TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. However, many users suddenly find themselves locked out of their account with no explanation.
There are a few common reasons TikTok may lock an account, including violating community guidelines, suspicious activity, underage users, copyright issues, or inactive accounts. Users are understandably frustrated when they can’t access their account and lose their followers, likes, and videos.
This article provides an overview of the top reasons TikTok accounts get locked, steps you can take to get your account unlocked, and tips to avoid getting locked out in the future. The goal is to help TikTok users understand why lockouts happen and resolve them as quickly as possible.
https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-locks-users-out-of-accounts[1]
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-TikTok-lock-access-to-my-account-and-what-can-I-do-to-access-my-account[2]
Violating Community Guidelines
TikTok has detailed Community Guidelines that all users must follow. Violating these guidelines can result in consequences ranging from content removal to account suspensions or permanent bans. The most common reasons for violating community guidelines include:
- Posting sexually explicit or graphic content
- Promoting violence or illegal activities
- Posting hate speech or harassment
- Impersonating other users
- Spamming or artificially inflating engagement
TikTok assesses violations on a points system, with more severe violations earning more points. Consequences escalate based on the number of points accrued within a set timeframe. For example:
- 1 point: No action
- 2-5 points: Content removal, temporary commenting ban
- 6-10 points: 1-30 day suspension
- 10+ points: Permanent ban
If your content gets removed or your account suspended, you can submit an appeal through the app. However, TikTok does not always overturn its decisions. To avoid violations, carefully review community guidelines and be mindful of the content you post.
Suspicious Activity
Suspicious activity such as botting, spamming, or fake engagement can get your account locked by TikTok. TikTok’s systems are designed to detect suspicious patterns of activity like an account receiving a large spike in followers, comments, likes, or views in a short period of time. This behavior can signal that the activity is inauthentic or automated and in violation of TikTok’s guidelines.
If TikTok detects suspicious activity, the account may be locked and require verification via email or phone before accessing it again. TikTok may also permanently ban accounts for repeated or egregious policy violations related to artificial inflation of popularity.
To avoid issues, it’s important to grow your account organically and avoid using any third-party services that promise fake followers, likes, or views. Authentic engagement is key to maintaining access to your TikTok account.
Underage Users
TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, research shows a significant number of users are underage. One study found that over 30% of TikTok’s daily active users in the US were ages 14 or younger. TikTok aims to detect and remove underage accounts.
TikTok uses both automated systems and human moderators to identify underage users based on signals like account information, user behavior, and reports from other users. Accounts believed to be under 13 are immediately banned. TikTok also limits features like commenting, dueting, and live streaming for younger teens ages 13-15.
If your account was locked because you are under 13, you will not be able to unlock it. You will need to wait until you are 13 to create a new account with accurate info showing you meet the age requirement. Providing false info about your age violates TikTok’s Terms of Service.
Copyright Violations
Using unlicensed or unauthorized copyrighted materials like music, images, or videos in TikTok videos can lead to copyright claims and account locks. According to reports, an estimated 50% of music used on TikTok is unlicensed [1]. If TikTok identifies copyrighted materials in a video without permission from the rights holder, they will remove the video and may lock the account temporarily.
Examples of copyright violations include using clips of copyrighted songs and music, movie and TV clips, sports broadcasts, photos owned by someone else, and logos and branding without permission. Users should be careful not to use materials they do not have rights to, even in remixes and edits.
If TikTok removes a video for a copyright claim, they notify the user by email. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown process allows users to submit a counter-notification if they believe the removal was a mistake. This starts a legal process where the rights holder must take court action against the user within 10-14 days, or TikTok will reinstate the content. However, repeatedly submitting counter-notifications for infringing content can lead to permanent account termination.
The best way to avoid copyright issues is to only use materials you created or have explicit permission to use. Music and effects built into TikTok are safe to use. If disputing a claim, users should consult an attorney and have evidence they hold the rights or make fair use of the materials.
