How to Change the TikTok Algorithm

Is your TikTok For You Page stuck in a rut, serving you endless videos about a hobby you dropped months ago? You’re not just a passive viewer, you have the power to retrain the algorithm and curate a feed that actually excites you. This guide breaks down exactly how to do it, from small nudges to a complete refresh, putting you back in control of your content.

First, What Does the TikTok Algorithm Even Do?

Think of your For You Page (FYP) as a personalized TV channel where TikTok is the program director. Its main goal is to keep you watching. To do this, it pays close attention to everything you do on the app. It learns your tastes from a mix of signals:

• User Interactions: Videos you like, comment on, share, add to your favorites, or re-watch send strong signals about what you enjoy. The algorithm even notices videos you swipe past quickly versus ones you let play all the way through.
• Account Follows: Subscribing to a creator tells TikTok you want to see more content like theirs, and also content from similar creators.
• Video Information: It analyzes details within the videos themselves, like captions, hashtags, sounds, and effects. Interacting with a video using the #BookTok hashtag will likely result in more literary content on your FYP.
• "Not Interested" Feedback: This is your direct line to the algorithm. When you tell TikTok you’re not interested in a video, it’s a powerful signal to show you less of that type of content.

Essentially, every action you take is a vote. You are constantly teaching TikTok what to serve you next. If your feed feels off, it just means it needs a new set of instructions from you.

Signs It’s Time to Retrain Your Algorithm

Sometimes you consciously decide to make a change, but often, the need for an algorithm reset creeps up on you. You might need to take action if:

• Your FYP feels repetitive and boring. You're seeing the same trends, same sounds, and same creators over and over again with little variety.
• You're served content you actively dislike. Did you happen to watch one questionable video about conspiracy theories and now your whole feed is full of them? It’s a common problem.
• Your interests have changed. Maybe you’ve started a new hobby, changed careers, or just moved on from a particular phase. If your FYP hasn't caught up, it can feel like a reminder of a past chapter.
• You've accidentally created a "doomscrolling" loop. Lingering on negative or upsetting content - even if you don't engage - can teach the algorithm that's what you want, creating a cycle that's hard to break.
• You want to use TikTok for a different purpose. Many people use TikTok for professional development or business leads. For example, if you're a personal chef promoting new recipe management software, you won't want your feed filled with general cooking tips when your goal is to market your product.

The Soft Reset: Start by Teaching TikTok What You Like

Before you take drastic measures, try giving the algorithm a gentle nudge in the right direction. This approach focuses on giving new, positive instructions rather than deleting old ones. It’s like weeding a garden and planting new seeds at the same time.

Step 1: Get Ruthless with the “Not Interested” Button

The “Not Interested” button is your most direct and effective tool for a soft reset. Every time a video appears on your FYP that you don’t like, long-press on the video until a menu appears. Then, tap “Not interested.”

This does more than just hide that one video. It tells the algorithm that you don't want to see content like this. After you select "Not interested," TikTok might even give you options to hide all future videos from that specific user or all videos that use that particular sound. Use these options liberally! For the next day or two, be hyper-vigilant. Saying “no” to what you don’t like is just as important as saying “yes” to what you do.

Example: You’re tired of seeing a specific dance trend. The next time it appears, you long-press, select "Not interested," and then opt to "Hide videos using this sound." The algorithm gets the message loud and clear.

Step 2: Actively Seek Out and Engage with Desired Content

Now it’s time to give the algorithm positive signals. Don’t just wait for the FYP to serve you what you want - go out and find it.

• Search intentionally: Use the search bar to look up specific topics, creators, or hashtags you want to see more of (e.g., “home renovation tips,” “beginner pottery,” or “#AItools”). Spend a few minutes watching the top videos under these searches.
• Follow a new batch of creators: Find 5-10 accounts that create content perfectly aligned with your new interests and follow them.
• Engage meaningfully: Watching isn’t enough. When you find a video you love, give it a like, leave a thoughtful comment, add it to your favorites, or share it. These higher-effort interactions are powerful affirmations for the algorithm.

The Hard Reset: How to Clear Your Data for a Fresh Start

If the soft resets are proving ineffective, and your FYP refuses to take the hint, it’s time for a more thorough cleaning. Here's how to give your TikTok algorithm a hard reset.

Step 1: Clear Your Cache

The cache stores temporary data to help the app run faster, but clearing it can help provide a cleaner foundation for your reset. This is one of the easiest steps you can take.

1. Go to your Profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
2. Select "Settings and privacy."
3. Under "Cache &, Cellular", tap on "Free up space."
4. Tap the "Clear" button next to "Cache."

Step 2: Control Your History in the Activity Center

TikTok’s memory of what you’ve seen and searched for is stored in your Activity Center. This is the heart of the algorithm's data pool. You will need to manually alter it.

1. Navigate back to "Settings and privacy."
2. Select "Activity center."
3. Here you can manage your "Watch history" and "Search history." Explore both options and decide whether to delete past entries one by one or in bulk.

If you remove this data, the TikTok algorithm will have far fewer data points to base its suggestions on. This primes TikTok to pay extra attention to your very next actions when suggesting content for your page.

Step 3: Tell TikTok to Refresh Your For You Feed

TikTok has recently rolled out an official "reset" button that lets you instantly start fresh. This is the most powerful reset feature of all, and you should use it after clearing your caches and histories.

1. Go to your Profile and tap the three lines, then "Settings and privacy."
2. Select "Content preferences."
3. Tap on "Refresh your For You feed."

TikTok will show you a pop-up confirming that this will show you content as if you just signed up for the app. The great thing is that this refresh will not affect your following feed or any of your existing profile settings, it will just completely restart your FYP so it has the opportunity to re-learn, re-build, and align so that it is customized exactly how you need and want.

While you’re in “Content preferences,” you can also use “Filter video keywords" to proactively block certain terms or hashtags from ever reaching your FYP. For example, if you want your TikTok page to be fully work-appropriate, you can enter any slang or terms that you wouldn't want associated with your account.

Maintaining Your New Feed: Best Practices

Once you’ve successfully reset your FYP, the key is to keep it that way. Don’t let your feed drift back into unwanted territory over time. Use these practices to better maintain the content that TikTok shows you.

• Be Aware of "Ghost Interactions": The algorithm tracks watch time intensely. If you pause on a video that doesn't align with your interests, or even accidentally rewatch it, the algorithm might interpret your pause as a sign of interest. Simply move past the content that you don't want to see.
• Stay consistent with the "Not Interested” Button: Think of this feature not as a one-time fix, but as regular maintenance and cleanup. Whenever an unwanted video pops into your page, get in the habit of immediately pushing the "Not Interested" button and watch your feed gradually improve.
• Be Proactive, Not Just Passive: Don't just rely on the FYP. To ensure your feed remains consistent, it's best to actively search for accounts related to the topics you want to see more of on your page.

Final Thoughts

Retraining your TikTok algorithm is entirely possible once you understand that your interactions are its instruction manual. By mindfully using the "Not Interested" button, clearing your history, and proactively searching for the content you love, you can transform your For You Page from a cluttered mess into a perfectly curated feed.

As creators and marketers, we understand the importance of curating a specific experience - not just in what we consume, but in what we produce. On our end, reliably managing social content can feel overwhelming, especially with the demand for short-form video. We built Postbase to simplify that process. We made a visual content calendar that’s designed for video first, so you can easily plan and schedule your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts without the usual headaches. It gives us more time to focus on creating great content instead of just trying to keep up with every platform.