Delete a TikTok post from your profile in three steps

Open TikTok and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Find the video you want to remove, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of that video's thumbnail, then tap "Delete". The video disappears from your profile immediately, though it may take a few minutes for it to stop appearing in other places like the For You page or search results.

The process is the same whether you posted the video yesterday or months ago. TikTok doesn't limit how far back you can delete — you can remove any video you uploaded to your own account at any time.

Once deleted, the video is gone from TikTok's servers. People who already watched it may remember it, but they can't watch it again or share the link. If you posted it to other platforms at the same time, deleting it from TikTok doesn't affect those copies.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete any of your own TikTok videos by opening your profile, tapping the three dots on the video, and selecting "Delete".
  • Deleted videos disappear from your profile immediately, though they may take a few minutes to stop showing up in search results and the For You page.
  • You cannot delete videos that other people posted, even if you appear in them or they mention you.
  • If you want to hide a video without permanently removing it, you can make it private or draft instead of deleting it.
  • Deleting a video from TikTok does not remove copies you may have posted elsewhere, like Instagram or YouTube.

Why you might want to delete a video

People delete TikTok videos for different reasons. You might have posted something you now find embarrassing, or you may have changed your mind about sharing a particular moment. Some creators delete videos that didn't get the engagement they hoped for, or that no longer fit the direction they want their account to go.

You might also delete a video if it contains personal information you later realize you shouldn't have shared — like your home address, phone number, or the name of your workplace. Once you notice something like that, deleting it is the right move, even though people may have already seen it.

The difference between deleting, drafting, and making a video private

TikTok gives you three ways to control who sees your videos. Deleting removes the video entirely — it's gone from your profile and TikTok's servers. Making a video private keeps it on your account but hides it from everyone except you. Saving as a draft means the video never posted in the first place — it stays in your drafts folder until you decide to post it or delete it.

If you're not sure whether you want to keep a video, making it private is safer than deleting it. You can always delete it later, or change it back to public if you change your mind. To make a video private, go to your profile, tap the three dots on the video, tap "Privacy settings", and select "Private".

Drafts are useful if you want to post something but aren't ready yet. You can film a video, save it as a draft, and come back to it days or weeks later to edit it or add a caption before posting.

What happens to likes, comments, and shares when you delete

When you delete a video, all the likes, comments, and shares attached to it disappear too. If someone left a thoughtful comment you wanted to keep, you won't be able to find it after deletion. For this reason, some creators screenshot important comments before deleting a video.

People who shared your video to their own accounts or to other platforms will still have their posts — deleting your original video doesn't remove copies that other people made. However, if someone tries to click through to your original video from their share, they'll get a "video not found" message.

You cannot delete videos other people posted

You can only delete videos from your own account. If someone else posted a video that features you, mentions you, or tags you, you cannot delete it yourself. You have other options, though.

If a video violates TikTok's community guidelines — for example, it contains harassment, hate speech, or sexual content involving minors — you can report it. Tap the three dots on the video, select "Report", and choose the reason. TikTok reviews reported videos and removes them if they break the rules.

If a video mentions you or tags you but doesn't violate guidelines, you can ask the person who posted it to take it down. You can also untag yourself if the video is tagged with your account name — tap the three dots, select "Remove tag", and confirm. This removes the connection between you and the video, so it won't show up on your profile or in your tagged videos section.

Recovering a deleted video

TikTok does not have an undo button or a trash folder where deleted videos sit for a set time before permanent removal. Once you tap "Delete" and confirm, the video is gone. You cannot recover it from TikTok.

If you saved the video file to your phone or computer before posting it, you can re-upload it. But TikTok itself keeps no backup. This is why some creators save copies of their videos before posting — if they later want to re-post something they deleted, they have the original file.

Deleting videos across multiple platforms

If you posted the same video to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or other platforms, you need to delete it from each platform separately. Deleting it from TikTok doesn't automatically remove it from Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, even if you used the same video file.

Some creators use scheduling tools that post to multiple platforms at once, but those tools don't have a "delete everywhere" feature either. You'll need to go to each platform's app or website and delete the video individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a TikTok video if I'm not the one who posted it?

No. You can only delete videos from your own account. If someone else posted a video featuring you, you can report it if it breaks TikTok's rules, or ask the person to take it down. You can also untag yourself if your account is tagged in the video.

Will people still be able to see my deleted video if they saved it?

Yes. If someone downloaded or screen-recorded your video before you deleted it, they have a copy. Deleting your video from TikTok only removes TikTok's copy. You cannot control what people do with videos they've already saved.

How long does it take for a deleted video to disappear from search results?

It usually takes a few minutes, but can take up to an hour. Your profile updates immediately, but TikTok's search index and the For You page algorithm take longer to catch up. If you search for the video right after deleting it, you might still see it briefly.

Can I delete multiple videos at once?

No. TikTok requires you to delete videos one at a time. There's no bulk delete feature. If you want to remove many videos, you'll need to go through your profile and delete each one individually.

What if I delete a video by accident?

TikTok will ask you to confirm the deletion before it happens, so accidental deletes are rare. If you do delete a video by mistake, you cannot recover it from TikTok. Your only option is to re-upload the video if you have the original file saved on your phone or computer.