- Best iPhone apps: The ultimate guide Best iPad apps: The ultimate guide
TikTok tips and tricks: Navigation and basics
Home
- Following serves up videos from accounts you’re following For You page shows you trending videos and videos that TikTok believes you’d like to watch most (presumably based on your usage data).
Discover
Create video
Inbox
Me
TikTok tips and tricks: Search and find
Search and find a TikTok video to watch
Go to Home from the menu bar. Tap Following at the top to see videos from accounts you follow. Or, tap For you to see trending videos and videos that TikTok recommends.
Go to Discover from the menu bar. Select a video from one of the trending hashtag carousels, or, from the top, search for videos.
Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the Bookmark icon to see videos you’ve favorited, or saving for watching later. You can also re-visit videos you’ve liked by going to the section headed by a Heart icon.
Search and find TikTok videos by sound
- Find and watch a video with the sound. Tap the spinning record on the right of the video. Or you can tap the scrolling sound link at the bottom of the video. From the sound’s page that pops up, you can add the sound to your favorites, share it, find the original use of the sound (if it’s still available/public), and find every video that uses that sound. You can even start recording a video with that sound from here.
Search and find TikTok videos by effects
- Find and watch a video with the effect. Tap the effect’s name. It appears with a wand above the video creator’s handle. From the effect’s page that pops up, you can add the effect to your favorites, share it, and find every video that uses that effect. You can even start recording a video with that effect from here.
Search and find TikTok videos by hashtags
- Find and watch a video with the hashtag. Tap the hashtag. It appears in the video’s caption, below the creator’s handle. From the hashtag’s page that pops up, you can add the hashtag to your favorites, share it, and find every video tagged with that hashtag. You can even start recording a new video to tag.
Search and find a TikTok user
Every video shows you the creator on the left. It’s the first bubble, their profile photo. Tap their bubble photo to view their profile. Alternatively, when you’re watching one of their videos, tap their TikTok handle in the corner.
Go to Discover from the menu bar. From the top, search for a user.
Find and save your TikCode
Go to Me from the menu bar. Next to your name at the top, tap the icon with four squares. Your TikCode will appear with the option to save it to your device.
Go to Discover from the menu bar. Next to the search field, tap the Scan icon. Select My TikCode at the bottom.
Scan a TikCode
Go to Me from the menu bar. Next to your name at the top, tap the icon with four squares. Your TikCode will appear with the option to scan a TikCode. Align QR code in the frame to scan.
Go to Discover from the menu bar. Next to the search field, tap the scan icon. Align QR code in the frame to scan.
TikTok tips and tricks: Follow and interact
Follow a TikTok user
Every video shows you the creator on the left. It’s the first bubble, their profile photo. Long press the + sign below their bubble photo to follow them.
Go to a TikTok user’s profile. Tap the Follow button on their profile.
Like or dislike a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Heart icon on the right of the video. It’ll turn red, showing you’ve liked the video.
Hide or see less of certain TikTok videos
- Find and watch a video. Long press the video to bring up a menu. Tap Not Interested.
Leave and view comments on a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Comment button on the right of the video. Or tap the Add comment at the bottom. The video’s comments screen will pop up, where you’ll see existing comments and a field to enter your comment. Tap the Hashtag icon to tag a user or the Emoji icon to add an emoji to your comment. Hit send when done writing your comment. From the video’s comment screen, simply scroll to view your new comment with the other comments. You can even like a user’s comment by tapping the Heart icon next to their comment.
Duet a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right of the video. It’s only visible if the creator allows sharing. Tap Duet. Record a clip by tapping the red Record button. Edit it by adding effects, etc. Repeat steps 4 through 5 a few more times. Tap the Next button. Adjust your preferences, like whether it is private or public. Tap Post to publish your Duet.
React to a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right of the video. It’s only visible if the creator allows sharing. Tap React. Record a clip by tapping the red Record button. Edit it by adding effects, etc. Repeat steps 4 through 5 a few more times. Tap the Next button. Adjust your preferences, like whether it is private or public. Tap Post to publish your Reaction.
View your direct messages
- Go to Inbox from the menu bar. Tap the Envelope icon in the corner.
Send a direct message
- Go to Inbox from the menu bar. Tap the Envelope icon in the corner. Tap the + sign and search for a user to message. Tap their profile. You’ll see the option to write and begin a chat thread with them.
Invite friends to TikTok
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the add person symbol in the corner. Tap Invite Friends. Select which platform you’d like to send an invite message and pick your friends.
Find contacts on TikTok
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the add person symbol in the corner. Tap Find Contacts. Scroll through the contacts available and hit Follow to follow them.
Find Facebook Friends on TikTok
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the add person symbol in the corner. Tap Find Facebook Friends. Scroll through the friends available and hit Follow to follow them.
TikTok tips and tricks: Share and save
Share a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right. It’s only visible if the creator allows sharing. Choose where to share: Facebook Messenger, Direct Message, Snapchat, Instagram, Instagram Stories, Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Save a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right of the video. It’s only visible if the creator allows saving. Hit the Save button.
