TikTok, a short-form viral video-sharing app, has recently swept the globe. It has over one billion active members and two billion app downloads, making it the seventh most widely used social networking platform in the world right now.
If you fall into this category, you could be sick with the app and wish to deactivate your TikTok account in order to move on. How can you permanently deactivate your TikTok account if you’ve seen your fair share of amateur dancing moves?
Deactivate or delete your TikTok account?
By default, your TikTok account will be deactivated for 30 days before it’s permanently deleted. During these 30 days, your account will not be visible to the public, and should you change your mind, you can easily reactivate your account during the deactivation period.
We’re going to show you how to delete your TikTok account, which will automatically deactivate it first. Before you do that, you may want to download a copy of your data before saying goodbye.
How to download your TikTok data
We’re going to give you an example of how to download your TikTok data using the app on your phone.
- Go to your profile and tap on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner, then tap on ‘Privacy’.
- On the next screen, tap on ‘Download your data.’
- You can choose to receive your file in TXT (text file) or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format then tap on ‘Request data’. You’ll see it says ‘Pending’ in the ‘Download data’ tab until it’s ready.
- When it’s ready, simply tap on the ‘Download’ button that will appear.
- You’ll then need to log back into TikTok and it will send you a 4-digit code or you can use your password.
- You will then have to verify yourself via SMS. So tap ‘Send Code’. You’ll receive a 4-digit code and you should enter this then tap ‘Continue’.
- It should give you a message that it’s starting the download automatically. If not, you should tap on ‘Download’ to download your file.
How to permanently delete your TikTok account
Fortunately, deleting your TikTok account is very straightforward. You can delete your account in a few simple steps, either using a computer or using a phone. Here’s how to delete your TikTok account.
How to delete your TikTok account using a computer
To delete your TikTok account using a computer, log in to your account, then follow these instructions.
- Hover over your account icon in the top right of the screen.
- From the drop-down menu that appears, click on ‘Settings.’
- Go to the ‘Manage Account’ section, and you’ll see the ‘Account control’ section at the top. Click on ‘Delete’ to the right of ‘Delete account.’
- A pop-up window will appear, informing you what will happen when you delete your account. Read through the conditions, then click the ‘Continue’ button on the bottom-right of the pop-up.
That’s it, you’ve successfully deactivated your account! Your account will immediately become invisible to the public, and after 30 days, your account will be permanently deleted.
How to delete your TikTok account using a phone
1. Open the TikTok app and click on the ‘Profile’ icon in the bottom right.
2. Tap the ‘three horizontal lines’ symbol to access settings, located in the top-right corner.
3. Tap on the first option, ‘Manage account.’
4. Scroll to the bottom and tap ‘Delete account.’
5. A pop-up box will appear with information about deleting your account. Read through the conditions and tap ‘Continue.’
6. TikTok will then ask for one of two things:
- Password – Enter your TikTok account password and tap on ‘Delete account.’
- Verification code – Click ‘Send code.’ You’ll receive an SMS with your 6-digit verification code. Enter the code and tap on the ‘Delete account’ button.
7. Once you enter your password or verification code and hit “Delete account”, you’ll be asked if you’re sure you want to delete your TikTok account. We’re pretty sure that if you’ve got this far, you’re ready to tap ‘Delete’ by now.
That’s it, you’ve successfully deleted your TikTok account. Don’t forget, the situation when deleting your TikTok account on your phone or your computer is the same. Your account will be immediately deactivated, meaning it will no longer be visible to the public.
After the 30-day deactivation period, your TikTok account will be permanently deleted.
Don’t forget to uninstall or delete the app from your phone too. By deleting the app, you’re claiming back valuable space on your phone. You could add a snazzy new app or just save the space so that your phone runs faster.
FAQs
How do I permanently delete my TikTok account?
You can permanently delete your TikTok account using your phone or computer. However, it won’t be deleted until 30 days after you request that your account is deleted. Instead, it will be deactivated and not visible to other users, and fully deleted after 30 days have passed.
Why won’t TikTok let me delete my account?
To delete a TikTok account, you must have a phone number or email address connected to it. If you’re struggling to delete your account from the app, try quitting it, or force quitting if you have to, and try again once it has restarted.
Can you hide your TikTok account?
Yes, you can hide your TikTok account so that it’s not visible to other users. To do this, head to the ‘Settings and Privacy’ area, then ‘Privacy and Safety’. From here you should slide the toggle so that ‘Private account’ is activated, and toggle off ‘Suggest your account to others’.
