Geographic Restrictions
TikTok is banned or restricted in some countries like India and China. This is due to country-specific laws or governmental regulations that prohibit or restrict the use of the app.
In June 2020, the Indian government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps citing national security concerns [1]. This makes it impossible to download or use TikTok in India without a VPN.
The app has been blocked in China since April 2019 after ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) failed to comply with China’s content and data privacy requirements [2]. Attempts to access TikTok from mainland China prompt an error message stating that the platform is not available.
TikTok has also faced partial or temporary bans in countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and the United States over various concerns relating to inappropriate content or data privacy.
App Store Restrictions
TikTok has certain restrictions in place through Apple’s App Store and Google Play that may prevent users from downloading or using the app based on device, age, or region.
For example, according to the Guardian’s Guide on TikTok’s website, TikTok has a 12+ rating in the App Store and is listed for ages 13+ in Google Play. This means users under those ages cannot download TikTok directly from those app stores. There are ways around this using Family Sharing settings, but otherwise the stores block underage users from getting the app.
Additionally, recent changes by TikTok require users aged 13-15 to enable Family Pairing, further restricting access. And certain regions like China have the TikTok app banned from their app stores entirely.
So in summary, app store limitations based on device type, user age, and geographic region can prevent TikTok installation and access in some cases. Users should check they meet eligibility criteria for their device’s app store.
Minimum Device Requirements
TikTok has certain minimum device requirements that need to be met in order to install and run the app properly. If your device is too old or doesn’t have enough RAM or processing power, you may have trouble installing or using TikTok.
For iOS devices, TikTok requires iOS 10.0 or later. So if you have an older iPhone or iPad that cannot be updated to iOS 10 or newer, TikTok will not be able to run on it. According to TikTok’s website, iOS 12 or later is recommended for the best experience.
For Android devices, TikTok requires Android 4.1 or newer. Older versions of Android will not support installing TikTok. In terms of RAM, Android devices need at least 1.5GB to run TikTok, with 2GB or more recommended for optimal performance. TikTok also requires an ARMv7 or ARM 64-bit processor on Android devices.
According to this source, for Windows laptops and desktops, an Intel Core i3 processor or equivalent is recommended along with a minimum of 4GB of RAM. More powerful Intel Core i5 or i7 processors will provide better TikTok performance.
Overall, if your mobile device or computer is more than a few years old, it may not meet the minimum requirements to install and run TikTok properly. Upgrading to a newer device is recommended for the full TikTok experience.
Parental Controls
Parents may implement restrictions that prevent downloading or using the TikTok app. Many parental control apps and device settings allow parents to block app downloads or restrict screen time for certain apps (TikTok Help Center, 2022).
For example, on iOS devices, parents can enable Restrictions in Screen Time settings to block access to certain apps or categories. On Android, parents can use Google Family Link to set daily limits, block apps, and restrict content (TikTok Newsroom, 2023). If TikTok is blocked or screen time limits are exceeded, kids will be unable to access or install the app.
Parents can also enable TikTok’s Family Pairing feature, which allows parents to control Digital Wellbeing settings directly in the TikTok app. This includes limiting daily screen time and restricting access during certain times of day (TikTok Help Center, 2022).
School/Work Network Restrictions
Many schools, colleges, and workplaces block access to certain apps and websites through their networks. This helps maintain productivity and focus by limiting distractions from social media and other apps deemed inappropriate or unnecessary. TikTok is commonly restricted on institutional networks. If you are trying to access TikTok on a school or work wifi network, you may receive an error that the app cannot connect. This is because the network firewall actively blocks traffic to and from TikTok’s servers.
Some ways a network admin can block TikTok include:
- Blocking TikTok’s domain and IP addresses directly through a firewall or proxy server (https://www.techlockdown.com/guides/block-social-media)
- Using URL filtering to blacklist specific app traffic
- Setting up rules that block categories like “Social Networking” or “Time Wasting” which include TikTok
To access TikTok on a restricted network, you would need to switch to a personal cellular data or home wifi connection instead. Some schools may also have exceptions for certain devices or networks. Overall though, many institutions intentionally block services like TikTok to minimize distractions during school or work hours.
Limited Storage Space
TikTok requires you to have enough free storage space available on your device for the app to download and install properly. As per TikTok’s system requirements, you need at least 300-500 MB of free storage on Android devices and 500 MB on iOS devices to install TikTok (1). If your device is low on storage space, you may get errors during download like “Not enough storage space” or “Unable to download app”.
To fix this, you need to clear up storage space on your device – delete unused apps, photos, videos or files. You can also offload large apps that you don’t use regularly. On iPhone, enable ‘Offload Unused Apps’ in Settings to automatically offload apps you haven’t used in a while, freeing up space. Check the available storage after clearing space and try installing TikTok again.
App Downloading Disabled
Some devices and organizations restrict downloading apps outside of official app stores like Google Play as a security measure (1). This prevents users from installing potentially malicious apps from unknown sources. If app downloading is disabled, you’ll get an error when trying to install apps directly from a website or file. To enable external app downloads, check your device settings for an “Install Unknown Apps” option. This allows installing apps downloaded from browsers or other sources. However, enabling this also reduces security, so only download apps from trusted websites. If you don’t control the device settings, you’ll need to contact the device administrator to enable external app downloading.
Device Compatibility Issues
One common reason why TikTok may not install properly is device compatibility issues. TikTok has minimum system requirements in order for the app to function correctly. If your device does not meet these requirements, you may encounter errors during installation or the app may not work properly after installing. This often occurs on older devices that do not have sufficient memory, operating system version, processor power, or graphics capability.
According to Fix TikTok “Your Device Isn’t Compatible With This Version …, TikTok requires devices to be running Android 5.0 or later, or iOS 10.0 or later. Devices also need at least 1.5GB of RAM and must have specific processors depending on if they are Android or iOS. Insufficient RAM or an incompatible processor could lead to crashes or lagging.
Graphics cards and GPUs also need to meet certain benchmarks. As per Compatibility mode Live studio : r/Tiktokhelp – Reddit, some users have reported issues launching TikTok’s compatibility mode for live streaming due to unsupported graphics hardware. TikTok may fail to install if your device’s graphics capability does not meet requirements.
Checking your device specifications and comparing them to TikTok’s minimum requirements can help identify any compatibility issues preventing installation. Upgrading to a newer device may be necessary if your current hardware is too outdated.
Corrupted Installation Files
One reason TikTok may fail to install is if the installation files become corrupted or glitched during the download process, preventing a successful installation. This can happen if there are internet connectivity issues while downloading, interfering with the transfer of data packets. Corrupted installation files may contain errors or be incomplete, so the installation can’t fully complete. If the app packages aren’t properly downloaded and intact, the installation will fail.
Solutions include trying to download the installation files again in case it was a temporary network error, or clearing the download cache/data for the Google Play Store app and starting fresh. Checking for any app updates, restarting your device, and ensuring you have enough storage space can also help troubleshoot corrupted TikTok installation files. Using a reliable WiFi or cellular data connection when downloading the app can prevent potential data corruption issues.
Account Age Restrictions
TikTok requires users to be over 13 years old to create an account due to the COPPA law that protects children’s privacy online. When signing up for a new account, users must enter their date of birth which determines if they meet the minimum age requirement. If a user inputs an age under 13 years old, they will be unable to proceed with account creation. TikTok has these age restrictions in place as a safety measure, preventing underage children from accessing content and features meant for teen and adult audiences.