Add a TikTok video to your favourites
Create a Live Photo from a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right. It’s only visible if the creator allows sharing. Tap Live Photo.
Create a GIF from a TikTok video
- Find and watch a video. Tap the Share button on the right. It’s only visible if the creator allows sharing. Tap Share as a Gift. Choose where to share, or just save it to your device.
TikTok tips and tricks: Record and edit videos
Create a TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Adjust your preferences on the Camera screen, like the direction of the camera. You can also enable a beauty mode, add filters or effects, and change the speed. Select the length of the clips you want to record from the bottom of the Camera screen: 60 seconds or 15 seconds. You can even choose a photo template to record with – these add a variety of effects and filters to alter the look of your TikTok. When ready, tap and hold the Record button to continuously shoot your video. If you release it, it’ll still film. Quickly tap it again to stop. You can also quickly tap it to start and stop recording with no continuous shooting. Either way, record a string of clips to edit. As an alternative to steps 2 through 5, tap Create video on the Camera Screen to upload photos and videos to edit. Hit the Checkmark button when done. You’ll be brought to a preview screen where you can add sounds, more effects, text, and stickers. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok. From the Post screen, add your description, hashtags, and tag friends. You can also choose who can view your post and disable comments. Other options on the Post screen include the ability to disable duet/react and saves. Hit Drafts to save your TikTok to a private area on your account for you to come back to, or simply hit Post to share it.
Change speed of your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap a speed at the bottom of the Camera screen. Tap and hold the record button to start filming. Hit the Checkmark button when done recording. You’ll be brought to a preview screen where you can go to Effects to add a slow-mo effect. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Add beauty filter to your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap Beauty on the right of the Camera screen. Tap and hold the record button to start filming. Hit the Checkmark button when done recording. You’ll be brought to a preview screen where you can customise your video even further. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Add filter to your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap Filter on the right of the Camera screen. Tap and hold the Record button to start filming. Hit the Checkmark button when done recording. You’ll be brought to a Preview screen where you can add more effects and filters. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Use a timer to record your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap Timer on the right of the Camera screen. Mark the stop point, select your delay, and hit Start Countdown. Record your video. Hit the Checkmark button when done. You’ll be brought to a Preview screen where you can add more effects and filters. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Add an effect to your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap Effect in the corner. Find and select an effect to apply. Tap the record button and record your video. Hit the Checkmark button when done. You’ll be brought to a Preview screen where you can add more effects and filters. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Create video/photo to TikTok
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap the Create video button on the Camera Screen to browse your device’s gallery. Select your media. You’ll then have the option to trim it, adjust its length, rotate it, etc. Hit Next when done. You’ll be brought to a preview screen where you can add sounds, more effects, text, and stickers. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Create video multiple videos/photos to TikTok
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap the Create video button on the Camera Screen to browse your device’s gallery. Hit the Multiple option at the bottom. Select all your media and tap Next. You’ll then have the option to sync sounds across the media and adjust it. Hit Next when done. You’ll be brought to a preview screen where you can add sounds, more effects, text, and stickers. Tap Next when you’re done editing your TikTok to proceed to the Post screen.
Add a sound to your TikTok video
- Go to Create video from the menu bar. Tap Sounds at the top. Find and select a sound to apply.
Tag hashtags in your TikTok video
Tag users in your TikTok video
Change the privacy of your TikTok video
- Public: Visible to everyone Friends: Visible to friends only Private: Visible to you only
Turn comments off on your TikTok
Turn Duet/React off on your TikTok
Turn off Download for all TikTok videos
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the More […] button in the corner. Go to Privacy and Safety. Scroll to Allow download and disable it.
Save a TikTok video to your drafts
Post a TikTok video
Find your TikTok drafts
- Go to Me from the menu bar. On your profile, select the Drafts folder.
TikTok tips and tricks: Followers and activity
View all activity notifications on TikTok
- Go to Inbox from the menu bar. Here, you’ll see all your activity notifications. Drill-down further by going to All activity at the top and selecting likes, comments, mentions, etc.
View who you follow
View your followers
TikTok tips and tricks: Profile and settings
Change your profile photo or video
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap your profile photo and select change photo. Add a new profile photo or take one. Simple.
View the total number of likes on your videos
View your favourites
View videos you liked
Edit your profile
Add Instagram or YouTube to your profile
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap Edit profile on your profile. Scroll down to Instagram or YouTube and select them to begin the process of linking the account.
Change your name or username
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap Edit profile on your profile. Scroll down to Name or Username and select one to begin the process of changing it.
Manage account or change your settings
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the More […] button. Voila! Your Settings screen is here. Tap manage my account to do things like change your password. Feel free to roam around. There are a lot of hidden options, like the ability to opt-out of receiving personalised ads. You can even become a TikTok beta tester from the Settings pane.
Switch to Pro account
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the More […] button. Tap Manage My Account. Tap Switch to Pro account.
Add coins to your balance
- Go to Me from the menu bar. Tap the More […] button. Select Balance. Hit recharge. Select an option for the number of coins you want to buy. Confirm your purchase on the next page.
