TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps, allowing users to watch, create and share short videos. However, many TikTok users have experienced issues with their watch history not loading properly on both iPhone and Android devices.
If your TikTok watch history is not loading or updating appropriately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve this frustrating problem.
In this detailed guide, we will cover the main reasons why your TikTok watch history may not be loading correctly and provide actionable solutions to help get it working properly again.
Why Your TikTok Watch History May Not Be Loading
There are a few key reasons why your TikTok watch history may not be loading as expected:
Outdated App Version
One of the most common reasons for TikTok watch history issues is having an outdated version of the TikTok app installed on your device. TikTok is frequently updating their app with bug fixes and new features.
If you don’t have the latest version, you may encounter problems like watch history not loading properly. Ensuring you update to the current TikTok app version can often resolve many technical issues.
Software Bugs or Glitches
Like any app, TikTok can sometimes have software bugs or glitches that cause problems with features like watch history. Certain bugs that have been reported can prevent the app from properly recording and displaying your watch history.
Restarting your device and app can often clear out minor glitches. However, some bugs may require waiting for TikTok to release a patch or app update to address watch history problems.
Connectivity Issues
If you are having trouble connecting to the internet or TikTok servers, this can interfere with the loading and updating of your watch history. Check that you have a stable, high-speed internet connection on both WiFi and mobile data.
Connection issues may also be on TikTok’s end with their servers. Trying again later may resolve this once their servers are stable.
Account Privacy Settings
TikTok has privacy settings that allow users to disable certain account activity tracking. If you have disabled watch history tracking in your account privacy settings, this will prevent watch history from being recorded. Double check that watch history tracking is enabled in your account settings.
App Permissions
In order for TikTok to properly record your watch history, certain app permissions need to be enabled on your device. This includes allowing access to storage as well as tracking app activity. Check that TikTok has been granted the necessary permissions in your device settings.
Clearing App Data or Cache
If you have recently cleared the TikTok app data or cache from your device settings, this may erase your recorded watch history. The watch history cannot be recovered if the app data has been deleted. Avoid clearing TikTok app data if you want to keep your watch history.
How to Fix TikTok Watch History Not Loading on iPhone
If your TikTok watch history has stopped loading properly on iOS devices (iPhone or iPad), try these troubleshooting steps:
Update to the Latest TikTok App Version
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right.
- Scroll down and tap ‘Updates’ if TikTok appears under any available app updates.
- Tap ‘Update’ next to TikTok to install the latest version of the app.
Installing app updates will ensure any bug fixes or optimizations related to watch history are addressed.
Force Close and Restart the TikTok App
- Double click the Home button on your iPhone to bring up the multitasking view.
- Swipe up on the TikTok preview window to force close the app.
- Open TikTok again and check if watch history loads properly.
Force closing the app will clear out any minor glitches that may be interfering with watch history loading.
Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off
- Open Settings > Airplane Mode.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds, then turn it off again.
- This will temporarily disconnect and reconnect you to the network, clearing out any connection issues.
- Open TikTok and see if watch history loads correctly.
Airplane mode is an easy way to reset your network connection which may resolve connectivity problems.
Log Out and Log Back Into Your TikTok Account
- Open TikTok and tap the ‘Me’ tab.
- Tap the three dot menu button in the top right corner.
- Choose ‘Log out’ to sign out of your TikTok account.
- Input your username and password to log back into your TikTok account.
- Check if watch history loads properly once you’re logged in again.
Logging out and back in forces TikTok to freshly sync your account details which may help with watch history issues.
Verify TikTok App Permissions
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking on your iPhone.
- Check that ‘Allow Apps to Request to Track’ is enabled.
- Under tracking, ensure TikTok is toggled on to allow tracking app activity.
- Also go to Settings > Privacy > Photos to make sure TikTok has access to your photos.
- Checking these app permissions allows TikTok to properly record your watch history.
Contact TikTok Support
If you still can’t get your TikTok watch history to load correctly after trying the above troubleshooting, you may need to contact TikTok support for further help.
TikTok support can investigate issues on their end and provide any additional troubleshooting if needed.
How to Fix TikTok Watch History Not Loading on Android
If your TikTok watch history is not loading properly on Android, here are troubleshooting steps to try:
Update TikTok to the Latest Version
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down to ‘Manage apps & devices’ and then ‘Updates available’.
