How to Delete Your TikTok Account (Permanently) in 2026

Maybe you're taking a break from endless scrolling, tidying up your digital footprint, or just starting over with a new handle. Whatever the reason, deleting your TikTok account is simple once you know where the option is tucked away — and, more importantly, once you understand what happens to your videos and data afterward. This guide covers deleting your account from the phone app and from the web, explains TikTok's 30-day grace period, and shows what to save before you pull the plug.

Before you delete: 3 things to do first

Deletion is permanent after the grace period, and there's no way to pull individual videos back once the account is gone. Spend five minutes on these first.

1. Save the videos you want to keep

TikTok's built-in Save video stamps every clip with a moving logo and your username. If you want clean copies of your own posts for a portfolio or archive, download them without the watermark first — paste each link into TikVidDown and grab the clean MP4. Our step-by-step download guide walks through it. Do this while the account is still active, because the links stop working once it's deleted.

2. Request a copy of your data

TikTok lets you export your profile information, activity, and settings. Go to Settings and privacy → Account → Download your data, request the file, and come back to download it once it's ready (it can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days). Save it before you delete — the request expires with the account.

3. Cancel subscriptions and use up your balance

Any LIVE subscriptions, creator subscriptions, or leftover Coins won't be refunded when you delete. Cancel recurring subscriptions (these are billed through the App Store or Google Play, so check there too) and spend or accept any remaining balance beforehand.

Delete vs. deactivate: what's the difference?

TikTok groups both choices under the same menu, so it's worth knowing which one you want:

• Deactivate hides your profile, videos, and likes temporarily. Your data stays on file, and everything reappears the moment you log back in. Good for a break.
• Delete starts a permanent countdown. The account is hidden immediately and, after 30 days, it and its content are erased for good. Good for a clean exit.

How to delete your TikTok account on the app (iPhone & Android)

The steps are the same on iOS and Android. Make sure the app is updated, since the menu wording shifts slightly between versions.

1. Open TikTok and tap Profile in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-right, then Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Account.
4. Tap Deactivate or delete account.
5. Choose Delete account permanently (rather than deactivate).
6. Pick a reason if asked and read the summary of what you'll lose, then tap Continue.
7. Verify it's you — enter the code TikTok texts or emails you, or confirm through the linked Google, Apple, or Facebook login you signed up with.
8. Tap Delete account to confirm.

How to delete your TikTok account on a computer

Prefer a bigger screen? You can start the same process at tiktok.com.

1. Go to tiktok.com and log in.
2. Click your profile picture, then open Settings.
3. Select Account from the left-hand menu.
4. Click Deactivate or delete account and choose Delete account permanently.
5. Complete the same identity check and confirm.

What happens after you delete

• Right away: your profile, videos, likes, and comments disappear from public view and you're logged out.
• For 30 days: the account sits in a recoverable state. Logging back in cancels the deletion and restores everything.
• After 30 days: the account and its content are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
• Your handle: the username may eventually free up for other people to claim.
• Purchases: Coins, gifts, and any balance are forfeited and are not refundable.

Changed your mind? How to cancel deletion

As long as you're still inside the 30-day window, recovery is easy: open TikTok, log in with the same credentials you used before, and accept the prompt to reactivate. Your videos and followers come back as they were. Miss the window, though, and there's nothing to restore — you'd have to sign up fresh.

Troubleshooting

• You can't find the option. Update the app to the latest version; older builds bury or rename the account controls.
• You can't receive the verification code. Make sure the phone number or email on the account is still one you can access, or verify through the social login you originally used. Update your contact details first if not.
• You forgot your password. Use Forgot password to reset it before deleting — you still need to confirm your identity.
• You manage a Business account. Switch back to a standard account first if the delete flow behaves unexpectedly, then follow the same steps.

Frequently asked questions

Does deleting my account remove videos other people saved or reposted?

It removes your videos from TikTok, but any copies others already downloaded or duets/stitches built on them may still exist. Deletion controls your account, not files that have already left the platform.

Can I reuse the same email, phone number, or username later?

After the account is fully deleted you can generally register again with the same email or phone. The old username may become available too, though there's no guarantee someone else hasn't taken it.

How long does deletion actually take?

The account is hidden instantly, but full, permanent deletion completes after the 30-day grace period. That waiting period is your safety net in case you change your mind.

Do I need the app, or can I do it from a browser?

Either works, but the phone app is the most dependable. If the web settings don't show the delete option in your region, switch to the app.

Will deleting stop TikTok from keeping my data?

Once the 30 days pass, your account data is removed from TikTok's active systems. If you want a record of it first, use the Download your data tool described above before you delete.

The bottom line

Deleting TikTok comes down to a short menu path — Settings and privacy → Account → Deactivate or delete account — plus a 30-day cool-off before it's final. The part people regret skipping is the prep: save clean, watermark-free copies of your videos and export your data first, because both vanish once the account does. Take care of that, confirm the delete, and you're done — with the option to walk it back any time in the next month.