If TikTok does not post your video, the cause could be your connection, the app or a restriction on your account. First check whether the video is already on your profile or whether the upload screen is still open. Write down any error message. Is your video on your profile, but someone else cannot see it? Then check who is allowed to view it.
Follow the steps below that match what you see on your screen.
Where does posting get stuck on TikTok?
Does the progress stop, do you get a notification, or can you already play the video yourself? Choose in the table what to check first.
| What do you see? | What should you check first? |
|---|---|
| The upload remains stuck or you get a connection error. | Test your internet and check whether other parts of TikTok load. |
| A notification says that you are not allowed to post. | Check your account status and read the entire notification. |
| A notification says that your video is being reviewed. | Follow the explanation in the notification and check the status again later. |
| You see the video on your profile, but someone else cannot. | Check who is allowed to view the video. |
Suppose you post a video of your dog. You can play it on your profile, but a friend cannot open it. First check who is allowed to see the video. Uploading the same file again is not the first step.
Check your internet and the TikTok app
First save your original video if you still have it. Do not immediately delete the app or its data. You could lose work that is stored only in the app on your phone.
- Test your internet. Open another app or website that requires internet access. Does that fail to load too? Then check your connection first.
- Try another connection. Switch between WiFi and mobile data if possible. Uploading via mobile data uses data from your plan.
- Check whether your video is already on your profile. Do this before pressing post again. This prevents you from unnecessarily posting the same video again.
- Reopen TikTok. First save any work that you can still save. After reopening the app, check whether your video has appeared.
- Check whether you can update TikTok. Check your phone’s app store to see whether an update is available. If necessary, you can restart your phone afterwards.
Try one step at a time and see what changes. If you switch connections, update the app and choose another file at the same time, you will not know which step helped.
Is your profile and are your other videos also not loading? Then read the explanation about TikTok not loading.
Check whether your TikTok account is allowed to post
Your account status shows whether there are restrictions on posting. In TikTok’s explanation of your account status you can read where to check this.
Cannot find the option described? Use the help section in TikTok. A missing menu option does not mean that your account is restricted.
Do you see a notification about a restriction? Read whether it applies to your entire account or only to one video. Follow the next step mentioned. If an end date is shown, follow it instead of choosing a waiting period yourself.
Do you think the decision is incorrect and can you appeal? Briefly explain why you disagree. Uploading again does not automatically resolve a reported account restriction.
Can you no longer access your account? Then first follow the steps for when logging in to TikTok does not work.
Check who can see your TikTok video
Is the video on your profile and can you play it? Then check the video’s and your account’s privacy settings. This is where you can check who is allowed to see it. Make the video visible to more people only if you also want to share it with them.
Few views do not by themselves mean that the upload failed. Was your video posted, but are your followers not seeing it? Then read why TikTok does not show your videos to your followers.
Is it about a video you previously liked rather than your own video? Highsocial mentions in its explanation of missing liked videos the connection and changed visibility as possible causes. That is a different problem and does not indicate whether your own upload failed.
Does TikTok report that your video is being reviewed or that there is an issue with the content? Read the notification before changing anything. Do not randomly change the sound, description and visuals at the same time. You still will not know what the notification concerns.
For such a review, no fixed waiting time can be given here. Follow a deadline only if TikTok mentions one in your notification. Take a screenshot of the notification if you want to ask for help later.
What should you do if posting on TikTok still does not work?
Check the video file itself. Can you play the original video all the way through on your phone? If not, make a new copy from the app in which you edited the video. Keep the original. Do not randomly change various settings if the error message gives no reason to do so.
Is your connection working but is it still unclear why posting does not work? Report the problem through TikTok’s help section. Include:
- The exact error message or a screenshot.
- The step at which it goes wrong, for example immediately after you press post.
- The date and time of your attempt.
- The type of phone and the app version, if you can find them.
- Whether the problem occurs over WiFi, mobile data or both.
- Whether only this video file causes problems, as far as you know.
An example of such a notification: “After I press post, the progress stops. Other videos load normally. The same happens on WiFi and mobile data.” This describes what is going wrong more clearly than simply saying “TikTok does not work”. Never send your password or login code.