You downloadedTikTokrecently, didn’t you? It’s addicting, right?
Well, have you graduated from casually scrolling the For You page and liking random TikToks to, maybe, wanting to create your own TikTok videos to share, privately or publically? Or, perhaps, you don’t even know where to begin, and you can’t figure out what all those buttons are for, and you’re amazing at the sheer amount of video-editing tools available. If so, you’ll be glad you found this guide.
Consider this a master list ofTikTok features, hidden tools, and general tips and tricks. We’ve been using the app for a while and have dug around just about every nook and cranny of the thing. But, we’re always open to learning, so if we missed something, tell us below.
Note:Most of these tips and tricks were written from the perspective of an iPhone user, but they should be the same on Android.
TikTok tips and tricks: Navigation and basics
Before we dive into tips and tricks, let’s go over how to navigate the app. When you open TikTok, you’ll see a menu bar on the bottom. It has shortcuts to each of the following five screens (or pages) in the app:
Home shows you two feeds, Following and For you, which you can toggle between.
Discover mostly shows you TikTok videos tagged with a trending hashtag.
But, from this page, you may also enter search terms to find users, videos, sounds, and hashtags. And a Scan button by the search field opens a viewfinder for you to capture someone’s TikCode. Yours is found here, too; it’s like a QR code that helps you to quickly find users.
Create video
Create video opens up to the record screen, where you can film a video and do things like adjust its speed, turn on a beauty effect, add a filter, and search for other effects to try. You can even upload multiple videos and photos to edit and share.
Inbox shows you all the activity on your publicly shared videos. You can filter these notifications by things like comments and mentions - just go to the drop-down at the top. Tap the Envelope icon in the corner of Inbox to find all your private messages with friends.
Your public profile that you and other users can see. You can make parts of it - videos you’ve liked - private. Otherwise, your likes and public videos are visible here. Me also shows who you followed, who follows you, number of likes on all your videos, your favorited videos, and your linked social media like YouTube or Instagram. Me is visible to everyone, so you can add a profile photo and a bio, too.
TikTok tips and tricks: Search and find
Now, that you know the basics of TikTok, let’s dive into its key features and buried options, plus other tips and tricks you should know.
Search and find a TikTok video to watch
The first way to find a TikTok to watch is from the Home screen.
The second way is from Discover.
The third way is to go watch videos you’ve favorited or already liked.
Once you find a video, you can like it, comment on it, save or download it for offline viewing (if allowed by the creator). Some users will even let you duet and react to their TikToks. There are even options to share, create a live photo or GIF, and add to your private favorites for viewing at a later date. You can also find more TikToks using that sound or hashtags from the video.
Search and find TikTok videos by sound
Want to see (and hear) more videos that use a particular audio clip?
Alternatively, you can find sounds via search from the Discover screen.
Search and find TikTok videos by effects
Want to see more videos that use a particular effect, like green screen?
Alternatively, you can find effects via search from the Discover screen.
Search and find TikTok videos by hashtags
Want to see more videos tagged with a particular hashtag, like #FYP?
Alternatively, you can find hashtags via search from the Discover screen. Trending hashtags are also on display in Discover.
Search and find a TikTok user
The first way to find someone is from a TikTok video you’re currently watching.
From a TikTok user’s profile, you may see who their following, who follows them, the number of likes on their videos, their public videos, and the videos they’ve liked (if public). You can also access their connected social media such as YouTube or Instagram.
Find and save your TikCode
Here’s the quickest way to find your TikCode, a QR code people can scan to find you:
Here’s another way:
Scan a TikCode
Here’s one way to scan a TikCode:
TikTok tips and tricks: Follow and interact
Follow a TikTok user
The first way to follow someone is from a TikTok video you’re currently watching.
The second way is when you’re looking at someone’s profile page.
When you follow a TikTok account, you’ll not only be able to find their profiles under the Following tab on the Me screen, but you’ll be able to quickly browse through all their latest content from the Following feed in Home.
Like or dislike a TikTok video
To dislike a video, just repeat step 2 after liking a video.
Hide or see less of certain TikTok videos
If you’re annoyed by a certain trend on TikTok and want to see fewer videos like that, or maybe just see fewer videos in that same vein, you can label one as ‘not interested’, triggering TikTok to show you fewer of those videos going forward.
Leave and view comments on a TikTok video
Want to engage with other users? Leave comments on videos.
Note:If you’re watching a video from, say, a user’s liked videos tab, you may see the option to add comments from the bottom of the video. Tap the field, and a keyboard will pop up so you can add your comment. Then follow steps 4 and 5 above.
Duet a TikTok video
When you Duet, you record yourself split-screen style with another TikTok video (either your video or someone else’s if they allow Duets).
React to a TikTok video
With React, you can record yourself literally reacting to a TikTok, if the creator allows it. Their video shows up picture-in-picture style.
View your direct messages
With TikTok, you can privately message other users in a direct message area.
Send a direct message
To actually begin messaging another user, you can:
Alternatively, when watching a TikTok video, hit the Share button on the right and then select Message.
Invite friends to TikTok
Want more of your actual friends to talk to on TikTok? Invite them!
Find contacts on TikTok
You can also see if people in your device’s contacts are already on TikTok.
Find Facebook Friends on TikTok
Lastly, you can find your Facebook Friends on TikTok.