Inactive Accounts
According to TikTok’s Inactive Account Policy, an account is considered inactive if it is not used to access TikTok for at least 180 days [1]. TikTok locks inactive accounts as a security measure to prevent unauthorized access. Accounts can become inactive for various reasons, such as the user losing interest in the platform, switching to a new account, or taking an extended break from social media.
When an account is identified as inactive, TikTok will lock the account and replace the username with a numeric ID. According to users on Reddit, TikTok seems to strictly follow the 180 day inactive policy before locking accounts [2]. The purpose is to free up inactive usernames so active users can claim them. An inactive account can be reactivated by logging in with the original phone number or email associated with the account. However, the original username will likely need to be changed since it is released after 180 days.
To avoid having your account locked for inactivity, make sure to log in and access TikTok regularly, at least once every 180 days. Engaging with content by liking, commenting, or posting is the best way to keep an account active. Setting reminders to use your TikTok account can also help prevent reaching inactive status accidentally.
Banned Hashtags or Phrases
TikTok regularly bans hashtags or phrases that promote controversial, dangerous, or illegal content. Using a banned hashtag can immediately lock your account and restrict access. According to IQ Hashtags, over 5,000 hashtags are currently banned on the platform.
Some commonly banned hashtags relate to adult content, illegal drugs, eating disorders, self-harm, violence, hate speech, and dangerous challenges or stunts. TikTok aims to create a safe community, so any provocative or risky hashtags get blocked. Even political hashtags like #Trump2020 or #BlueLivesMatter may result in bans.
Before posting with any edgy hashtag, check resources like Kicksta’s list to see if it is restricted. Avoid trying to cleverly misspell banned terms as well. Using banned hashtags causes immediate account locks, so being aware of TikTok’s no-tolerance policy for them helps protect your account.
Device or Login Issues
Sometimes a TikTok account can get locked if there is suspicious activity detected from the account, such as logins from multiple devices or from unusual locations. Here are some common device or login related issues that can cause an account lockout:
Account access from multiple devices – If TikTok detects logins to an account from multiple devices in a short period of time, especially from devices in different locations, it may trigger a lockout due to suspicions of account sharing or hacking. This is TikTok’s way of protecting account security.
Unusual login locations – If your account is accessed from a device or location that is not typical for your previous usage patterns, such as a different country, TikTok may lock the account temporarily as a precaution against unauthorized access.
Resolving device lockouts – If your account gets locked for suspicious device activity, you can regain access by verifying your identity through TikTok’s account recovery process. This usually involves confirming your phone number or email associated with the account.
Getting Accounts Unlocked
If your TikTok account has been temporarily locked, the easiest solution is often to simply wait out the duration of the lockout. Temporary locks may last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on the severity of the violation.
If you wish to appeal the lock, you can submit an unlock request through TikTok’s support options. Go to the TikTok app, tap on your profile icon, choose “Report a problem”, and follow the prompts to submit an appeal. Explain why you believe your account was wrongly locked. However, success rates for appeals vary, so there’s no guarantee your account will be unlocked.[1]
As a last resort, you may want to consider creating a new TikTok account and starting fresh. Be sure to avoid the same behaviors that got your previous account locked. Read TikTok’s Community Guidelines carefully to prevent another lockout.[2]
Avoiding Lockouts
The best way to avoid getting your TikTok account locked is to follow community guidelines and be a responsible user. Here are some tips:
Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Avoid posting illegal, dangerous, or offensive content.
Maintain activity on your account. Post regularly, comment on others’ videos, and engage with hashtags. Inactive accounts are more likely to get locked.
Secure your account and devices. Use a strong password, enable two-factor authentication, and don’t share account access. Keep your devices malware-free.
Avoid buying fans, followers, likes, or shares from third-party sites as this can get your account flagged.
Don’t use bots, spam, or participate in coordinated inauthentic behavior. TikTok is good at detecting fake engagement.
Be yourself and build genuine connections. Accounts using stolen content or impersonation often get removed.
If your account does get temporarily locked, be patient and follow TikTok’s instructions to unlock it. Repeated or severe violations can lead to permanent bans.
