TikTok is a popular social media platform where users can create and share short entertaining videos. However, many users encounter issues when trying to post new videos to TikTok. The most common problem is videos not posting or uploading properly. This can be frustrating when you’ve created a great TikTok video but can’t get it to go live on your profile.
There are a few main reasons why your TikTok videos may not be posting. These include video file issues, account restrictions, connectivity problems, app glitches, and cases of shadow banning. Oftentimes the root causes are technical in nature and can be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. Other times there may be policy or moderation issues involved if your account has been limited in some way.
In this article, we’ll dive into the various reasons your TikTok video isn’t posting and provide solutions to get your content up and running again. We’ll also look at ways to prevent future posting problems on TikTok.
TikTok Posting Guidelines
TikTok has detailed Community Guidelines that outline what type of content is allowed on the platform. Videos must follow all content guidelines to be approved for posting.
Some key posting rules include:
- No nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content
- No illegal activities or regulated goods
- No dangerous challenges or stunts
- No violence, graphic, or shocking content
- No hate speech, bullying, harassment, or defamation
TikTok also has restrictions around age-appropriate content. For example, only users 18+ can live stream or send virtual gifts. Following the community guidelines helps ensure videos abide by TikTok’s rules.
Common Posting Errors
One of the most common reasons TikTok may not post your video is if you are posting from a device or account that has been banned. TikTok has strict guidelines against inappropriate content or legal violations, and will permanently ban devices and accounts that violate these rules. Posting from a banned device or account will result in your new videos being automatically blocked from posting (https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/content-violations-and-bans).
Another common error is posting content that violates copyright rules. You cannot post videos using copyrighted music, images, or video clips without appropriate licensing or permission. TikTok has automatic content matching to detect copyrighted materials, and will block videos that violate these rules. Make sure any music, images, or clips comply with fair use copyright principles or have the proper licensing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfgB_XMq3EM).
Finally, inappropriate or explicit content that violates TikTok’s community guidelines will also lead to blocked posting. Make sure your videos do not contain nudity, violence, hate speech, or illegal activities. TikTok aims to provide a safe environment and will remove any videos with inappropriate content, which prevents them from being posted in the first place (https://megadigital.ai/en/blog/tiktok-shadowban/).
Video Processing Delays
One of the most common reasons a TikTok video may not post right away is due to processing delays, especially for longer or higher resolution videos. TikTok states that videos may take some time to process before they are posted, in order to optimize and analyze the video file. This processing time is especially common for videos longer than 60 seconds or larger than 100MB.
TikTok’s servers need time to analyze, compress, and convert each video into a format optimized for streaming on the platform. The larger the video file size, the longer this processing can take. Videos over 1 minute or captured in HD quality often experience more delays. There is no set processing time, but delays are commonly between 10 minutes to a few hours. Leaving the app open on the upload page usually allows the processing to complete faster.
If your video is stuck processing for an extended time, try re-uploading it or trimming it to under 60 seconds. Check that you have a strong internet connection as well. But in most cases, allowing time for TikTok’s servers to fully process the video will resolve the issue and see the video successfully posted.
Account Standing Limitations
TikTok imposes certain posting limits on accounts based on their standing and history on the platform. Accounts that are newly created or have had violations in the past may face restrictions on how many videos they can post per day.
According to Reddit users, new TikTok accounts are limited to posting only 1 video per day during the first month after creation. After 30 days, the limit increases to 3 videos per day. Only after several months of good standing does TikTok lift restrictions and allow unlimited daily posts.
Accounts that have received violations for breaking community guidelines will also face temporary posting limits even after the violation penalty itself has expired. The severity and duration of limits depends on the nature of the violation. But accounts generally cannot post more than 3 videos per day during the cooldown period.
The posting restrictions are intended to prevent spam and abuse by accounts with short histories on TikTok. While frustrating, new users must build up a track record of compliance before gaining full posting privileges. The limits encourage genuine engagement rather than just mass content output.
