Syncing contacts on TikTok allows the app to see who in your contacts list is also using TikTok. It’s an easy way for TikTok to make friend suggestions and help connect you with people you may know.
Conversely, having TikTok access to your contacts list also raises privacy concerns. If you’re no longer comfortable with TikTok having access, you can easily unsync your contacts.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add or remove contact syncing on TikTok.
How to Sync or Add Your Contacts on TikTok (iPhone & Android)
When you sync contacts on TikTok, you find and follow friends who are also on the platform. By accessing your phone numbers and emails, TikTok matches them with user accounts and suggests them as your connections.
This can be quick and helpful, but it also grants TikTok access to potentially sensitive information and increases your discoverability. You can easily unsync your contacts or remove individual suggestions if you prefer a more private experience.
To sync your contacts on TikTok:
1. Access Settings
- Open the TikTok app on your device.
- Tap the “Profile” icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Click the three-line “Menu” button in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy.”
2. Navigate to Privacy
- Within the “Settings and Privacy” menu, tap on “Privacy.”
3. Manage Contact Syncing
- Locate the option titled “Sync contacts and Facebook friends.”
- To enable contact syncing, toggle the “Sync contacts” switch to the “on” position.
4. Grant Permission (if first time)
- If you’re enabling contact syncing for the first time or if you have not allowed TikTok to access your contacts, a prompt will appear asking for permission to access your contacts.
- Tap “Allow” to grant TikTok access to your contact list.
5. Find Friends
- Once contact syncing is enabled, you can find friends from your contacts list by following these steps:
- Go to your profile and tap on the “Add friends” button.
- Tap on “Contacts” to see a list of your contacts on TikTok, ready to be followed.
- TikTok will display a list of your contacts who are also on TikTok, allowing you to easily add them.
You can remove previously synced contact data by going to the “Sync contacts and Facebook friends” section in your privacy settings and tapping “Remove synced contacts.”
TikTok also offers the option to sync your Facebook friends list. This option is in the same “Sync contacts and Facebook friends” section.
Why Did TikTok Sync My Contacts?
When you first set up TikTok on your smartphone, one of the permissions you likely approved was access to your contacts list.
TikTok requests this permission so it can compare your contacts to its user base and make suggestions of accounts to follow based on who you know. This helps users quickly find friends and family members to connect with when they first join TikTok.
While it provides a better experience to have your contacts synced, it also gives TikTok access to data about your contacts and social connections outside of the app. For increased privacy, you may want to remove the app’s access to this information.
How to Unsync or Remove Contacts on TikTok (Android & iPhone)
Here’s how to unsync your contacts on TikTok:
1. Access Privacy Settings:
- Open the TikTok app.
- Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy.”
2. Navigate to Privacy
- Within the “Settings and privacy” menu, tap on “Privacy.”
3. Disable Contact Syncing
- Under “Discoverability,” find the “Sync contacts and Facebook friends” option.
- Turn off the “Sync contacts” toggle. This will prevent TikTok from syncing any new contacts.
4. Remove Previously Synced Contacts (Optional)
- If you want to completely remove contacts that were already synced, tap “Remove synced contacts” within the same “Sync contacts and Facebook friends” section. This option and the next disconnects your contacts from your TikTok account.
5. Revoke Device Permissions (Optional)
- For extra security, consider revoking TikTok’s access to your contacts at the device level:
- iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts > TikTok and toggle “Contacts” off.
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Permissions and toggle “Contacts” off.
Take not that
- Turning off the “Sync contacts” toggle within TikTok’s app stops future syncing but doesn’t remove previously synced contacts.
- Use “Remove synced contacts” to erase previously shared contact data.
- Revoking device permissions prevents TikTok from accessing your contacts list altogether.
- TikTok might still suggest accounts based on previously synced contacts, even after unsyncing.
- If you re-enable contact syncing in the future, TikTok will start syncing your contacts again.
Check TikTok Has Been Unsynced from Your Contacts
Once you have followed the steps to turn off contact syncing in TikTok, double check that the change was successful:
- Re-open TikTok and go to your profile
- Tap the Settings and Privacy menu
- Choose “Sync Contacts” option
You should get a pop-up message stating “Your contacts have not been synced yet” or “Syncing is turned off.” This notification confirms TikTok no longer has permissions to access or save your contacts.
And that’s it! You have now successfully unsynced your TikTok app from your phone’s contacts list. Your friends list info will remain intact in TikTok, but the app can no longer scan your contacts in the background.
Can I Re-Sync TikTok with Contacts Later On?
Even if you disable contact syncing with TikTok now, you can always change your mind later and re-enable permissions. Here’s how to turn syncing back on in the future if you want friend suggestions again:
- Go to the TikTok Settings and Privacy menu
- Choose “Sync Contacts”
- Tap “Provide access” to let TikTok view your contacts again
- Confirm turning sync back on
Flipping the switch will allow TikTok to once again match your address book to user accounts and activity. Just remember you can always return at any time and unsynced contacts if you would like.
Knowing how to remove contact access provides more transparency and control over your TikTok data. TikTok makes it relatively easy to disconnect your address book whenever you feel the need for more privacy.
TikTok says from your contacts but I don’t know them
If TikTok suggests accounts as “From your contacts” that you don’t recognize, it could be due to a few reasons:
1. Synced Contacts:
- You might have accidentally granted TikTok access to your phone contacts. Check your settings:
- Go to Profile > Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Sync Contacts and Facebook Friends.
- If the toggle for Sync contacts is on, turn it off.
- This will disconnect your phone contacts from TikTok and prevent those suggestions.
2. Algorithm Mismatch:
- TikTok’s algorithms might be making inaccurate connections based on other data, like phone numbers saved in notes or emails.
- Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to tell TikTok not to suggest specific contacts.
- You can, however, block any unwanted accounts that appear.
- This will prevent them from showing up in your recommendations and feed.
3. Third-Party Apps:
- Some third-party apps might share your contact information with TikTok.
- Review the permissions you’ve granted to other apps and revoke access if necessary.
4. Incorrect Phone Numbers:
- An uncommon possibility is that some numbers in your contacts are incorrectly formatted or belong to someone else.
- It’s worth reviewing your contact list for any discrepancies.
How to fix the problem
- Report the issue: You can report the issue to TikTok by tapping the “…” on the suggested account and then selecting “Report.”
- Clear App Data: In some cases, clearing TikTok’s app data might help it refresh its data and potentially resolve the mismatched suggestions.
- Update the App: Make sure you’re using the latest version of the TikTok app, as older versions might have bugs that cause inaccurate suggestions.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of TikTok suggesting unfamiliar contacts. Remember, it’s important to protect your privacy and only grant access to your information to trusted apps.
