How to Delete Your TikTok Account
Step-by-step guide to permanently deleting your TikTok account. Covers data download, subscription cleanup, the 30-day waiting period, and deletion from a browser.
After TikTok rolled out its updated privacy policy in January 2026, a lot of people decided it was time to go. Whether you are leaving over privacy concerns, trying to reclaim some screen time, or just done scrolling, the actual deletion process is straightforward once you know where to look.
There is one thing to know up front. TikTok does not delete your account immediately. When you confirm the deletion, your account enters a 30-day deactivation period. During that window, everything is hidden but recoverable. After 30 days, it is gone for good.
Here is how to do it, step by step, along with a few things you should take care of before you hit the delete button.
Download your data before you start
Once your account is deleted, everything goes with it. TikTok gives you a way to download your data, but you need to do it before you begin the deletion process. Open TikTok and go to your profile. Tap the three-line menu in the top right corner, then tap Settings and privacy. Go to Account and tap Download your data. Choose between TXT and JSON format. JSON is more complete and structured, so we recommend that one. Tap Request data. TikTok's data request page confirms the download can take a few days to process. You will get a notification when the file is ready.
Heads up: Your data download does not include your actual video files. You need to save those manually one at a time by opening each video, tapping the share arrow, and tapping Save video. Drafts are stored locally on your phone and are not included in the download either.
Cancel subscriptions billed through Apple or Google
Deleting your TikTok account does not automatically cancel subscriptions billed through the App Store or Google Play. If you have TikTok LIVE subscriptions or other recurring charges, those will keep billing you even after your account is gone. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions. Find anything related to TikTok and cancel it. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, then tap Payments and subscriptions and then Subscriptions. Cancel any TikTok-related items. If you have TikTok coins, creator earnings, or TikTok Shop funds, withdraw or use those before deleting. They are non-refundable and permanently lost once your account is gone.
Good to know: This applies to any app you delete, not just TikTok. App Store and Google Play subscriptions are managed at the phone level, not by the app itself. Removing an app or deleting your account never cancels the billing automatically.
Open your TikTok settings
Open the TikTok app and tap the Profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three-line menu in the top right, then tap Settings and privacy. Tap Account. You will see a list of account management options including your phone number, email, and password. The option you need is near the bottom of this list.
Tap Deactivate or delete account
Scroll down and tap Deactivate or delete account. TikTok will show you two choices: deactivate your account temporarily, or delete it permanently. Deactivating hides your profile and content but keeps everything saved on TikTok's servers indefinitely. You can come back anytime and pick up where you left off. Deleting is permanent. After a 30-day waiting period, your account and all its data are erased for good.
Choose permanent deletion and verify your identity
Select Delete account permanently. TikTok will ask you why you are leaving. You can pick a reason or tap Skip. Next, TikTok will offer you a chance to download your data if you have not already. If you handled that in step one, check the confirmation box and tap Continue. Verify your identity by entering your password, or by using a 6-digit code sent to your phone number or email. The verification method depends on how you originally signed up. Tap Delete account to confirm. TikTok's deletion support page confirms that your account enters a 30-day deactivation period immediately after this step.
Good to know: The steps are identical on iPhone and Android. The only thing that varies is the verification method, which depends on whether you signed up with a phone number, email, Apple ID, or Google account.
Wait out the 30-day deletion window
Your account is now deactivated. Your profile, videos, comments, and follower list are hidden from everyone immediately. But TikTok has not deleted anything yet. For the next 30 days, your data stays on TikTok's servers in a recoverable state. If you change your mind during that window, just open TikTok, log in with your original credentials, and tap Reactivate. Everything comes back exactly as it was. After 30 days, the deletion becomes permanent. Your videos, comments, likes, followers, and profile data are erased. There is no way to recover your account once the window closes.
Heads up: Messages you sent to other people may remain visible in their inboxes even after your account is deleted. Duets and Stitches that others made using your videos may also stay on the platform, disconnected from your account.
Delete from a browser if you do not have the app
You do not need the app installed to delete your account. Go to tiktok.com in any browser and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and go to Settings. Click Manage account, then click Delete account. Follow the same verification steps and confirm. You can also request deletion by emailing support@tiktok.com with your username, the email address linked to your account, and your date of birth. This is useful if you have lost access to your login credentials.
The hardest part is honestly just remembering to cancel your App Store or Google Play subscriptions before you go. Everything else is a few taps and a 30-day wait. If you are not sure you want to commit, you can always deactivate temporarily instead. Your profile disappears and nobody can find you, but everything stays saved in case you want to come back. Once the 30 days are up, your videos, followers, and profile data are gone. If you decide later that you want to rejoin, you can create a fresh account with the same email or phone number. But you will be starting from scratch. If you are also cleaning up messaging apps, we have a separate guide on deleting your Telegram account. Ready to leave Reddit too? Here is how to delete your Reddit account. Want to close your Cash App too? Here is how to delete your Cash App account.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
No. Removing the app from your phone only removes the app itself. Your account, videos, profile, and all your data stay on TikTok's servers. To actually delete your account, you need to go through the deletion process in the app or on tiktok.com before uninstalling.
Deactivating is a temporary pause. Your profile and content are hidden, but everything is preserved on TikTok's servers indefinitely. You can come back and reactivate at any time by logging in. Deleting starts a 30-day countdown. During that window you can still reactivate, but once 30 days pass, your account and all its data are permanently erased with no way to recover them.
No. Your profile and all your content become invisible to other users immediately after you confirm the deletion. The only exceptions are messages you previously sent in direct message threads, which may still appear in the other person's inbox, and Duets or Stitches that other creators made using your videos.
Yes, but only after the 30-day deletion period fully completes. During the grace period, your email or phone number is still tied to the deactivated account. Once the account is permanently deleted, you can register a new account with the same credentials. Your old data will not carry over to the new account.
No. Any subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store will continue to charge you even after your TikTok account is deleted. You need to cancel those subscriptions separately through your phone's subscription management settings before or after deleting your account.
TikTok states that your data is permanently removed after the 30-day grace period, but their privacy policy allows them to retain some information for legal compliance, safety, and security purposes. Under GDPR, European users' data must be erased within 30 days of permanent deletion. For US users, the timeline is less specific. If you want a formal record of your deletion request, you can submit one through TikTok's privacy portal in addition to deleting through the app.
Account Deletion Guides
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How to Delete Your TikTok Account
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