TikTok is a popular short-form video sharing app that allows users to create, share, and discover short videos. The app has grown tremendously in popularity over the past few years. However, one common complaint from TikTok users is that the app takes up a lot of storage space on their phones.
The main reason TikTok takes up so much storage space is because of the nature of the videos on the platform. TikTok videos tend to be very short, usually between 15 seconds to 1 minute long. However, these short videos can still take up a surprising amount of space due to the high video quality and resolution.
High Quality Video Format
TikTok videos are recorded and shared in a high definition vertical video format. Unlike traditional horizontal videos, TikTok videos are optimized for mobile devices and social media feeds. The videos have an aspect ratio of 9:16 with a minimum resolution of 720p HD.
Recording videos at such a high quality means large file sizes. A one minute 720p HD TikTok video can take up around 30-40 MB of space. The more TikToks you record and save, the more space they end up occupying collectively.
Caching and Saving Videos
By default, TikTok caches and saves every video you watch on the app. It does this to make sure videos load and play smoothly if you were to watch them again. But the consequence is all those cached videos take up storage space.
Additionally, whenever you post a video, TikTok will save a copy on your device. Over time, all those published videos can build up and eat away at your phone’s storage.
Downloading and Saving Videos
TikTok makes it very easy for users to download or save videos they like. You can download videos to your camera roll to share elsewhere or to watch later without an internet connection. You’re also able to save videos into collections or send them to friends.
Each downloaded or saved video gets stored on your device’s storage. If you actively save a lot of videos, it’ll quickly fill up your phone’s memory.
Large App Size
In addition to all the user generated videos, the TikTok app itself also takes up a considerable amount of space. The app comes packed with all sorts of visual effects, filters, stickers, text overlays, and more that contribute to its large file size.
As of September 2022, the TikTok app on iOS is around 200MB. On Android, it can be over 100MB. Compared to other social media apps, TikTok’s app size is noticeably larger. All those video editing tools and features ultimately consume more storage space.
How to Reduce TikTok’s Storage Usage
If TikTok is taking up too much space on your phone, here are some tips to reduce its storage usage:
- Turn off “Save Videos” in Settings – This prevents TikTok from caching videos.
- Delete Saved Videos – Manually remove videos you’ve collected into Saved folders.
- Clear Cache – Wipes the app cache clearing temporarily saved videos.
- Reduce Video Upload Quality – Upload at a lower resolution to save space.
- Avoid Downloading Videos – Be selective about saving videos to your camera roll.
- Use TikTok Lite – Try the smaller app variant with limited features.
- Delete and Reinstall – Removes all cached videos and starts fresh.
- Transfer Videos – Back up your videos then delete them from your phone.
- Get More Storage – Increase your phone’s storage capacity with cloud storage or microSD card.
TikTok Video Compression
To help alleviate storage constraints for users, TikTok employs video compression techniques when uploading and sharing videos. This compression reduces video file sizes by nearly 60% with minimal impact on visual quality.
TikTok’s compression technique analyzes each frame of the video, removes visual redundancies between frames, and encodes the video to optimize it for mobile delivery. The end result is a much smaller video file that looks nearly identical to the original.
However, even with compression, TikTok videos still take up ample storage space due to their sheer quantity and continuous creation. Compression alone isn’t enough to overcome TikTok’s significant storage demands.
Cloud Storage Integration
Recognizing users’ storage limitations, TikTok has partnered with cloud storage services like Google Photos and iCloud to allow backing up videos. After enabling the integration in Settings, videos are automatically saved to the cloud rather than device storage.
This means users can save as many videos as they want without worrying about device space. But it does require having an active cloud storage subscription. For Google, you need a Google One membership while Apple users need sufficient iCloud storage.
Linking TikTok to the cloud is an effective strategy to prevent downloaded videos from consuming local phone storage. But keep in mind it shifts that usage over to cloud storage quotas instead.
Why So Much Space?
At its core, TikTok is a video-first social network. Videos require orders of magnitude more storage than photos or text posts on other platforms. The fact that TikTok is designed for constant video creation and sharing means its storage demands are invariably going to be massive.
And as video quality and resolutions continue improving, future TikTok videos will only become more storage intensive. For users recording a high volume of TikToks at long durations, the gigabytes can quickly add up.
Ultimately, TikTok’s singular focus on short-form video comes at the cost of eating up significant storage capacity. The convenience and entertainment of TikTok necessitates having an abundance of available space, whether on your device or the cloud.
The best solutions are carefully managing your saved video content, utilizing cloud backups, or expanding your device storage if TikTok’s size becomes unmanageable. With smart storage practices, you can continue enjoying TikTok without filling up your phone.
