If TikTok appears to unfollow someone immediately, your follow action may not have been saved. The app may also still be showing an old status. An app error, poor connection or temporary restriction could be involved. Reopen TikTok and check whether the account appears in your list of followed accounts. A button jumping back on its own does not yet tell you what is going wrong.
Below, you can read how to check the difference and what you can try afterwards.
Check whether TikTok is really unfollowing automatically
You tap Follow, but shortly afterwards the same Follow button appears again. Do not tap it again straight away. First check whether the button and your list of followed accounts show the same thing.
- Write down the username of the account you want to follow.
- Close TikTok completely and reopen the app.
- Go to your own profile and open the list of accounts you follow. It is often called Following.
- Find the account in the list. Then open that account’s profile and check what the Follow button shows.
Is the account in your list while the button asks you to follow it again? Then the list and the button are showing different things. You therefore cannot rely on the button alone. If the account is also missing from your list, your follow action is not visible in either place.
The explanation from Freedom251 about disappearing follow actions mentions app errors, connection problems, temporary restrictions, following quickly and the status of the other profile as possible causes. This still does not tell you which cause applies to you.
Do you also want to know who can view your list? Read whether others can see who you follow on TikTok.
Does following fail on TikTok for one profile or for several?
First consider what you have already noticed. Does it happen with the same profile every time, or with other accounts as well? If you have only tried one profile, test at most one other account that you genuinely want to follow. Do not do this if TikTok displays a warning.
| What do you see? | What do you do next? |
|---|---|
| Following one profile does not work, but following another does. | Check whether you can still open the first profile and whether a notification is shown. |
| You see a notification about a follow request. | Read the notification. A request does not mean that you also follow the account. |
| Your follow action disappears for several profiles. | Check whether you followed many accounts shortly beforehand. Then check the app and your connection. |
| The account is in your Following list. | Save a screenshot of the difference with the profile button and check again later. |
Does following fail only for one profile? That does not prove that you have been blocked. A Follow button that reappears does not give a clear answer. Do not create another account to test this or get around a possible block.
Can you not follow any account? Read why you cannot follow anyone on TikTok . That article looks further into the broader problem.
Does following fail to stay in place after you follow many TikTok accounts?
Have you just followed many accounts quickly one after another? Stop trying to follow new accounts for the time being. Tapping repeatedly does not make it clear whether your earlier attempt was saved.
Write down a warning exactly as shown or take a screenshot of it. If TikTok provides a clue, follow it. Without a clear notification, you do not know whether your account is temporarily restricted. Therefore, do not immediately call it a shadowban: a hidden restriction on your account.
There is no set waiting time that can be given for your situation. Try once more later, not every few minutes. Do you receive the same warning? Stop trying and save the notification in case you ask for help.
Check the app and your internet connection if TikTok does not save your follow
Change just one thing at a time. That makes it easier to see which step makes a difference.
- Check your internet connection. For example, open a regular webpage. If it also loads poorly, check your connection first.
- Try a different connection. Switch between your own WiFi and mobile data if you can use both. Keep your data allowance in mind.
- Check for an update. Open your phone’s official app store and check whether an update for TikTok is available.
- Restart your phone. Then open TikTok. Check your Following list first before tapping Follow again.
You can also check whether you can clear temporary files. These are called the cache. Only use an option that clearly says it will clear the cache. If you cannot find it, skip this step. Do not simply choose to delete all app data.
An imaginary example: you follow a cooking account, but the button jumps back. After reopening TikTok, the account is in your Following list. Do not tap Follow again straight away. First save a screenshot showing that the list and the button indicate different things.
What not to do if TikTok automatically unfollows
- Following and unfollowing repeatedly. This makes it harder to see which action has stayed in place.
- Relying on a fixed following limit you find online. A number like that does not tell you why your follow action disappears.
- Using a tool that follows automatically. Also never give your password or login code to anyone who promises to solve this problem.
- Deleting the app straight away. First check whether there is work in the app that is stored only on your device and that you want to keep. Start with the checks above.
When should you report disappeared follow actions to TikTok?
Report the problem if it keeps happening after these checks, occurs with several profiles or you receive an unclear error message. You do not need to wait a set number of days before doing so.
The TikTok help about reporting a problem directs you to your profile and then to Settings and privacy. Look there for the option to report a problem.
Include the following in your help request:
- The date and approximate time when it happened.
- Whether it happens with one profile or several profiles.
- Whether the account appears in your Following list after you reopen TikTok.
- Exactly which error message you see, if there is one.
- What you have already checked and which device you are using.
If possible, add a screenshot of the button that jumped back and any notification. Make private information unreadable.
Describe what you see. For example: “After I tap Follow, the Follow button appears again. When I reopen TikTok, the account is not in my Following list.” This gives more useful information than simply saying “TikTok automatically unfollows”. Once your account is working as intended, you can explore our TikTok services to compare packages for followers and likes for your public profile or content.