- Check for any available updates for TikTok.
- Tap ‘Update’ to download the latest version of the TikTok app.
Updating to the newest app version will give you the latest bug fixes and optimizations.
Force Stop TikTok and Clear Cache
- Go to Settings > Apps on your Android device.
- Tap TikTok and choose ‘Force stop’.
- In TikTok app info, tap ‘Storage’ then ‘Clear cache’.
- Opening TikTok again will force it to freshly reload data which may resolve watch history issues.
Force stopping and clearing the cache can help clear out any glitches or corrupted data.
Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off
- Open Settings and go to Network & internet > Airplane mode.
- Toggle Airplane mode on for 30 seconds, then turn it off again.
- This will disconnect and reconnect your network connection, which can fix connection issues.
- Open TikTok and check if watch history loads correctly.
Airplane mode quickly resets your device’s network services which can resolve loading problems.
Revoke and Re-Enable App Permissions
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > TikTok > Permissions.
- Tap each app permission and choose ‘Don’t allow’ to revoke access.
- Open TikTok, then go back to Settings > TikTok > Permissions.
- Enable all necessary app permissions again like storage and activity tracking.
Revoking and re-enabling key permissions forces them to be freshly synced with TikTok.
Log Out and Back Into Your TikTok Account
- Open TikTok and tap your profile icon.
- Choose ‘Log out’ to fully sign out of your TikTok account.
- Input your username and password to log back into your TikTok account.
- Watch history details should reload after logging back into your account.
Similarly to iPhone, logging out and in again can help force your account details to properly sync.
Contact TikTok Support
If your TikTok watch history is still not loading correctly after trying the above troubleshooting steps, you will need to reach out to TikTok support:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the 3-line menu icon in the upper right corner.
- Scroll down and select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- On the Settings page, tap “Report a Problem” under the Support section.
- Select the issue you are contacting them about, like “Login and account access” or “Video playback”.
- Choose the specific problem type that matches your issue.
- Tap “Next” in the upper right corner.
- You can upload screenshots or videos related to the problem as well.
- Tap “Submit” at the bottom when finished.
TikTok can further investigate the issue on their end and assist with any other troubleshooting steps needed to resolve it.
Preventing TikTok Watch History Issues
Once you get your TikTok watch history loading properly again, here are some tips to help avoid further issues:
- Keep the TikTok app updated to the latest version in the app store. Enable auto-update if available.
- Use a stable, high-speed WiFi or mobile data connection for smooth video streaming.
- Avoid clearing TikTok app data which will erase your recorded watch history.
- Double check TikTok has necessary app permissions enabled for your device.
- Periodically log out and back into your TikTok account to keep it in sync.
- Contact TikTok support as soon as an issue arises to quickly troubleshoot and diagnose the problem.
- Provide feedback and bug reports to TikTok so they can improve the app and watch history functionality.
Following these best practices will help minimize problems with your TikTok watch history not loading or updating correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions About TikTok Watch History
Why is my TikTok watch history not loading?
The main reasons your TikTok watch history may not load are an outdated app, software bugs, connectivity issues, disabled permissions, or clearing app data.
Troubleshooting steps like updating the app, resetting network settings, and re-enabling permissions can typically resolve loading issues.
How far back does TikTok watch history go?
TikTok watch history records the videos you’ve watched within the last 7 days. After 7 days, the videos will disappear from your watch history. TikTok does not keep long-term records of your full watch history.
Can I recover lost TikTok watch history?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover TikTok watch history if it was deleted or lost. Clearing the TikTok app data will permanently erase your recorded watch history. However, new videos you watch will begin populating it again.
Why is TikTok only showing some of my watch history?
If TikTok is only showing a portion of your watch history, it’s likely an issue with the app not properly recording or syncing the full watch data. Troubleshooting connectivity and app permission settings can help restore your full watch history.
Can I delete part of my TikTok watch history?
No, TikTok does not allow you to selectively delete portions of your watch history. The only way to remove videos from your watch history is to clear the entire history by deleting the TikTok app data.
Using the detailed troubleshooting steps in this guide, you should be able to resolve most issues with TikTok watch history not loading or updating properly on iPhone and Android devices.
Be sure to keep the app updated, maintain proper settings and permissions, and contact TikTok support if problems persist. With the right fixes, you can get your TikTok watch history working smoothly again.
