Have you ever tried to follow someone on TikTok, only to find the Follow button doesn’t work? This frustrating issue seems to pop up from time to time for TikTok users.
The good news is there are a few easy troubleshooting steps you can try to get the TikTok Follow button working again.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the common reasons why the TikTok Follow feature may not be working properly and the best solutions to fix it.
Why Your TikTok Follow Button Isn’t Working
Before we jump into troubleshooting, let’s first understand some of the common reasons why the Follow button fails:
Account Restrictions
TikTok will sometimes restrict what actions an account can take if they suspect spam or abusive behavior. If your account has been restricted, the Follow button will be disabled along with other account functions.
You may also see an on-screen message when attempting to follow someone that states there was an “error” or that “this action was limited.” Check your email and account notifications for details if you receive error messages. TikTok should specify if your account is facing restrictions.
Temporary Technical Issues
Like all software platforms, TikTok can have occasional technical glitches on their end that causes certain features to malfunction temporarily. The Follow button relies on proper coding and connectivity between TikTok’s servers and user devices, so bugs do come up.
It could be a minor software hiccup that the TikTok engineering team needs to quickly patch with a fix. Try again later to see if the issue resolves on its own as TikTok addresses such problems.
Banned Hashtags or song
If you’re trying to follow someone who recently posted content that has since been banned or removed by TikTok, the Follow button may be deactivated. Examples would include using an explicit hashtag that goes against community guidelines or posting copyrighted music.
TikTok moderators are continually screening for guideline violations and illegal usage. Even if the violation happened on the other user’s end, your account can be impacted with restrictions too.
Blocked Account
If the account you are trying to follow has specifically blocked you, TikTok will prevent you from being able to follow them. You won’t be notified if you’ve been blocked, but attempting to follow will fail.
People block others for a wide range of reasons – previous arguments, bullying/harassment, unwanted advances, etc. If you suspect someone blocked you, that would explain why you cannot follow them.
Now that we know why the TikTok Follow button can break, let’s get into the solutions!
How to Fix TikTok Follow Button Not Working
Here are the top troubleshooting tips for getting the TikTok Follow working again:
Restart Your Device/App
The first step is always to quit out of the TikTok app, restart your smartphone or tablet device, then launch TikTok again. This simple reboot clears out cached memory data that could be interrupting features like Follow.
Force closing also gives your device CPU a fresh start, which can resolve software issues stemming from too many background processes fighting for resources.
It’s an easy first step before diving deeper into troubleshooting:
- Double tap the Home button on your iPhone or use the App Switcher on Android to close TikTok
- Fully power down your device and wait 15-30 seconds
- Boot phone backup and launch TikTok.
Give the Follow button another test after restarting. Many times this device/app reset will be the magic bullet to resolve funky behavior like this.
Update Your App to Fix TikTok Follow Not Working
An outdated version of the TikTok app could definitely cause certain interactive features to break over time. TikTok is frequently issuing software patches, bug fixes, and code optimizations with each app store release.
Ensure you download the latest TikTok update for your iPhone or Android device. The app should have a mechanism to prompt you automatically to update, but sometimes those notices fail to come through.
Don’t rely solely on notifications. Manually check Updates at least every 1-2 weeks.
An outdated, buggy TikTok build could certainly cause things like the Follow button to stop responding even if it worked previously. Stay on top of updates.
Clear TikTok Cache
Over time, cached temporary data and digital “junk” can accumulate inside apps and cause performance issues. This is especially true of a rich multimedia platform like TikTok that is caching abundant images, videos, ads trackers, and more behind the scenes.
Clearing out this temporary cached data can get TikTok working smoothly again and resolve the TikTok follow not working problem.
Go into device settings and wipe the TikTok app back fresh again by erasing all cache/data files:
- iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Android: Settings > Apps > TikTok> Storage
Select clear cache. This refresh may resolve any corrupt files bogging down the Follow button coding.
Doublecheck Your Internet Strength
Weak internet signals can definitely interfere with interactive app buttons failing to work properly, so we have to rule out connection issues. Verify you have a strong WiFi or mobile data signal before further troubleshooting the Follow failure.
Run a network speed test on your smartphone or tablet to measure your transmission rate. On iPhone visit Fast.com and on Android search for “speed test” in Google or apps.
If speeds are consistently low, upgrade internet plans or physically move your device closer to modems and cell towers when accessing TikTok. Laggy broadband will disrupt functionality.
Review Age/Date Settings
As a safety precaution, TikTok requires all users to be at least 13 years old per their community guidelines. To enforce age minimums, users enter their real birthdate during signup.
If your account birth date is inaccurate or expired, issues like the Follow button malfunctioning can occur as protection measures. Double check Settings to ensure your correct date of birth is properly saved on your account.
- iOS: Settings > Privacy > Tap “Date of Birth”
- Android: TikTok Profile > Settings > Edit profile > Birthdate
Correct any errors with your age/date listings, as this serves as age verification. Accurate DOB reconnects disabled interactive account tools affected by age blocks.
Log Out Then Back Into TikTok
Completely logging out of TikTok then logging back in essentially refreshes your entire user session – it’s like hitting the reset switch on your profile.
As with clearing app cache/data, signing out starts your account environment on a clean slate which can resolve a wide range of glitches.
Plus it forces all TikTok data to re-download when newly authenticating. This fresh data sync often fixes disabled features like Follow.
- Go to your TikTok profile icon
- Settings > Log out to fully sign out
- Force close app and reopen to log back in
Give the Follow button another test after logging out and authenticating back into your account. Resetting session credentials often resolves frozen functions for users facing account issues.
Contact TikTok Support
If you still can’t get the Follow button to work normally after trying all troubleshooting tips above, you’ll need further assistance from TikTok’s user support team.
Describe the specific issue (“Follow feature disabled/unresponsive”) and what steps you already attempted to fix it yourself, like updating the app cache cleared, etc.
You can submit a request or start a live chat through TikTok’s in-app Help Center for faster assistance:
On iPhone:
- Me tab > Settings Icon > Support > Contact Support section
On Android:
- Me tab > Support Icon> Get Support section
Explain the problem symptoms to TikTok staff. Their technical experts have more advanced diagnostic and engineering tools to properly investigate issues and restore broken features at the code level via remote account fixes.
TikTok support should resolve the disabled Follow problem within 1-2 days after contacting them for troubleshooting assistance per the steps outlined here.
Let me know in the comments if this ultimately fixed your issue!
