How to Check TikTok Account Status

Worried your TikTok account might be in hot water? This guide will show you exactly how to check your official account status, identify any strikes or warnings against you, and diagnose the tell-tale signs of a dreaded shadowban, so you can get back to creating with confidence.

Understanding TikTok’s Enforcement: Sanctions, Strikes, and Shadowbans

Before checking your status, it’s helpful to understand what you’re looking for. TikTok uses a few different methods to moderate content and penalize accounts that violate its Community Guidelines. These actions range from minor warnings to severe restrictions.

Community Guideline Warnings and Strikes

When you post content that TikTok deems inappropriate, you'll typically get a "Community Guideline violation" notice. Think of these as demerits on your record.

• First Strike: Usually, the first violation results in a warning, and the offending video is removed. TikTok is generally lenient on the first go-around, assuming it was an honest mistake.
• Multiple Strikes: If you rack up more violations within the same policy area (e.g., repeated minor safety violations) or post something more severe, TikTok will issue a strike against your account. Each strike brings temporary penalties, such as being unable to post, comment, or edit your profile for a period (often 24-48 hours).
• Permanent Ban: Accumulate too many strikes, especially for severe violations like promoting illegal acts or hate speech, and TikTok will permanently ban your account. In some cases, a single severe violation can lead to an immediate ban.

The Elusive "Shadowban"

A "shadowban" (also known as a stealth ban or ghost ban) is a term creators use to describe an unofficial, unannounced restriction on an account's reach. TikTok has never officially confirmed that shadowbanning is a practice they use, but countless creators report experiencing its effects. A shadowban typically means your content stops being pushed to the For You Page (FYP), severely throttling your views and engagement. This is often an automated response triggered by spammy behavior or content that skirts the boundaries of the Community Guidelines.

How to Officially Check Your TikTok Account Status

In the past, figuring out your account's standing was based on guesswork. Thankfully, TikTok has made this process much more transparent with its "Account status" feature. This is your official source for any strikes or recent violations.

Here’s how to find it step-by-step:

1. Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile page.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (☰) in the top-right corner to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings and privacy."
4. Scroll down to the "Support &, about" section and tap on "Support."
5. From the Support menu, choose "Safety Center."
6. At the very top, you'll see a card labeled "Account status." Tap on it.

On this screen, TikTok will show you if your account "is in good standing" or if you have any recent violations. It will list instances where your content was removed and tell you if your account has any active strikes. This is the first place you should always look if you suspect something is wrong.

Where to Find Notifications About Specific Violations

If a specific video is removed, TikTok will also send you a direct notification. You can find these in your inbox.

• Go to your Inbox.
• Tap on "System notifications."
• Scroll through the notifications under the "Account updates" section. Here you will find any alerts about content being removed for violating Community Guidelines.

This is useful for understanding which kind of content is getting you into trouble. Take note of the specific policies mentioned in these notices - it’s valuable feedback for crafting your future content strategy.

Suspect a Shadowban? A Diagnostic Checklist

Since a shadowban won’t appear in your official "Account status" page, you need to play detective. The biggest indicator is a sudden and dramatic drop in your views, specifically from the For You Page. If you consistently got thousands of FYP views and now you’re suddenly getting next to none, you may have been flagged.

Look for these common symptoms:

1. A Steep Drop-Off in Views from the For You Page

This is the number one sign. Check the analytics on your most recent videos. Normally, a healthy account gets a significant portion of its views from the FYP. If your analytics show almost all viewers are coming from "Following" or "Personal Profile," your content isn't being distributed widely.

• How to check: Go to a recent video, tap the three dots (...), and select "Analytics." Under the "Viewers" tab, look at the "Traffic sources." If "For You" is at 0% or a tiny fraction of what it usually is, that's a red flag.

2. New Videos Struggle to Surpass a Few Hundred Views

Are your new videos hitting a wall? Many creators report that during a shadowban, their content gets stuck at 0, 100, or around 200-300 views and then flatlines. The video is still live, but the algorithm has simply stopped showing it to new audiences.

