TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. Part of its appeal lies in its fun filters that users can apply to their videos, enhancing their creativity and production value. Recently, TikTok introduced a new category of filters powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. These AI filters utilize advanced computer vision algorithms to apply realistic effects and augmented reality alterations to faces, making videos more engaging and visually pleasing.
However, many users have reported issues with TikTok’s AI filters not working properly. When trying to use filters like “Cartoonify” or “Green Screen”, some users find that the effects only partially apply or don’t work at all. The filter seems to glitch out, only altering small portions of the image or face. This can be incredibly frustrating for content creators who rely on these filters to enhance their videos. In this article, we’ll explore some of the main reasons why TikTok’s AI filters may not be working and provide troubleshooting tips to help get them working again.
Camera Access
TikTok needs access to your device’s camera in order to apply filters and effects to your videos. If you are unable to get a TikTok filter to work, the first thing to check is whether TikTok has permission to access your camera.
On iOS devices like iPhones, you can check TikTok’s camera access by going to Settings > Privacy > Camera. Make sure the toggle switch next to TikTok is turned on to allow access. If camera access is off for TikTok, toggle it on and then try using the filter again.
On Android devices, open your Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > App Permissions > Camera. Make sure TikTok is allowed to access the camera. Toggle it on if needed. You may also need to go to Apps & Notifications > Advanced > App Permissions > Camera and toggle on access for TikTok.
If TikTok already has camera access enabled but filters still don’t work, there are a few other troubleshooting steps to try covered in the sections below.
Sources:
[https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_how-to-turn-on-camera-and-microphone-on-tiktok_5797](https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_how-to-turn-on-camera-and-microphone-on-tiktok_5797)
App Upgrades
TikTok is constantly releasing new versions of its app, and sometimes these updates can cause issues with filters not working properly. According to Google’s community forums, some users have run into problems after upgrading the TikTok app on Android devices (source).
If you recently upgraded the TikTok app, try downloading the previous version to see if that resolves the AI filter problem. You can find previous TikTok app versions on third-party app stores. Alternatively, make sure you’re running the latest version of TikTok, as the developers may have already fixed bugs affecting filters in a more recent release.
To check you have the latest version installed, open the Play Store or App Store on your mobile device, search for TikTok, and check if there are any pending updates. Install any available updates and then try using your AI filter again. Keeping TikTok fully updated can help avoid issues caused by bugs in older versions.
Clear Camera Feed
Filters need a clear camera view to work properly in order to detect faces and apply effects. If the camera is obscured or blocked in any way, this can prevent filters from functioning.
Make sure there are no objects, fingers, cases, or anything else blocking the camera lens. The camera needs full view of the face to work. Keep the camera clean and smudge-free as well.
Some cases or pop sockets can partially block the camera, so try removing the case and see if that fixes the issue. You may need a different case that doesn’t obstruct the camera lens.[1]
Also ensure no stickers or anything are placed directly on the camera part of the phone. Anything blocking the camera can interfere with the filter detecting faces properly.
Adequate Lighting
TikTok’s AI filters rely on being able to clearly see and track a face in order to apply effects and transformations. This requires having adequate lighting in the environment. As noted in TikTok’s Best Practices for Creating TikTok Effects, creators should “Take into consideration the environmental differences such as lighting, background, and noise.” Low light conditions can interfere with the filter’s facial tracking capabilities.
If you are trying to use an AI filter but it does not seem to be working properly, first try moving to a location with brighter or more direct lighting. Standing near a window on a sunny day or turning on indoor lights can often provide the necessary illumination for the filter to work. Improved lighting allows the camera to clearly capture facial features and enables the filter to track movements and apply the desired effects.
Face Position
The AI filters on TikTok work by tracking facial features to apply effects like shapes and animations. To get the filter to work properly, you need to make sure your face stays centered and visible in the camera frame. As TikTok explains:
“Jun 8, 2023 — Discover videos related to face position filter on TikTok.”
If your face moves too far to the edge of the frame or gets obscured, the filter will have a harder time tracking you and applying the effects. Try positioning your phone at eye level and keeping your head straight to maximize the filter detection. Adjust your camera angle or distance as needed until your facial features are clearly visible in the center of the frame. With your face properly centered, the TikTok filter should have no problem detecting you and activating the desired effects.
Restarting Device
Restarting your device is often the easiest first step to troubleshoot issues with apps or filters not working properly. A simple restart can fix many temporary bugs or glitches. Before restarting, make sure to close out of all apps you have open. Then, hold down the power button on your device until the power off slider appears. Slide to power off the device. Wait at least 30 seconds, then power the device back on. This gives the device a fresh start, clearing out any processes that may have gotten stuck. According to Google support, restarting your device can fix random reboots, auto shutdowns, or constant restarting problems.
Reinstalling TikTok
One troubleshooting step that is often recommended is to delete and reinstall the TikTok app. This can help resolve bugs and glitches, essentially giving the app a fresh start. As explained on Reddit, “Reinstalling an app often fixes problems because it clears out any corrupted files or old settings that may be causing issues.”1
However, before deleting TikTok, it’s important to back up any videos or drafts you want to keep. You can do this by saving them to your camera roll or uploading them to a separate storage platform. Once your TikTok content is backed up, uninstall the app and then redownload it from the app store. When you open TikTok again, log into your account to restore your profile and settings. With any luck, this will resolve the issues with your AI filter.
If the filter still doesn’t work after reinstalling TikTok, you may need to contact TikTok support for additional troubleshooting. But in many cases, simply deleting and redownloading the app can fix bugs that prevent features like filters from working properly.
Contacting TikTok
If resolving the issues with AI filters by troubleshooting the app and device doesn’t work, you can reach out to TikTok directly for further support. TikTok has an in-app reporting feature to notify them of any problems. According to the TikTok Help Center, you can report an issue by tapping Profile in the app and selecting “Report a problem.” TikTok also has customer support contacts on their Contact page that allow you to get in touch via email, phone, and social media.
The TikTok Help Center at https://support.tiktok.com/en/ provides articles to troubleshoot problems and allows you to submit feedback directly to their support team. You can also reach out to @TikTokSupport on Twitter or TikTok to get assistance. Using the official TikTok support channels is the best way to resolve persistent problems with your TikTok AI filter.
Summary
To quickly recap, there are several main reasons why TikTok filters and effects may not be working properly:
- The app needs permission to access your camera
- The app needs to be updated to the latest version
- The camera or lens is dirty, smudged, or obstructed
- The lighting conditions are too bright, dark, or uneven
- Your face is partially or fully out of frame
Some troubleshooting tips to try are restarting your device, reinstalling TikTok, and ensuring no other apps are using the camera. As a last resort, you can try contacting TikTok support. The problem usually lies with device or app issues, not the filter itself.
With some patience and testing, you should be able to get TikTok’s filters and effects working properly again. The most important things are ensuring TikTok has camera access, restarting your device, and troubleshooting any app or camera obstructions.