Connectivity and Technical Issues
If you’re experiencing issues uploading videos on TikTok, one common reason is poor internet connectivity. Uploading high quality videos requires a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
According to TikTok’s troubleshooting guide, intermittent connectivity or weak signal strength can disrupt the upload process. TikTok recommends trying to upload on a different network if possible. Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or vice versa, may resolve upload failures.
Additionally, TikTok notes uploads may fail if you switch networks or your device goes into sleep mode mid-upload. Make sure you’re staying connected to a strong, consistent network throughout the entire upload. For large files, it’s best not to multitask on other apps simultaneously, as this can drain bandwidth.
App Glitches
Like any social media platform, TikTok can sometimes experience temporary bugs and glitches that affect certain features. One common issue that users report is difficulty uploading and posting videos due to app errors.
For example, you may encounter error messages like “Couldn’t upload video” or “Try again later” when attempting to post a new video. The TikTok app may crash or freeze when trying to upload content from your camera roll. These types of intermittent technical problems are often caused by a bug in the app itself.
Restarting the TikTok app can help clear these errors and get the app functioning properly again. If that doesn’t work, rebooting your phone completely may be required to fully reset the TikTok app. Check the TikTok Server Status page to see if there are any known issues with video uploading.
Temporary glitches don’t necessarily mean you are banned from posting or have broken any guidelines. Have patience and try again later, as the bugs usually resolve themselves within a few hours or days. But if problems persist, updating the app or reinstalling TikTok may be needed to fully correct the technical issues.
Shadow Banning
One possible reason your video may not have posted on TikTok is shadow banning. Shadow banning refers to when TikTok intentionally limits the reach and discovery of a user’s content without notifying them.
TikTok does this to reduce the visibility of accounts that repeatedly violate content guidelines or exhibit spammy behavior. According to creators who’ve been shadow banned, it typically lasts around two weeks (source). However, some users report being shadow banned for longer periods depending on the severity of violations (source).
You won’t receive any notification that you’ve been shadow banned. The main sign is a sudden unexplained drop in views, likes, comments, and new followers on your posts. TikTok may also stop sending your videos to the “For You” page which severely limits their discovery.
To get rid of a shadow ban, ensure you thoroughly review and follow all TikTok’s content policies. Avoid spammy engagement tactics that could trigger flags. You’ll need to wait out the duration of the shadow ban. Thereafter, consistent high-quality content should restore your account’s normal reach and visibility.
Reporting and Appealing Blocked Videos
If you believe your video was removed in error, you can report the issue to TikTok for further review. Here are the steps to report a problem with a blocked video:
In the TikTok app:
- Go to your profile and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Select “Report a problem.”
- Choose the issue type as “Video was removed.”
- Select the video that was blocked.
- Explain why you think the removal was a mistake.
- Tap “Submit” to file the report.
You can also appeal video removals by emailing TikTok at [email protected]. Provide the video URL and a detailed explanation of why the block was incorrect in your email.
TikTok aims to review appeals within 24 hours. If your appeal is successful, the video will be restored. If it remains blocked after review, you will receive an email explaining why.
Preventing Future Posting Issues
The best way to ensure smooth video posting on TikTok in the future is to follow the platform’s guidelines and best practices. Here are some tips:
- Carefully review the TikTok community guidelines and adhere to the content policies – Avoid posting illegal, dangerous, or infringing content.
- Optimize videos for the platform – Keep videos under 3 minutes, use vertical formatting, add captions.
- Use relevant hashtags and descriptions – Accurately tag and describe your content to help with discovery.
- Maintain a complete profile – Fill out your bio, profile photo, and links to grow your authority.
- Engage consistently with a niche audience – Building a loyal following signals your account is genuine.
- Wait 24 hours if a video is initially rejected – Processing delays happen, so be patient and appeal if needed.
- Avoid using banned third-party apps – Stick to the official TikTok app and editing tools.
Following TikTok best practices, engaging authentically with your audience, and appealing rejected videos through proper channels can help prevent future posting issues.
