How to Delete Your TikTok Account (2026 Guide)

Quick Summary

To delete: Profile → Menu (≡) → Settings and privacy → Account → Deactivate or delete account → Delete account permanently. You'll verify your identity, then confirm.
TikTok keeps your account in a 30-day grace period. Logging back in within that window cancels the deletion. After 30 days, your account and most associated data are permanently removed.
Before you delete: download your data, withdraw any Creator Fund/TikTok Shop earnings, and save any videos you want to keep. Username may not be reusable immediately after deletion.

Deleting your TikTok account is a two-step process: you submit the request, then TikTok holds the account for 30 days before permanent removal. Here's exactly how to do it on mobile and desktop, plus what to handle before you pull the trigger.

Before You Delete: What to Do First

Once the 30-day window closes, this is gone. Handle these first:

1. Download your data. TikTok lets you request a full archive of your videos, profile info, comments, messages, and login history. See TikTok's official guide on requesting your data. Requests can take a few days to process, so start this before you delete.

2. Save videos you want to keep. Open each video → Share → Save video. Your drafts won't be in the export — see where to find TikTok drafts to grab them first.

3. Withdraw any earnings. If you're in the Creator Rewards Program or have TikTok Shop balances, transfer them out. See how to make money with TikTok for where balances live. Unwithdrawn balances are typically forfeited.

4. Consider alternatives. If a specific person is the problem, block them instead. If your region is wrong, see how to change TikTok account region. Deletion is permanent — these are not.

How to Delete TikTok Account (Mobile)

Step 1: Open the TikTok app and log in to the account you want to delete.

Step 2: Tap Profile (bottom-right).

Step 3: Tap the menu icon (≡, top-right).

Step 4: Tap Settings and privacy.

Step 5: Tap Account.

Step 6: Tap Deactivate or delete account.

Step 7: Select Delete account permanently.

Step 8: Verify your identity. TikTok will send a 6-digit code to your phone number or email. Enter it.

Step 9: Read the warning, then tap Continue → Delete account.

Done. Your account is now deactivated and queued for permanent deletion in 30 days.

How to Delete TikTok Account (Desktop)

Step 1: Go to tiktok.com and log in.

Step 2: Click your profile photo (top-right).

Step 3: Click Settings.

Step 4: Click Account control → Deactivate or delete account.

Step 5: Click Delete account permanently.

Step 6: Enter the verification code sent to your phone or email.

Step 7: Confirm deletion.

That's it. The 30-day countdown starts immediately.

For TikTok's full official walkthrough, see their deleting an account help page.

The 30-Day Grace Period

After you submit deletion, your account enters a 30-day deactivation window:

Your profile, videos, and username become invisible to other users
You can't be searched, tagged, or messaged
Logging back in within 30 days cancels the deletion and restores everything
After 30 days, the account and most associated data are permanently removed

To cancel deletion: Just open the app and log in with the same credentials before day 30. TikTok will ask if you want to restore the account.

What Gets Deleted (and What Doesn't)

Permanently removed after 30 days:

Your profile, username, and bio
All videos you posted
Your followers and following lists
Your likes, favorites, and saved sounds
Your drafts and private videos

May persist:

Comments you left on other users' videos (some remain, attributed to a deleted user)
Direct messages you sent — they stay in the other person's inbox
Videos others reposted, duetted, or stitched from yours
Data TikTok is legally required to retain (per their privacy policy)

Username Reuse

Your username is not immediately available for reuse after deletion. TikTok holds it for a period (often well past the 30-day grace window) before releasing it back into the pool. If your goal is to free up a username to use on a new account, expect a wait.

If You Can't Log In

You need to be logged in to delete an account. If you've lost access:

Forgot password: Use TikTok's password reset flow with your phone/email
Lost phone number and email: Submit a TikTok support request explaining the situation. They may verify ownership through other means.
Hacked account: Report it as compromised first, then proceed with deletion once recovered

Deactivate vs. Delete

TikTok's current flow merges these — when you tap "Deactivate or delete account," you choose between temporary (account hidden, easy to restore by logging in) and permanent (the 30-day countdown to full deletion). There's no separate indefinite deactivation anymore.

If you just need a break, log out and uninstall the app. Your account stays active and intact.

Common Questions

How long does TikTok account deletion take? 30 days from submission. The account is hidden immediately, then permanently deleted after the grace period.

Can I delete my TikTok account without logging in? No. You must verify identity through the logged-in flow or recover access first.

Will my videos still show up after I delete? Videos others have reposted, stitched, or duetted may remain on those users' content. Your originals are removed.

Can I get my account back after 30 days? No. Once the window closes, deletion is permanent and irreversible.

Does deleting TikTok remove me from TikTok Shop? Yes. Seller accounts, orders history, and any associated balances are tied to the TikTok account. Settle balances and pending orders first.

Will my phone number be reusable on a new account? Yes, after the 30-day window. Same with the email.

What about Creator Rewards Program earnings? Withdraw before you delete. Balances below the payout threshold or left unclaimed are typically forfeited.

Starting Over on TikTok

If you're deleting to start fresh, don't just sign up and start posting — new accounts get throttled if they behave too aggressively. See how to warm up a TikTok account before posting. If you're targeting US viewers from outside the US, also see how to target US users on TikTok.

The Bottom Line

Mobile:

Profile
Menu (≡)
Settings and privacy
Account
Deactivate or delete account
Delete account permanently
Verify identity
Confirm

Desktop:

Settings
Account control
Deactivate or delete account
Delete account permanently
Verify identity
Confirm

Key points:

30-day grace period — log in to cancel
Download your data and withdraw earnings first
Username is held before it's released
Deletion is permanent after day 30

For an alternative to deletion, see how to block someone on TikTok or how to change TikTok account region. To recover unposted content before you delete, see where to find TikTok drafts and how to see saved videos on TikTok.

Building a new TikTok presence after a reset? Genviral helps you schedule, post, and grow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and more — without juggling tabs.