Guide for Downloading TikTok Data on iPhone, Android, and PC
Downloading Your TikTok Data: A Step-by-Step Guide
Want to know what TikTok knows about you? Here's a simple guide on how to download your data from the app.
- Request Your Data
Navigate to your TikTok account settings. In the menu, look for 'Privacy' > 'Personalization and Data', or in some versions, 'Account' > 'Data Request'. Submit a data download request and wait approximately 3-4 days for TikTok to compile your data.
- Wait for the Notification
Once your data is ready, TikTok will send you a notification to download a ZIP file containing your data, typically in JSON or TXT formats.
- Download and Explore Your Data
Open the ZIP file to find multiple files with information TikTok has collected about you. To understand this data, use a JSON viewer or a text editor. Look for keys or headings that describe the type of data, such as "video_watch_history" or "user_profile". The values next to these keys contain the actual data points.
- Understanding Your Data
If you're unfamiliar with JSON, there are many free viewers available online that format the data clearly, making it easier to interpret. Some files may be more technical, showing raw data like device IDs or IP addresses.
The downloaded data file is divided into three main categories: Profile Information, Activity Information, and Settings Information.
- Profile Information includes your username, profile photo, bio text, contact info (if provided), and geolocation data of posts/access by city.
- Activity Information covers video views, shares, comments, likes given, accounts followed or who follow, search history, message history with other TikTok users, live streams watched and comments, purchases & engagement with virtual gifts, e-commerce links, and device data.
- Settings Information includes privacy settings, notification settings, language preferences, video upload permissions, and comment filters.
- Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during the data download process, TikTok provides troubleshooting tips. These include checking for limited device storage on iOS, enabling storage access on Android, trying a different web browser for desktop browsers, and re-downloading the file afresh if it becomes corrupted.
If your downloaded data file still appears empty, this might indicate a persistent bug that requires TikTok engineering support.
- Cancelling a Data Download
If you change your mind, you can cancel a TikTok data download. Open the TikTok app, navigate to your Profile, tap the Menu button, select Settings and Privacy, tap Account, then Download your data, tap Download data, locate the request you want to cancel, and tap the Cancel button next to it.
- The data-and-cloud-computing process of downloading TikTok data involves utilizing technology to store and manage your account information, video history, and settings online.
- To gain insights on TikTok technology's data storage and management practices, review the categories in your downloaded data file, such as Profile Information, Activity Information, and Settings Information.