TikTok tips and tricks: Share and save
Share a TikTok video
Some creators allow you to share their videos.
Save a TikTok video
Some creators allow you to save their videos to your device for offline viewing.
Alternatively, long-press on a video and select save a video. Either way, you’re able to then find it from your device’s camera roll or gallery.
Add a TikTok video to your favourites
This essentially bookmarks videos for you to revisit later.
Now, from the Me screen, tap the Bookmark icon to find all the videos you’ve marked as favourites.
Create a Live Photo from a TikTok video
Want to save a TikTok video as a Live Photo that you can set as your wallpaper?
Create a GIF from a TikTok video
You can also convert a TikTok into a GIF you can share. It’ll be watermarked.
TikTok tips and tricks: Record and edit videos
Create a TikTok video
Finally, you’re ready to create a TikTok!
Change speed of your TikTok video
When creating a TikTok, use the slider at the bottom of the Camera screen to record at .3x, .5x, 1x, 2x, or 3x speed. Also, on the Preview screen, you can go to Effects > Time > Slow Motion if you’d like to slow it down.
Add beauty filter to your TikTok video
When creating a TikTok, tap the Beauty button on the right of the Camera screen to essentially beautify your selfies in real-time.
Add filter to your TikTok video
When creating a TikTok, tap the Filter button on the right of the Camera screen to add a filter that changes the look of your video. Also, on the Preview screen, you’re able to go to Effects and then either Visual, Effects, or Transitions to add even more filters to your recording.
Use a timer to record your TikTok video
When creating a TikTok, tap the Timer button on the right of the Camera screen to give yourself a few-second delay before TikTok actually starts recording. The app will also continuously record for you.
Add an effect to your TikTok video
When creating a TikTok, tap the Effect button on the right of the Camera screen. You’ll be able to add more effects later on, too.
Create video/photo to TikTok
Don’t want to record how you look right now? Then create a TikTok using older footage of yourself that’s saved on your device.
Create video multiple videos/photos to TikTok
If you’d like to upload multiple videos and photos, here’s how:
Add a sound to your TikTok video
When you film a TikTok, tap the Sounds link at the top of the Camera screen. You’ll be able to search and add sounds from the pop-up page.
The Preview screen will also let you find sounds to add. So, if you upload photos and videos, add sounds to them from the Preview screen.
Tag hashtags in your TikTok video
you’re able to add hashtags to your TikTok video’s description on the Post screen. Tap the Hashtag button to quickly insert trending tags.
Tag users in your TikTok video
You can tag users in your TikTok video’s description on the Post screen. Tap the @friends button to quickly find friends to tag.
Change the privacy of your TikTok video
You can change the privacy of your TikTok video on the Post screen. Tap Who can view this video and select one of the following options:
Turn comments off on your TikTok
You can disable comments on a TikTok video from the Post screen. Just tap Comments Off. Easy!
Turn Duet/React off on your TikTok
you’re able to disable Duet/React on a TikTok video from the Post screen. This stops others from dueting and reacting to it. Just tap Duet/React Off.
You can disable Downloads for all your TikTok videos. This stops others from saving them for offline viewing.
Save a TikTok video to your drafts
From the Post screen, hit Drafts at the bottom to save your TikTok to a private area on your account for you to revisit later.
Post a TikTok video
From the Post screen, hit Post at the bottom to share your TikTok video.
Find your TikTok drafts
Want to revisit all your saved, unfinished TikToks?
TikTok tips and tricks: Followers and activity
View all activity notifications on TikTok
You can see who’s liked your TikTok videos, commented on TikTok your videos, and who has mentioned you all from one area in TikTok.
View who you follow
If you’d like to see the accounts you follow, just go to Me from the menu bar and tap Following on your profile.
View your followers
If you’d like to see the accounts who follow you, just go to Me from the menu bar and tap Followers on your profile.
TikTok tips and tricks: Profile and settings
Change your profile photo or video
Like most things on TikTok, there a couple ways to do this:
Another way is to tap Edit Profile on your profile, and from there you can change your profile photo and even add a profile video.
View the total number of likes on your videos
If you’d like to see the number of likes on all your videos, just go to Me from the menu bar and look at the Likes number on your profile.
View your favourites
If you’d like to see videos you’ve saved to watch later, just go to Me from the menu bar and hit the Bookmark icon.
View videos you liked
If you’d like to see all the videos you’ve liked in the past, just go to Me from the menu bar and go to the section labeled with a Heart icon.
Edit your profile
To change your profile photo, name, username, bio, etc, just go to Me from the menu bar and hit the Edit Profile button.
Add Instagram or YouTube to your profile
Want to link up your other social media accounts to your profile?
Change your name or username
If you’d like to change your name or username on TikTok, it’s easy - here’s how.
Manage account or change your settings
TikTok has a plethora of options for you to manage your account email and password, adjust your digital wellbeing preferences, clear your cache, make your account private, block others, and so on. Just go to the Settings screen.
Switch to Pro account
TikTok lets you view analytics on your posts! You just need to upgrade to a free Pro account first.
Now, when you go into the Settings pane, you’ll see a new Analytics option. Tap it to view your metrics and charts.
Add coins to your balance
TikTok Coins are an in-app currency that you buy with real money. You can buy Emojis and Diamonds with Coins to give to someone as appreciation for their effort. Once you have bought your TikTok Coins, they are stored in your Wallet. They are non-refundable.