3. Your Videos Don't Appear Under Hashtag Pages

This is an effective test. When you post a new video, use a unique or low-volume hashtag alongside more popular ones.

• How to check: Post a video with a hashtag that has very few other posts (you can even invent one, like #YourUsernameTest123). After a few minutes, log out of your account or ask a friend to search for that hashtag on their device. If your video doesn't show up at all, your content is likely being suppressed.

4. Significant Dip in Engagement

Fewer views naturally mean fewer likes, comments, and shares. While engagement rates can fluctuate, a sudden and sustained crash across all new videos often points to a larger distribution problem rather than just a single piece of underperforming content. You know your audience's typical behavior better than anyone - if things feel off, they probably are.

What Triggered a Warning or Shadowban?

If you've confirmed your account is under some sort of restriction, the next step is to understand why. Most issues stem from violating TikTok's Community Guidelines, even unintentionally.

Common triggers include:

• Spammy Behavior: This is a big one. Rapidly posting many videos back-to-back, aggressively following too many accounts at once, or mass-liking content can trip TikTok's anti-spam filters.
• Violating Intellectual Property: Using copyrighted sounds or footage you don't have the rights to can get your video flagged and muted, and repeated offenses can lead to strikes.
• Sensitive or Inappropriate Content: This is a broad category. It includes everything from explicit content and depictions of dangerous activities to hate speech and misinformation. TikTok also uses AI to flag content that seems "borderline," which is why some violations feel confusing or unfair.
• Using a VPN: Rapidly changing your perceived location by using a VPN has been reported to cause account issues for some users.

Recovering From a Strike or Shadowban: Your Action Plan

Finding out your account is restricted is frustrating, but it’s rarely a permanent problem unless you’ve already accumulated multiple strikes. Here’s what you can do to get back in good standing.

1. Read the Violation and Appeal if Necessary

If you have an official strike, TikTok’s notification will tell you what guideline was violated. If you genuinely believe their moderation team made a mistake, you have the option to submit an appeal. Clearly and politely explain why you think your video did not violate the rules. If the appeal is successful, the strike will be removed, and your video may be reinstated.

2. Delete the Problematic Content

Even if you can't appeal, go back through your profile and delete any other videos that might be skirting the same rule - or any rule, for that matter. Creators often call this a "content audit." Be ruthless. That old edgy video that seemed funny a year ago might be a liability now. Removing it shows the algorithm (and TikTok's moderators) that you're cleaning up your act.

3. Take a Short Break From Posting

This is the most common advice for recovering from a shadowban. When you realize your reach is suppressed, step away from posting for a few days - anywhere from 2 to 7 days is a good range. This activity cooldown seems to help "reset" your account's reputation with the algorithm.

During this time, you can still engage with other creators by watching videos and leaving thoughtful comments, but do not post anything new.

4. Return with High-Quality, "Safe" Content

When you come back, your first few videos are critical. Make sure they are A+ quality and undeniably follow all Community Guidelines. Create something helpful, entertaining, or inspiring that is unlikely to be flagged for any reason. A great "comeback" video can signal to the algorithm that your account is still valuable and is ready to be pushed back onto the FYP.

Final Thoughts

Checking your TikTok account status is a straightforward process when you use the in-app Safety Center, but understanding the nuances of strikes and shadowbans is what truly empowers you as a creator. By monitoring your official status, recognizing the symptoms of suppressed reach, and taking corrective action when needed, you can maintain a healthy account and protect the brand you've worked hard to build.

At the end of the day, consistent, high-quality, and guideline-compliant content is the best way to stay in good standing with the algorithm. To help teams and creators with this, we built a tool centered around clear, visual planning. When you use Postbase to schedule your TikToks, you’re less likely to post hastily made, questionable content just to fill a gap in your calendar. Staying organized with a content plan is your best defense against avoidable violations, freeing you up to focus on creating, not worrying about your account status.