Downloading your TikTok data can be a useful way to understand and access the information that TikTok has collected about you and your account over time.
With a TikTok data download, you can see details like your profile information, video viewing and engagement history, messages, purchases, and more.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about downloading your TikTok data, including step-by-step instructions, what data is included, how long it takes, troubleshooting tips, and more.
Whether you want to backup your data, understand what TikTok knows about you, or access information for other purposes, this guide has you covered.
Benefits of Downloading TikTok Data – What Downloading TikTok Data Does
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s look at why you may want to download your TikTok data in the first place:
1. Gain Insight into Your Account History and Activity
Downloading TikTok data allows you to access a comprehensive archive of your activity on the platform. This data can include:
Profile information: Username, bio, profile picture, contact information.
Activity: Videos uploaded, viewed, liked, commented on, favorited, searched for.
App settings: Privacy settings, notification settings, language settings.
Content: Videos you’ve uploaded and downloaded, comments, private messages
The data file provides a detailed record of your TikTok activity – from your viewing, commenting, posting, and messaging history to your profile changes over time.
Reviewing this information can provide interesting insights into your usage.
2. Back Up Your Account Data
Downloading your data allows you to have a backup copy in case anything ever happens to your account. The downloaded data file preserves details that would otherwise be lost.
3. Understand Your Usage Patterns
The activity analytics provide great insights into your usage – from content preferences, posting habits and engagement ratios.
You can review this data to optimize your future TikTok approach. Creators can further understand their audience.
4. Access Data for Other Purposes
Whether for personal archiving reasons, creative projects, research studies or any other use case, having access to your comprehensive TikTok data can be useful. The text-based formats are easy to search, analyze and manipulate.
Having explored the main benefits, let’s get into the step-by-step guide on how to actually download your TikTok data.
Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading TikTok Data File (on Android, iPhone or PC)
Downloading your TikTok data only takes a few minutes if you follow these steps:
Step 1: Log Into Your TikTok Account
First, log into the TikTok mobile app using your account credentials. Make sure you are logged into the account whose data you wish to download.
Once logged in, tap on the “Profile” icon in the bottom right corner to access your account page.
Step 2: Access Data Download Settings
- From your profile page, tap on the three horizontal line “hamburger” menu icon (☰) in the top right corner to open the menu.
- Next, scroll down and select “Settings and Privacy.”
- Tap on “Account” then proceed to “Download your data.”
Choose your preferred file format (whether TXT or JSON) and tap on “Request Data.”
Step 3: Submit Your Data Download Request
On the “Download Your Data” page, tap on the option to “Request data”.
TikTok will now initiate processing of your data download request.
Step 4: Select Download File Format
While your data is processing, TikTok will allow you to select the format you wish your file to be downloaded in.
You have two options:
- TXT: A text-only file containing all data in an easy-to-read format.
- JSON: A machine-readable JSON file best for importing data into other apps or analyzing large data sets.
Select your preferred format based on how you intend to use the downloaded data.
Step 5: Wait for Processing to Complete
Submitting a request triggers TikTok’s systems to assemble all data associated with your account across its databases.
Depending on the amount of data affiliated with your account, processing may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
You will receive in-app notifications on the status of your request as it gets processed.
Step 6: Download File When Ready
Once ready, TikTok will notify you that the file is now available for download within the next 4 days before it expires.
Return to the “Download Your Data” section in your account settings to access the file.
The exact download link and steps vary slightly based on whether you are accessing TikTok via Android, iOS or web:
Android App
The downloaded ZIP file will appear on the “Download Your Data” page. Tap the file name to launch the Android file manager and access the ZIP file in downloads.
iOS App
Tap on the file name, which will launch a share sheet with an option to “Save to Files”. Select this option and choose the destination in your Files app.
Web App
A checkbox will appear below the file name titled “Save File”. Check this box and select “OK” in the pop-up prompt to initiate the file download.
Once downloaded, you can now access this TikTok data file on your device storage for any purpose you need.
Data Included in a TikTok Download
Now that you know how to download your TikTok data, you may be wondering — what exactly does this downloaded data file include?
Broadly, the TikTok data download is divided into three main categories:
Profile Information
This section includes basic details like:
- Username
- Profile photo
- Bio text
- Contact info (if provided) – email address, phone number
Activity Information
This extensive section covers your usage history and engagement data:
- Video activity – video views, shares, comments, likes given, etc.
