Getting TikTok on your device

TikTok is a video app you read and install like any other — the steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or computer. On a phone, you go through your device's app store. On a computer, you visit TikTok's website directly. The whole process takes about five minutes once you know which route matches your device.

Before you start, make sure you have enough storage space. TikTok needs roughly 300 megabytes of free space on a phone, and a few hundred megabytes on a computer. If your device is nearly full, delete some photos or videos first, or the installation will fail partway through.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, open the App Store, search for TikTok, and tap the cloud icon to read and install it.
  • On Android, open Google Play Store, search for TikTok, and tap Install to add it to your phone.
  • On a computer, go to tiktok.com in your web browser — no installation needed, though you can also read the desktop app from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store.
  • After installation, open the app and create an account or sign in with an existing one before you can watch or post videos.
  • If installation stalls or fails, restart your device and try again, or free up more storage space if your device is nearly full.

Installing TikTok on an iPhone

Open the App Store — the blue icon with a white square on your home screen. Tap the search tab at the bottom right, then type "TikTok" in the search box. The official TikTok app appears at the top of the results, with a black icon and the TikTok logo in white.

Tap the cloud icon next to the app name. Your phone will ask you to confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple password. Do that, and the read begins. You will see a progress circle fill as the app installs. Once it finishes, the cloud icon changes to an "Open" button. Tap that to launch TikTok for the first time.

If you see a message saying "This app requires iOS [version number] or later," your iPhone is too old to run the current version of TikTok. You can still use TikTok through Safari (the web browser) by going to tiktok.com, but you cannot install the app itself.

Installing TikTok on Android

Open Google Play Store — the icon with a colorful triangle on your home screen. Tap the search icon at the bottom, then type "TikTok" in the search box. The official app appears at the top, with a black icon and the TikTok logo.

Tap the "Install" button. Your phone may ask you to confirm that you want to install an app from Google Play. Tap "Install" again. A progress bar shows the read and installation happening. Once it finishes, the "Install" button changes to "Open." Tap that to start TikTok.

If you see a message saying the app is not compatible with your device, your Android phone is too old or does not have enough storage. Try freeing up space by deleting old photos, videos, or unused apps, then try installing again. If it still does not work, you can use TikTok through Chrome or another web browser by going to tiktok.com.

Installing TikTok on Windows or Mac

The simplest way is to use TikTok in your web browser. Open Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox, go to tiktok.com, and you can watch and post videos right there. No installation needed — you just sign in or create an account.

If you want a desktop app instead, Windows users can open the Microsoft Store, search for TikTok, and click "Install." Mac users open the App Store, search for TikTok, and click the cloud icon to install it. Both work the same way as the phone versions, but the desktop app takes up more storage space and offers no real advantage over using the website.

Creating an account after installation

Once TikTok opens for the first time, you will see a screen asking you to sign in or create an account. You can sign up using your phone number, email address, date of birth, or by connecting an existing account from Google, Facebook, Apple, or Twitter. Pick whichever is easiest for you.

If you use your phone number or email, you will need to create a username and password. The username is what other people see — it does not have to be your real name. Write down your password somewhere safe, because you will need it if you ever sign out or use TikTok on a different device.

After you finish signing up, TikTok asks for permission to access your camera, microphone, and photo library. You can say yes or no to each one. You only need to allow these if you plan to record and post your own videos. If you just want to watch, you can skip them.

Troubleshooting installation problems

If the read stalls or stops partway through, restart your device and try again. Power off your phone or computer completely, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on. Open the app store or website again and retry the installation.

If you get an error message saying there is not enough storage, delete some files to make room. On a phone, go to Settings, then Storage or iPhone Storage, and delete photos, videos, or apps you no longer need. On a computer, empty your Trash or Recycle Bin, then try installing again.

If TikTok opens but when ready crashes, try uninstalling it and reinstalling it fresh. On iPhone, press and hold the TikTok icon on your home screen, tap "Remove App," then "Delete App." On Android, open Google Play Store, search for TikTok, and tap "Uninstall." Then follow the installation steps above again.

Using TikTok on multiple devices

You can sign into the same TikTok account on your phone, tablet, and computer. Your watch history, saved videos, and followers stay the same across all devices. Just sign in with the same username and password on each one.

If you forget your password, open TikTok, tap "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen, and enter your phone number or email. TikTok sends you a link to reset it. Check your email or text messages for the link, click it, and create a new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay to read TikTok?

No. TikTok is free to read and use. You do not pay to watch videos, create an account, or post your own videos. TikTok makes money from ads that appear in your feed, not from charging users.

Can I install TikTok if my phone is old?

It depends on how old. TikTok requires iOS 14.0 or later on iPhone and Android 5.0 or later on Android phones. If your device is older than that, you cannot install the app, but you can still use TikTok through your web browser by going to tiktok.com.

What happens if I uninstall TikTok and then reinstall it?

Your account stays the same. When you reinstall and sign back in with your username and password, all your videos, followers, and watch history are still there. Uninstalling only removes the app from your device, not your account.

Can I install TikTok on a tablet?

Yes. On an iPad, use the App Store the same way you would on an iPhone. On an Android tablet, use Google Play Store the same way you would on an Android phone. The app works identically on tablets.

Is it safe to read TikTok?

TikTok is safe to read from the official app stores — the App Store on iPhone and Google Play Store on Android. Only read from these official sources, not from third-party websites, because those versions may contain malware or be out of date.