It can be frustrating when the “Not Interested” button doesn’t seem to work on TikTok.
You click it on videos you don’t want to see, but they keep appearing in your feed anyway.
Don’t worry – there are some troubleshooting steps you can try to get the button working properly again.
Why the “Not Interested” Button May Not Be Working
There are a few potential reasons why you may find the “Not Interested” button on TikTok isn’t working:
- Temporary glitch or bug in the app
- Issue with your internet connection
- Button works inconsistently across different types of videos
- Need to update the TikTok app
- Accumulated cache or data causing issues
- Overall software issue needing full reinstallation
The good news is that many of these issues can often be resolved with some simple troubleshooting. Let’s go through each step-by-step.
How to Fix TikTok “Not Interested” Button Not Working or Missing
1. Close and Reopen the App
This might seem like the most obvious step, but a simple app restart can work wonders in clearing out temporary glitches and hiccups that might be interfering with the “Not interested” button.
It’s like giving your phone a mini refresh, allowing it to clear its temporary memory and potentially resolve any minor connectivity issues.
Here’s how to close and reopen the TikTok app on different devices:
Android:
- Swipe up from the bottom: This will open the recent apps screen.
- Find TikTok: Locate the TikTok app among your recently used apps.
- Swipe up on the app card: This will force close the app, clearing its temporary data from your phone’s memory.
- Wait a few seconds: Give your phone a moment to breathe and clear its cache.
- Relaunch TikTok: Tap on the TikTok icon to open the app again.
iOS:
- Double-press the home button: This will bring up the recent apps screen.
- Find TikTok: Swipe left or right to find the TikTok app card.
- Swipe up on the app card with a bit of force: This will offload the app, which means it closes the app and clears its temporary data from your phone’s memory.
- Wait a few seconds: Give your phone a moment to process the offload.
- Reopen the app.
By following these steps, you’re essentially giving TikTok a clean slate to work with. This can often be enough to resolve minor issues that might be preventing the “Not interested” button from functioning properly.
Remember, closing and reopening the app should be your first line of defense against any strange behavior in TikTok. It’s quick, easy, and often does the trick!
If the issue persists after trying this method, try the other solutions below.
2. Update Your TikTok App
Sometimes, the “not interested” button malfunction isn’t your fault, but a bug lurking within the app itself.
Thankfully, developers work tirelessly to identify and fix these pesky glitches, releasing updates to patch them up.
Checking for and installing app updates ensures you have the latest version of TikTok, complete with its newly implemented bug fixes and performance improvements.
Here’s how to check for app updates:
Android:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Select “My apps & games.”
- Look for TikTok in the list. If an update is available, a “Update” button will appear next to it.
- Tap “Update” to download and install the latest version.
iOS:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Scroll down to see a list of your recently updated apps. If TikTok is on the list, it’s already up to date. Otherwise, it will appear alongside any other apps awaiting updates.
- Tap “Update” next to TikTok to download and install the latest version.
Remember, updating your app not only potentially fixes the “not interested” button issue, but also keeps you enjoying the latest TikTok features and functionalities.
It’s a regular maintenance tip that’s as good for your overall TikTok experience as it is for resolving specific problems.
3. Force Quit and Relaunch
Sometimes, even closing an app doesn’t fully unload it from your phone’s memory. This can lead to residual data and processes clinging on, potentially causing issues like the non-functioning “not interested” button.
Force quitting the app essentially gives it a firm kick out the door, ensuring a clean slate when you relaunch it.
Here’s how to force quit TikTok on different devices:
Android:
- Swipe up from the bottom to open the recent apps screen.
- Find TikTok and swipe it up forcefully, throwing it away like an unwanted flyer.
iOS:
- Double-press the home button to open the recent apps screen.
- Find TikTok and swipe up on the app card with a bit more force than usual, as if you’re giving it a little push.
After force quitting, wait a few seconds before relaunching TikTok. This gives your phone time to clear any leftover processes and ensures a fresh start for the app.
Think of it as a mini reboot just for TikTok, a chance for it to get its bearings and hopefully regain the magical power of the “not interested” button.
4. Clear the App Cache and Data
Just like your room accumulates dust bunnies over time, so too can your phone’s apps gather digital clutter.
This often takes the form of cached data, which is temporary files the app stores to speed up loading times.
