# How to Delete Your TikTok Account (or Deactivate It Instead)

> How to delete a TikTok account permanently, what the 30-day window means, how to deactivate instead, what to download first, and whether you should delete TikTok.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-delete-tiktok-account
Last updated: 2026-10-28

Category: TikTok. 

To delete your TikTok account, go to your profile, tap the **menu** (three lines), then **Settings and privacy**, **Account**, **Deactivate or delete account**, and choose **Delete account permanently**. TikTok asks you to verify by code or password. The account is deactivated straight away and deleted for good after **30 days**, unless you log back in before then.

Menu labels change between app versions, so yours may read slightly differently.

## How to delete a TikTok account in the app

1. Open TikTok and go to your **Profile**.
2. Tap the **menu** icon (three lines) at the top right.
3. Tap **Settings and privacy**, then **Account**.
4. Tap **Deactivate or delete account**.
5. Choose **Delete account permanently**, pick a reason if asked, and tap **Continue**.
6. Verify with the code TikTok sends to your phone or email, or with your password.
7. Tap **Delete account** to confirm.

If you signed up with Apple, Google or another app, TikTok asks you to verify through that account instead.

## How to delete a TikTok account on a computer

On tiktok.com, sign in, hover over your profile picture, choose **Settings**, then **Manage account**, and select **Delete account**. Follow the same verification steps.

## Delete or deactivate?

| | Deactivate | Delete permanently |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Profile and videos | Hidden from everyone | Hidden, then erased after 30 days |
| Can you come back? | Yes, any time, by logging in | Only within 30 days |
| Username | Kept | Released after deletion |
| Purchases, coins, earnings | Kept | Lost: no refunds for coins or gifts |

If you only need a break, deactivate. If you're sure, delete.

## Before you delete: what to save

- **Download your data.** In Settings and privacy, then Account, use **Download your data** to request a copy of your profile, videos and activity. The file can take a few days to prepare, so request it before you start deleting.
- **Save your videos.** Download any videos you want to keep, or check whether the originals are still in your camera roll. Drafts are deleted with the account, so save them first: see [how to save TikTok drafts to your camera roll](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-save-tiktok-drafts-to-camera-roll).
- **Withdraw earnings.** Cash out any Creator Rewards or LIVE gift balance first.
- **Cancel subscriptions.** Subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play must be cancelled there.
- **Check linked logins.** If you sign in to other apps with TikTok, switch them to another login.

## What happens after you delete your TikTok account

For the first 30 days the account is deactivated: nobody can see your profile or videos, but logging in cancels the deletion. After that, TikTok deletes the account and you can't recover it. Some information may stay with TikTok where the law requires it, and messages you sent can remain visible in other people's inboxes.

If you're a business leaving TikTok, keep your audience in mind. You can post the same videos as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts instead, and Schedule For You can [publish one video to several platforms](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-cross-post-to-multiple-platforms) from a single queue, so leaving one network doesn't mean starting over.

## Should you delete TikTok?

Delete it if the app is taking more time than it gives back, you don't want TikTok holding your data, or you're moving your content elsewhere. Consider a lighter option first if you mostly want less of it:

- **Screen time limits** in Settings and privacy, then Digital wellbeing.
- **Deactivate** for a few weeks and see if you miss it.
- **A private account**, if the issue is who can see your videos.
- **A second account** for work or a niche, kept separate: see [how many TikTok accounts you can have](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-many-tiktok-accounts-can-you-have).

If you're asking because of the news, TikTok isn't being banned in the US at the time of writing. Our guide to [whether TikTok is getting banned](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/is-tiktok-getting-banned) explains where things stand.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does it take to delete a TikTok account?
The account is deactivated immediately and permanently deleted after 30 days, as long as you don't log in during that time.

### Can I recover a deleted TikTok account?
Yes, within 30 days. Log in and choose to reactivate it. After 30 days it's gone and can't be restored.

### Does deleting the TikTok app delete my account?
No. Uninstalling the app leaves your account and videos live. You have to delete the account in Settings first.

### Can I delete a TikTok account without the password?
You need to log in to delete it. If you've forgotten the password, reset it with your phone number or email first. If you've lost access completely, report the problem to TikTok support.

### Will my username be available again after I delete?
After deletion is final, the username can eventually be claimed by someone else, so don't count on getting it back. Our [TikTok username checker](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/tiktok-username-checker) shows whether a handle is free.

## Related

- [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog)
- [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)