accounts or devices. Consider contacting TikTok support if the issue persists, as your account may have been compromised.
Enabling two-factor authentication and using strong, unique passwords can help secure your TikTok account from unauthorized access attempts and getting unexpectedly logged out.
TikTok Server Issues
Very rarely logouts can be due to temporary glitches or outages on TikTok’s servers. According to Downdetector, TikTok’s servers can experience occasional outages that prevent users from logging in or properly accessing the app. These outages are usually resolved within a few hours. You can check Down For Everyone Or Just Me to see if TikTok is currently experiencing an outage.
When TikTok is having a widespread technical issue, they will post updates on their status page. Monitoring this page can give you an idea of any ongoing problems on TikTok’s end. If you are unable to log in during a verified outage, your best option is to wait until TikTok’s engineers resolve the problem. Trying to log in repeatedly will likely not help. Outages don’t tend to last too long so your access should be restored soon.
Contacting TikTok Support
If the troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue of being logged out, users should contact TikTok support for additional assistance.
TikTok provides several options for users to get in touch with their support team:
- Visit the TikTok Help Center and submit a request.
- Email TikTok support at [email protected] as suggested by LiveAgent.
When contacting TikTok support, users should provide details about the issue, such as when it started happening, what troubleshooting steps have been tried, and any error messages seen. Screenshots and videos showing the problem can also be helpful for support to diagnose the issue.
TikTok does not currently offer live chat support, so users will need to submit a ticket and wait for a response via email. The TikTok support team aims to respond within 1-2 business days.
With help from TikTok’s knowledgeable support reps, users should be able to get to the bottom of the unexpected logouts and restore full access to their account.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several potential reasons why you may get unexpectedly logged out of your TikTok account. The most common causes are an expired login session, bad network connection, outdated app, device settings interfering with TikTok, corrupted app data, and general account security issues. Less commonly, TikTok server problems can also cause temporary logouts.
To resolve unexpected logouts, it’s recommended to try force quitting and reopening the TikTok app, updating to the latest version, checking your device settings and network connection, reinstalling the app to clear corrupted data, and enabling all necessary account security protections. As a last resort, you can reach out to TikTok support for additional troubleshooting. Following these tips should help minimize frustrations from getting logged out unexpectedly while using TikTok.