Unfortunately, sometimes this cached data can become corrupted or outdated, leading to unexpected glitches like the “not interested” button malfunction.
Clearing the TikTok app cache and data essentially gives your phone a digital spring cleaning, wiping away these potential troublemakers.
Here’s how to do it on different devices:
Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > TikTok.
- Tap on “Storage and cache” then proceed to tap on “Clear Cache.”
iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find TikTok in the list of apps.
- Tap on TikTok and then select “Offload App.” This will clear the app data but keep the app itself installed.
- Reinstall TikTok from the App Store.
Remember, clearing the app cache and data will log you out of your TikTok account and remove any downloaded videos. Make sure you have your login information handy before proceeding.
This method might seem drastic, but it can be surprisingly effective in resolving app issues. Think of it as giving TikTok a clean slate to work with, free from any potential digital dust bunnies causing problems.
5. Try It on Different Videos
Perhaps the button isn’t broken, but rather exhibiting selective disinterest. While it might not work on every video you try, it could be functioning just fine on others. This might indicate a temporary glitch specific to certain types of content, creators, or video styles.
To test this theory, try using the TikTok “not interested” button on a variety of videos:
- Different topics: Choose videos from genres you wouldn’t normally watch and see if the button functions there.
- Specific creators: If you suspect the issue might be related to a certain creator, try using the button on a few of their videos and see if it works.
- Different video styles: Experiment with various video formats like dances, skits, tutorials, etc. to see if the button works consistently.
By testing across different types of content, you might be able to pinpoint the source of the issue and figure out if it’s a broader problem with the button or just a quirk with specific types of videos.
6. Use Alternative Methods to Signal Your Preferences
While a broken “not interested” button can be frustrating, it doesn’t mean you’re powerless against the TikTok algorithm. You can still influence your feed using alternative methods:
- Skip and swipe: The most straightforward approach is simply swiping away from videos you don’t enjoy.
- Like and comment: Engaging with content you like sends a clear signal to the algorithm to show you more similar videos.
- Follow relevant creators: Focus on creators whose content you enjoy to fill your feed with their work.
- Explore hashtags: Search for hashtags related to topics you’re interested in to discover new content.
- Hide sounds and effects: Sometimes, specific sounds or effects can trigger unwanted content. Hiding them can help avoid similar videos.
Remember, while these methods might not be as instantaneous as the “not interested” button, they can still be effective in shaping your TikTok experience.
Be creative, be proactive, and become a master of influencing your feed even with a button on the fritz!
7. Log Out and Log Back In
Sometimes, all it takes is a good old-fashioned digital refresh to clear out any temporary glitches or hiccups. Logging out of TikTok and then logging back in can be surprisingly effective:
- Reset network connections: This can clear any lingering connection issues that might be hindering the button’s functionality.
- Refresh temporary data: Logging out often clears temporary files and processes that might be causing minor problems.
- Give TikTok a fresh start: Think of it as a digital reboot, providing a clean slate for the app to work its magic once again.
While it might seem like a simple step, logging out and back in can often be the key to unlocking the power of the “not interested” button, once again giving you control over your TikTok experience.
8. Check if the Content Creator Was Banned or Deleted the Video
Occasionally, the reason the “not interested” button seems not to work might be because the content itself is no longer available. This could be due to:
- Creator ban: If the video’s creator has been banned from TikTok, their content will be removed, rendering the button ineffective.
- Video deletion: Sometimes, creators choose to delete their own videos, again causing the button to become obsolete.
In such cases, there’s nothing to fix as the content itself is simply gone. But this information can help us understand why the “not interested” button didn’t work as expected.
9. Restart Your Device
Just like a good night’s sleep can reset your mind, restarting your device can sometimes be the cure for digital ailments. This simple step can:
- Clear temporary memory: Restarting your device clears your phone’s RAM, often resolving minor software glitches that might be affecting the “not interested” button.
- Refresh network connections: A restart can also refresh your internet connection, potentially fixing any network issues hindering communication with TikTok.
- Free up resources: By shutting down everything and starting fresh, you can free up valuable resources your device might need to run TikTok smoothly.
Remember, sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Restarting your device might be the magic trick that resurrects the “not interested” button and puts you back in control of your TikTok feed.
