So, you’ve concluded that TikTok’s entertaining videos and endless dance challenges are no longer your cup of tea? Perhaps it’s time for you to break free from TikTok by closing your account.
In this article, I’ll take you step by step on how to delete your TikTok account both on your mobile phone and PC.
In short, you can quickly and easily delete your TikTok account by simply opening your Profile and going to Settings and Privacy > Account >Delete or deactivate account then following the prompts to complete the deletion.
Things To Consider Before Deleting Your TikTok Account
1. Data backup:
Before hitting the delete button on your TikTok account, note that TikTok gives you the option to save your data. If you have some valuable content on your account that you might need at some point, make sure you download them.
2. Account deactivation and reactivation:
Deleting your TikTok account doesn’t have to be immediately permanent. When you hit the Delete button, TikTok keeps it deactivated for 30 days so that in case you change your mind for one reason or another, you can re-reactivate your account.
3. Account deletion permanence:
With the above point noted, it is equally important to note that after 30 days if you do not reactivate your TikTok account, it will be permanently deleted, this can not be undone.
4. Inform:
Consider informing your followers, fans, or friends before deleting your TikTok account, and maybe inform them of alternative platforms where to find you.
5. Linked accounts:
If you linked your TikTok account to other platforms, note that deleting your account may impact your presence on the other platforms. For example, the content you shared from TikTok to other platforms may become inaccessible, or if you shared your TikTok link, it may no longer be valid.
Additionally, if you’ve been using any third-party apps with your TikTok account, make sure you review privacy settings and know what data they retain when your TikTok account is deleted, or simply unlink your account before deletion.
With the above considerations, you can make sure you understand the impact of account deletion and can control and protect your data and privacy even after closing your account.
Also Read: How To Save TikTok Videos Without Watermark
How to Delete Your TikTok Account On Mobile
If you are using the TikTok mobile app, follow these steps to delete/deactivate your TikTok account:
Open your TikTok app and go to your Profile (the profile icon is at the bottom right).
Open the menu in the upper right corner (≡) and go to Settings and Privacy> Account.
In the Account Management section, select the Deactivate or delete account option.
If you just want to take a temporary break from the platform, you can just choose the Deactivate Account option and when you are ready to return you can simply reactivate it.
However, if you are sure you want to delete your account, select the Delete account permanently option, TikTok will then ask you your reason for wanting to delete your account, select the appropriate one or add any other reason then click the Continue button.
Once you choose to delete your account, TikTok will give you the option to Download your TikTok data such as your videos, if you decide to request a data download, wait till it’s done to delete your account; apparently, this takes up to 4 days.
If you are not downloading your TikTok data or it has finished downloading, click the Continue button.
And in the next window, you will be asked to Verify your account by logging in, logging in with the credentials you used when creating your account, and proceeding to the Continue button.
In the next window, you will need to confirm the deletion by clicking the Delete Account button.
When you do this, your account will still be in deactivation mode for 30 days and you can reactivate it if you change your mind, but after that, if it hasn’t been reactivated, it will be permanently deleted.
How to Delete Your TikTok Account On a PC
To delete your TikTok account on your PC, open TikTok on your web browser and log into your account.
Go to your Account Settings by clicking your profile picture in the upper right corner of the page, then tap Settings.
In your Settings, the first option you will see under Manage account is Delete account, click the Delete button.
TikTok will give you some information to consider before deleting your account, read it if you’d like and if you are sure, click the Continue button.
If you choose to continue, you will be asked to log in again to verify that you own the account.
After logging in, click the Delete account button to confirm the deletion of your TikTok account.
Remember, if you change your mind you can reactivate it within 30 days.
What Happens When You Delete Your TikTok Account?
Here is a summary of what happens when you delete your TikTok account:
- Your TikTok account (profile, posts, videos, bio, likes, comments, and shares you made on others’ videos, etc) will be permanently deleted from the TikTok platform.
- You will lose all your followers and won’t appear on other users; following lists.
- Your chats and messages with other users will be deleted. And if you made any in-app purchases or have any virtual items or coins on your account, they will be lost.
- While some of your data may still exist on the internet after deleting your TikTok account, TikTok will remove all your content and data from its servers.
- Any third-party apps that were linked with your TikTok account will be unlinked and lose access to your data.
How to Reactivate your TikTok Account
If you decide to reactivate your TikTok account and you are still within the 30-day window, here’s how you can go about it:
Open the TikTok app and go to the Profile section at the bottom right corner.
Select the Sign-up option
Log in with the account/credentials you were using before.
After logging in you will be asked if you want to reactivate your old account.
Click the Reactivate button and you will resume your TikTok journey.
Frequently Asked Questions about Deleting A TikTok Account
Qn. Can I recover my TikTok account after deleting it?
No. Once you delete your TikTok account and do not reactivate it within the 30-day grace period, it will be permanently deleted. All your data will be removed from the platform and this can not be undone.
Qn. Will deleting my TikTok account remove my data from third-party apps linked to TikTok?
Yes, your access to third-party apps that were linked to your TikTok will be revoked. Your data will be removed as well, but depending on the apps’ privacy policy, they may retain some of your data.
Qn. Can I deactivate my TikTok account temporarily and reactivate it later?
Yes, TikTok offers you a 30-day deactivation period during which you can reactivate your account at any time. Refer to the previous section on how to reactivate your TikTok account.
However, note that if you do not reactivate your account within 30 days, it will be permanently deleted.
Qn. Will my videos still be visible to others after I delete my TikTok account?
No, after you permanently delete your TikTok account, all your videos will be deleted and wnt be visible to your previous followers or anywhere on the platform.
Qn. Why won’t TikTok let me delete my account?
If you are failing to delete your TikTok account, this may be because you have not properly verified ownership of your account. Make sure you enter the right credentials, the same ones you used when opening your account.
Qn. How do I delete my TikTok account without waiting 30 days?
Unfortunately, this isn’t possible right now. The 30-day deactivation period is designed to give users a chance to reactivate if they change their minds.
After clicking the Delete account button, all you need to do is wait it out, don’t log in or reactivate your account. Just ignore the app altogether, or even delete it if you do not plan on using TikTok again.
Qn. Can I delete my TikTok account and make a new one with the same credentials?
Yes.
After your account is permanently deleted (after 30 days), you may be able to use the same email address for example to open a new account.
Wrapping Up
In summary, deleting a TikTok account is a pretty short and straightforward process. But it’s important to seriously consider the implications before making this decision.
Good thing TikTok gives you a 30-day grace period in case you simply need a break from the platform, and if you change your mind you can reactivate your account.
The other good thing is TikTok lets you download your data before deleting your account so that you have access to it if you need it.
But keep in mind that after 30 days without reactivation, your account will be deleted. This is permanent and you will not be able to recover any data, messages, videos, or anything else associated with the account after deleting it.
