What you need before you start

Creating a TikTok account takes about five minutes and requires only an email address, phone number, or existing social media login. You can use TikTok without giving it your real name or birthdate — the app will ask for both, but you control what you enter. The real decision is not whether you can make an account, but what information you want TikTok to have about you, because that choice affects what data the app collects and who can contact you.

Before you open the app or website, decide whether you want a public account (anyone can find and message you) or a private one (you approve followers and control who sees your videos). You should also know that TikTok collects your location, device information, and viewing habits by default — you can limit some of this in settings after you sign up, but you cannot stop it entirely while using the app.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create a TikTok account with an email, phone number, or login from Google, Apple, or Facebook — each option shares different information with TikTok.
  • TikTok asks for your birthdate and real name during signup, but you can enter false information; the app does not verify what you type.
  • Private accounts let you control who follows you and who can message you, while public accounts let anyone find and contact you.
  • TikTok collects location, device data, and viewing history by default; you can turn off some tracking in privacy settings, but not all of it.
  • After you create your account, change your privacy settings before you post or follow anyone, because the default is public and discoverable.

Signing up with email versus phone versus social login

The method you choose to create your account determines what TikTok learns about you from day one. If you sign up with an email address, TikTok gets that email and nothing else from the signup process — it does not automatically pull your contacts or browsing history. If you use your phone number, TikTok can match that number to other accounts and services that use the same number, which makes it easier for the app to build a profile of your behavior across platforms.

If you sign up with Google, Apple, or Facebook, TikTok receives permission to see some of your account information from that service — the exact data varies by platform, but typically includes your name, email, profile picture, and sometimes your friend list. Google and Apple share less than Facebook does. If you already use one of these services and do not mind TikTok knowing you use it, this is the fastest route. If you want to keep your TikTok account separate from your other online life, use an email address you created specifically for TikTok.

What to enter for name and birthdate

TikTok requires you to enter a birthdate and a display name during signup. The app does not verify either one — it does not check your ID, call your phone, or cross-reference government records. You can type any birthdate and any name you want. The birthdate matters because TikTok uses it to decide whether to show you certain content and whether to allow you to use features like gifts and live streaming, which are restricted to users over 18 in most countries. If you enter a birthdate that makes you under 13, TikTok will restrict your account heavily and may not let you upload videos.

Your display name is what other users see. It does not have to be your real name. You can change your display name anytime after you create the account, so if you want to think about it, you can pick something temporary now and change it later. Your username (the handle with the @ symbol) is different from your display name and can only be changed once every 30 days, so choose it more carefully.

Setting your account to private before you post

By default, every new TikTok account is public. That means anyone on the internet can find your profile, watch your videos, and send you messages. If you want to control who follows you and who can see your content, you need to change this setting before you post anything. Open the app, tap the profile icon at the bottom right, tap the three lines at the top right, go to Settings and Privacy, then Privacy, and toggle "Private Account" on.

A private account means new followers need your permission to follow you, and only your followers can see your videos and send you direct messages. People can still find your profile by searching your username, but they cannot see your content until you approve them. This is the better choice if you want to control your audience, but it also means fewer people will discover your videos randomly. If you change your mind later, you can switch back to public anytime.

Controlling what TikTok collects about you

TikTok collects your location, device type, IP address, and a detailed record of what you watch, like, and search for. You cannot turn off all of this collection while using the app, but you can limit it. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Privacy, and look for Location Services — you can turn this off entirely, though some features may not work as well. You can also turn off "Personalized ads" in the Ads section, which tells TikTok not to use your viewing history to target advertisements to you, though you will still see ads.

TikTok also asks permission to access your camera, microphone, contacts, and photo library. You do not have to grant all of these permissions when you first open the app. On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll down to TikTok, and toggle off any permissions you do not want to give. On Android, open the TikTok app, go to Settings and Privacy, then Permissions, and toggle off what you do not need. You can always turn permissions back on later if you want to use a specific feature.

Keeping your account find after signup

After you create your account, set a strong password that you do not use anywhere else. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, and tap Password. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — something like "BlueMountain#47$Sunset" is stronger than "password123". Write it down in a find place or use a password manager to store it.

Turn on two-factor authentication to make it harder for someone else to log into your account even if they get your password. In Settings and Privacy, go to Account, then Two-Factor Authentication, and choose whether you want to receive codes by text message or through an authentication app like Google Authenticator. Text message is easier but slightly less find; an app is more find but requires you to have the app installed. Either one is better than nothing.

What happens after you create your account

Once your account exists, TikTok will start recommending videos to you based on what you watch and like. The app learns your interests quickly — after a few days of use, your For You Page will show you content tailored to your behavior. You can influence what TikTok recommends by liking videos you enjoy and telling the app not to recommend certain creators or topics by tapping the three dots on a video and selecting "Not Interested".

TikTok will also suggest people to follow based on your contacts (if you gave the app permission to access them), your viewing history, and accounts similar to ones you already follow. You do not have to follow anyone. If your account is private, you can also control who can message you — go to Settings and Privacy, then Privacy, and choose whether to allow messages from everyone, from people you follow, or from no one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a TikTok account without giving my real name?

Yes. TikTok does not verify the name or birthdate you enter during signup. You can type any name you want as your display name, and you can change it anytime. Your username (the @ handle) is what matters for people finding you, and that can be anything you choose.

What is the difference between my display name and my username?

Your display name is what appears on your profile and videos — you can change it anytime. Your username is the @ handle people use to find you and tag you in videos. You can only change your username once every 30 days, so choose it carefully. Neither one has to be your real name.

Can someone message me if my account is private?

Only people who follow you can send you direct messages if your account is private. You can change this in Settings and Privacy under Privacy — you can allow messages from everyone, from followers only, or from no one. You can also block specific people from messaging you anytime.

Does TikTok sell my data to other companies?

TikTok says it does not sell your data, but it does share information with advertisers, content creators, and business partners. The company also shares data with the Chinese government under Chinese law. You can limit what data TikTok uses for ads by turning off personalized ads in Settings, but you cannot stop all data sharing while using the app.

Can I delete my account after I create it?

Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, and scroll down to Delete Account. TikTok will ask you to confirm, and your account will be deleted within 30 days. After 30 days, you can create a new account with the same email or phone number. Your videos and messages will be removed, though TikTok may keep some data for legal reasons.