TL;DR: To make TikTok private, tap Profile, the menu icon, Settings and privacy, Privacy, then switch on Private account. Only people you approve can then see your videos, bio, likes and follower lists, and nobody else can Duet, Stitch or download your posts. Your name, username and profile photo stay public and your account is still searchable, so also review suggestions, comments and DMs.
How to make your TikTok account private
From TikTok's help page:
- In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap the Menu button (three lines) at the top.
- Tap Settings and privacy, then Privacy.
- Turn on Private account.
What "private" actually hides
With a private account:
- You approve every new follower.
- Only approved followers can watch your videos and LIVEs and see your bio and likes.
- Only approved followers can see your followers and following lists.
- Other people can't Duet, Stitch, make stickers from, download or add your posts to their Stories.
What stays public: TikTok says your name, username and profile photo remain visible to anyone, on or off TikTok, and people can still search for your account. Pick a profile photo and username that don't reveal your full name, school or city if that matters to you.
People you already approved stay approved. If an ex, a former colleague or a stranger is in your followers, remove them after switching to private.
Other TikTok privacy settings worth changing
- Suggest your account to others: TikTok can recommend you to contacts, Facebook friends and people with mutual connections. Turn these off in Privacy so people who have your number aren't pointed to your profile. The same "people you may know" logic is explained in our Facebook People You May Know guide.
- Comments: limit to followers or friends, or turn off on individual posts.
- Direct messages: limit who can message you. Unsolicited DMs are where most TikTok scams start.
- Per-video visibility: each post can be set to everyone, friends or only you. A private account doesn't change posts you later choose to make public.
- Location: avoid tagging places you visit regularly. Background details like street signs, school uniforms and your front door can give away your location; see what photos reveal about where you are.
How to make a single TikTok video private
Open the video, tap the three dots or the share arrow, choose Privacy settings, then set Who can watch this video to Only you or Friends. This works whether your account is public or private.
For parents
TikTok accounts for younger teens come with tighter defaults, and Family Pairing lets a parent link accounts to manage screen time and messaging. Talk about why location tags and school uniforms matter before you lock things down. Our guide to sharenting risks covers the same issue from the parent's side.
Privacy settings don't cover leaks
A private account stops strangers browsing your videos, but the email and phone number behind the account can still show up in breaches and data broker lists. That's how scammers find you on other apps. A free email exposure check shows where your email has leaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make my TikTok account private?
Tap Profile, the Menu icon, Settings and privacy, Privacy, then turn on Private account.
Can people still find me on TikTok if my account is private?
Yes. Your name, username and profile photo stay visible and your account can still be searched. Only approved followers see your videos, bio and likes.
Can people see my likes on TikTok if I am private?
Only people you approve as followers can see your likes on a private account.
How do I make one TikTok video private?
Open the video, tap the three dots or share arrow, choose Privacy settings and set who can watch it to Only you or Friends.
Does making TikTok private remove existing followers?
No. People who already follow you stay approved. Remove anyone you don't want after switching.