Your TikTok likes may decrease because someone removed a like or TikTok removed fake likes. Sometimes a like only seems to have disappeared because the counter has not updated correctly. Missing a video that you liked yourself? It may no longer be available. So first check what is missing: likes on your own video or videos in your list of liked videos.
Below, you will read about the difference and which steps you can try.
Why is the number of likes on your own TikTok decreasing?
Someone can remove a like they previously gave. You will then see a lower number, but the counter does not tell you who removed the like or why.
TikTok can also remove fake likes. The TikTok guidelines on fake likes say that TikTok can remove artificial likes. Services that artificially increase numbers of likes and other reactions are prohibited.
A decrease does not prove that you had fake likes or that TikTok intervened. Nor can you conclude from it that your account has received a penalty.
Check where the number decreases: on one video, on multiple videos or only on your profile. Note this before changing anything. Always compare the same counter, because the number of likes on one video is different from the total on your profile.
Why are liked videos disappearing from your TikTok list?
Your list of liked videos contains videos that you have liked. This is separate from the likes you receive. Is a video missing? First try opening it through the creator’s profile or a saved link.
Perhaps you removed the like by accident. The creator or TikTok may also have deleted the video, or the video may no longer be visible to you. You cannot tell what happened from the empty space in your list alone.
- The video still opens: check whether the heart shows that you have liked the video.
- The video no longer opens: read the message, if there is one. It is then more likely to be about the availability of the video than your list.
- Multiple familiar videos are missing: check whether you are logged in with the correct account.
Do not immediately assume that the video was removed because of copyright or another violation. You need a specific notification for that. If it concerns your own video, check whether you received a message from TikTok. Is your message completely gone? Then read more about a TikTok video that disappears after posting.
When do TikTok likes only seem to have disappeared?
Sometimes the counter has not updated correctly. This can make it seem as though your likes are gone. It can also happen that you see a filled heart, but the like does not appear to have been saved. A temporary loading problem is a possible explanation, not a proven cause.
Fictional example: you see 31 likes on a video. You open the same video again and see 30. That difference does not tell you whether someone removed a like or whether the first count was delayed.
| What do you see? | What do you check? |
|---|---|
| The same video shows different numbers of likes. | Open the video again and compare the same counter later. |
| The heart is off again when you reopen the video. | Check your connection and try giving one like again. |
| A liked video is missing from your list. | Try opening the video through the creator’s profile or a saved link. |
| The likes are still there, but the number of views is not growing. | Check the views separately. That is a different counter. |
Is it about views, meaning how often your video has been watched? Then read why your TikTok video has 0 views or why your TikTok views remain stuck around 200. Other checks are needed for that than for disappeared likes.
What can you test when TikTok likes disappear?
Change one thing at a time. This makes it easier to see whether a step makes a difference.
- Choose one video. Note the number of likes, where you see it and the time. Take a screenshot if necessary.
- Check your account. Check whether you are using the correct profile. This is especially important if you have multiple accounts.
- Open the video again. Close TikTok completely and open the app again. Then view the same video.
- Check your connection. Are other videos loading normally? If necessary, switch between wifi and mobile data, if you can use them.
- Check whether there is an update. Open the app store on your phone and check whether you can update TikTok.
- Test whether a like stays in place. Choose a video that you genuinely want to like. Like it and open the video again later. Check whether the heart is still on. Do not keep tapping repeatedly, because this can remove the like again.
- Compare again later. Note whether you continue to see the same problem. There is no fixed waiting time after which likes are guaranteed to return.
Is the video missing only from your list, while the heart on the video is still on? Mention that difference when you report the problem. This makes it clearer what is going wrong than simply saying that your likes are gone.
What does not help with disappeared TikTok likes?
Do not delete your own video as a first test. Then you can no longer properly compare the original situation. Also do not immediately reinstall the app. First check whether you have safely saved important drafts.
Adding extra likes does not explain why your counter is decreasing. Also buying TikTok likes does not fix a loading error or restore a like that was not saved. It offers no guarantee of lasting numbers or genuine attention.
Do not use a tool that asks for your password to restore disappeared likes. You do not need to share your login details with anyone for the checks above.
A decrease also does not prove a shadowban. People use this term to mean that their videos become less visible without a clear notification. First look at what you can actually establish: is the number of likes changing, is a video missing or is the heart off again after reopening?
When should you report disappeared likes to TikTok?
Report the problem if it keeps happening after the checks. This is especially useful if likes do not appear to be saved or the same video continues to show different numbers.
TikTok calls Report a problem as an option for help and feedback in the app. Look for that option. The exact name may vary by language.
Include this information in your report:
- Is it about likes you receive or videos that you have liked yourself?
- Which video is it about? Add the link if you have it.
- What did you see first and what do you see now?
- When did it happen and does it happen more often?
- Which steps have you already tried?
- Do you have a screenshot or screen recording showing the difference?
Fictional example report: “I like this video. When I open the video again, the heart is off again. This happens with the same account, even after I reopened the app and tried a different connection.”
Do not include a password or login code. The video link, time and description help clarify which problem you want investigated.