TikTok continues to grow as one of the most popular social media platforms, where users can create, edit, and share short video clips. The platform offers a wide variety of features, including effects, filters, music, and other creative tools that make video creation engaging and fun. However, sometimes the videos we create don’t turn out as expected. In such cases, users may wish to delete their content for various reasons.
Whether you’ve posted a video that didn’t receive the engagement you hoped for, or you simply want to clean up your profile, learning how to delete a TikTok video is essential. This guide will walk you through the process of removing videos from your profile, website, or drafts. Additionally, we’ll explore how to make your TikTok videos private, recover deleted videos, and delete your TikTok account if needed.
How to Delete a TikTok Video
If you want to remove a video you’ve already posted, the process is simple, whether you’re using the TikTok app or the website. Below, we’ll cover how to delete a video from both platforms, as well as from different stages of the recording process.
Deleting a Video from the TikTok App
To delete a posted video from your profile through the app, follow these steps:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile by tapping the “Me” icon at the bottom right.
- Find the video you want to delete from the list of videos you’ve posted.
- Tap on the video to open it in full-screen mode.
- On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll see three horizontal dots; tap on them to open a menu.
- Swipe left on the pop-up menu until you see the trashcan icon.
- Tap the trashcan and confirm that you want to delete the video by selecting Yes when prompted.
After completing these steps, the video will be deleted from your profile and will no longer appear in your feed.
Deleting a Video from the TikTok Website
If you prefer to delete your video using a web browser, the following steps will guide you:
- Log into your TikTok account on the website.
- In the upper-right corner of the screen, click your profile icon and select View Profile.
- Find the video you want to remove and click on it.
- Click the More button (three dots) in the upper-right corner.
- Select Delete, and confirm your action by clicking Delete again.
Please note that if someone has downloaded your video before you deleted it, they may still have access to it, even if the original has been removed from TikTok.
Deleting a Video While Recording
If you’re in the middle of recording a video and decide not to continue, here’s how you can discard it:
- Tap the checkmark in the lower-right corner to stop the recording.
- Instead of tapping Next, tap the arrow in the upper-left corner.
- Press the X icon, which will ask you if you want to delete the video.
- Confirm by selecting Discard to remove the video from the recording screen.
Deleting a Video from the Posting Screen
If you’re editing or finalizing a video but decide not to post it, follow these steps:
- Tap the arrow in the upper-left corner to exit the posting screen.
- On the editing screen, tap the arrow again.
- Tap the X to discard the video and confirm by selecting Start Over or Discard.
How to Make Your TikTok Videos Private
Sometimes, you might not want to delete a video entirely but still prefer it to be hidden from public view. In this case, TikTok allows you to make your videos private so that only you can see them. Here’s how to do that:
- Open the video you want to make private.
- Tap the three horizontal dots at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Select Privacy Settings from the menu.
- Tap on Who can watch this video.
- Choose the Only me option to make the video private.
Once you’ve followed these steps, the video will be moved to a private folder. Only you will be able to view it until you decide to either delete it or make it public again. If you want to make the video public in the future, go to your profile, find the private video, and follow the same steps to change the privacy setting back to Everyone.
How to Delete TikTok Drafts
Drafts on TikTok are saved videos that haven’t been published yet. If you decide not to post a draft or want to clean up your draft folder, you can delete one or multiple drafts at once.
Deleting a Single Draft
To remove an individual draft, follow these steps:
- Go to your profile by tapping the Me icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Click on Drafts to view your saved videos.
- Swipe left on the draft you want to delete, and tap Delete.
- Confirm your choice by selecting Discard.
Deleting Multiple Drafts
If you want to delete several drafts at once, here’s how to do it:
- Tap the Me tab at the bottom to access your profile.
- Select Drafts.
- In the upper-right corner, tap Select.
- Check the circles next to the drafts you want to delete.
- At the bottom, tap Delete and confirm by selecting Discard.
How to Recover a Deleted TikTok Video
Unfortunately, once a video is deleted from TikTok, there is no way to recover it. TikTok does not offer a feature that allows you to retrieve deleted content, whether from your profile or drafts. Once you delete a video, it’s gone permanently.
It’s always a good idea to save your videos to your camera roll before deleting them, especially if you think you might want to reuse or repurpose them in the future.
How to Delete All Videos at Once on TikTok
If you want to start fresh and delete all of your TikTok videos, unfortunately, there isn’t a feature that allows you to delete multiple videos at once. TikTok only permits you to delete videos one by one manually. This process can be time-consuming if you have a lot of content, but it’s the only way to remove all videos.
If you want a completely fresh start, you could consider deleting your entire TikTok account and creating a new one. We’ll cover how to do that next.
How to Delete a TikTok Account
In the past, deleting your TikTok account required you to contact customer support. The process was slow and could take several days to complete. However, TikTok has simplified this process with a feature that allows you to delete your account directly from the app. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the TikTok app and navigate to your profile by tapping the “Me” icon.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner to open the settings menu.
- Select Manage Account.
- Tap on Phone Number and enter your contact number.
- TikTok will send a verification code to your phone. Enter the code to verify your account.
- Go back to the Manage Account menu and tap Delete Account.
- You will receive a confirmation code via SMS. Enter the code and tap Continue.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your TikTok account will be deleted. Keep in mind that this action is permanent, and you will lose access to all of your content, followers, and messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted TikTok video?
No, once a TikTok video is deleted, it cannot be recovered. It’s recommended to save videos to your camera roll before deleting them from the app.
How do I hide a TikTok video without deleting it?
You can make a video private by selecting Privacy Settings on the video and choosing Only me under Who can watch this video.
Is there a way to delete all TikTok videos at once?
No, TikTok does not have a feature to delete multiple videos at once. You will need to delete each video manually or consider deleting your account for a complete reset.
What happens if someone downloads my video before I delete it?
If someone has downloaded your video before you delete it, they can still access it and re-upload it from their profile.
How do I delete TikTok drafts?
To delete drafts, go to your profile, open the Drafts folder, and either swipe left on an individual draft to delete it or select multiple drafts to delete at once.
