What "You May Like" is and why you might want to turn it off

"You May Like" is TikTok's recommendation section that appears below your main feed. It shows videos from accounts you don't follow, based on what the algorithm thinks you'll watch. Unlike your main feed, which prioritizes content from accounts you've chosen to follow, "You May Like" is purely algorithmic — TikTok decides what goes there.

You might want to remove it because it clutters your screen, shows content you're not interested in, or because you prefer to control exactly what you see. The good news is that TikTok lets you hide this section entirely, and the process takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide "You May Like" by going to your profile, opening Settings and privacy, and toggling off Personalized recommendations under the For You feed section.
  • Turning off "You May Like" does not affect your main feed or the videos TikTok shows you there — only the recommendation section disappears.
  • If you change your mind later, you can turn "You May Like" back on using the same menu.
  • This setting is separate from your privacy settings and does not change who can message you or see your profile.

How to hide "You May Like" on your phone

Open TikTok and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This takes you to your profile page.

Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right corner of your profile. A menu will slide in from the right side. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy.

Tap For You feed and ads. Under this section, you'll see Personalized recommendations. Tap the toggle next to it to turn it off. The toggle will change from blue (on) to gray (off). Once it's gray, "You May Like" will no longer appear on your feed.

What happens after you turn it off

Once you disable personalized recommendations, the "You May Like" section vanishes from your feed. Your main feed — the videos from accounts you follow — stays exactly the same. TikTok will still show you content from your following list in the same order it did before.

The change takes effect when ready. You don't need to close and reopen the app. If you scroll down past your main feed, you'll notice the recommendation section is straightforward gone.

Turning "You May Like" back on if you change your mind

If you decide later that you want recommendations again, the process is identical. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then For You feed and ads, and toggle Personalized recommendations back on.

When you turn it back on, TikTok will resume showing you the "You May Like" section. It may take a few minutes for recommendations to reappear as the system refreshes.

The difference between "You May Like" and your main feed

Your main feed shows videos from accounts you actively follow. TikTok ranks them based on how recently they were posted and how much you've interacted with that account in the past. You control what appears here by choosing which accounts to follow.

"You May Like" is different — it's purely algorithmic. TikTok analyzes your watch history, likes, shares, and the accounts you follow, then suggests videos from creators you don't follow yet. Turning off personalized recommendations removes this section but does not change how your main feed works.

Other feed settings you might want to adjust

While you're in Settings and privacy, you'll see other options that control what you see. Restricted mode limits mature content. Autoplay controls whether videos play automatically when you scroll. Video quality lets you choose between standard and high definition.

These settings are independent of "You May Like." You can turn off personalized recommendations and keep autoplay on, or adjust video quality without affecting whether recommendations appear. Explore the menu to find other controls that match how you want to use TikTok.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off "You May Like" affect my privacy?

No. Disabling personalized recommendations only hides the recommendation section from your feed. TikTok still collects data about what you watch and like — this setting just prevents that data from being used to show you new creators. Your privacy settings remain separate and unchanged.

Will my followers see different content if I turn off "You May Like"?

No. This setting only affects what you see on your own account. It does not change what other people see when they visit your profile or what appears on their feeds.

Can I hide "You May Like" on desktop?

The desktop version of TikTok does not display a "You May Like" section the same way the mobile app does. If you're using TikTok on a computer, you may see recommendations in different places, but the toggle to disable personalized recommendations works the same way — go to Settings and privacy, then For You feed and ads.

What if the toggle is grayed out and I can't click it?

This sometimes happens if your app needs an update. Close TikTok completely, go to your device's app store, and check for a TikTok update. Install it if one is available, then try again. If the toggle is still unresponsive, try logging out and back in.

Does turning off recommendations mean I'll see fewer videos overall?

No. You'll still see all the videos from accounts you follow. You'll straightforward see only those videos instead of a mix of followed and recommended content. Your main feed will be the same length — it just won't include the "You May Like" section at the bottom.