- Following/followers – accounts you follow or who follow you
- Search history – search terms used
- Messages – message history with other TikTok users
- Live streams – live videos watched and comments
- Purchases & engagement with virtual gifts, e-commerce links
- Device data – devices used to access TikTok
- Locations – geolocation data of posts/access by city
Settings Information
This covers account settings and customizations:
- Privacy settings
- Notification settings
- Language preferences
- Video upload permissions
- Comment filters
The downloaded data file provides extensive account history and analytic data alongside profile settings. It does not include the actual video or image content of your posts.
How Long It Takes to Prepare TikTok Data for Download
Earlier we mentioned processing times for TikTok data requests can range from a few minutes to a few days. What factors determine how long your data will take to process?
Essentially, the more activity associated with your account over time, the longer data processing will take.
Here are some insights into TikTok data processing times:
Data Processing Time and File Size Estimates for TikTok Data Downloads
| Account Age | Processing Time | File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Newer accounts (~30 days) | Usually only a few minutes | Typically <10MB |
| Established accounts (~1 year) | May take hours up to 1-2 days | Can be 100MB+ |
| Long-running accounts (~5+ years) | Typically takes 2 to 3 days | Multi-gigabyte files possible |
So if you only recently created your TikTok account, expect your data to process rapidly. But for prolific long-time users, data compilation takes more time due to the years of accumulated activity spanning videos, messages, likes, and more.
TikTok data downloads focus on scraping a complete off-platform copy of all this account activity data.
The more TikTok data accumulated over time, the longer it takes to compile it all into a downloadable file.
While the data processing request may take up to 4 days, the TikTok data download itself does not take any longer time.
How to Cancel TikTok Data Download
Have you ever requested your TikTok data, only to change your mind later? Don’t worry, it happens! Luckily, canceling a data download request is easy and can be done directly within the app.
Here’s how to cancel your TikTok data download:
- Open the TikTok app and navigate to your Profile. You can do this by tapping the Profile icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Tap the Menu button (☰). This is located at the top right corner of your Profile page.
- Select Settings and Privacy. This will open a menu with various settings and privacy options.
- Tap Account, followed by Download your data. This will take you to the data download request page.
- Tap Download data at the top of the page. This will display a list of all your data download requests.
- Locate the request you want to cancel and tap the Cancel button next to it.
- Confirm your cancellation by tapping Cancel export. Once confirmed, your data will no longer be exported, and you won’t receive a copy of the file.
TikTok Data Download Troubleshooting
While most users successfully obtain their TikTok data downloads without issue, errors occasionally come up that prevent file access.
Here are some troubleshooting tips for common problems:
Issue: Processing Taking Longer Than Expected
For accounts with significant histories, processing over 2 days is within normal bounds – TikTok provides expected timeframes before you submit the request.
However, if your request exceeds 3-5 days with no update, trying canceling the stuck request and submitting a fresh one. On your download settings page, this option appears below pending requests.
Issue: File Fails to Download
On iOS, “Save to Files” failures are typically caused by limited device storage. Check your available space in Settings and clear space as required before reattempting the file transfer.
On Android, downloading from the app link fails if you do not have permission for the Download folder. Go into Apps > TikTok > Permissions and enable storage access.
For desktop browsers getting download errors – try using a different web browser if still failing after multiple attempts.
Issue: Zip File Corrupted/Unopenable
In rare cases, downloaded zip files become corrupted which prevent extracting the JSON/TXT data file. Re-download the file afresh – corrupted files expire within 12 hours automatically for re-access.
If you follow all troubleshooting tips but your downloaded data file still appears empty, this unfortunately indicates a persistent bug needing TikTok engineering support.
Learn how to best escalate and engage TikTok support to investigate empty data files in this helpful guide on how to fix empty TikTok data files.
Conclusion
Downloading your data is an easy but illuminating account option within TikTok to better understand your personal account journey – granting access beyond the public-facing content.
The data file compiled of extensive analytics provides a mirror into your interests, habits and audience when reviewed chronologically.
Beyond personal archiving or reminiscing, the TikTok download also enables creative research opportunities into usage patterns that shape viral video distribution on the platform.
If you’re facing issues with TikTok data download, take a look at this guide on how to fix TikTok data download not working.
