How to Fix TikTok Crashing

Nothing stalls your creative flow or a good laugh-scrolling session faster than the TikTok app crashing on you. One moment you’re perfecting a transition, the next you’re staring at your phone’s home screen. We will walk you through every reliable fix, from the simple, 10-second solutions to the more in-depth steps that will get the app running smoothly again. This guide provides a comprehensive list of troubleshooting steps that solve the problem for good.

Start with the Quickest Fixes

Before you get into more complicated troubleshooting, start with the basics. These four steps resolve the majority of random app crashes and only take a minute to check.

1. Restart Your Phone

It's the oldest trick in the tech support book for a reason: it works. A simple restart can clear out temporary files and resolve minor software glitches that might be causing TikTok to crash. It’s a clean slate for your device's operating system.

• For iPhone X or later: Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off. Then, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
• For older iPhone models: Press and hold the top or side button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to turn off the device, wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the top or side button until the Apple logo appears.
• For Android devices: Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Tap on "Restart." If that option isn't available, tap "Power Off" and then manually turn your phone back on after a minute.

2. Check for a TikTok App Update

Developers are constantly pushing out updates to fix bugs, patch security issues, and improve performance. If your app is crashing, you might be running an older version with a known issue that's already been fixed. This is one of the most common causes of recurring app crashes.

• On iOS: Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, and scroll down to see pending updates. If TikTok is on the list, tap "Update."
• On Android: Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, select "Manage apps & device," and then tap "Updates available." Find TikTok and tap "Update."

3. Update Your Phone's Operating System

App developers design their apps to work best with the latest operating systems. If your phone’s OS (iOS or Android) is significantly outdated, it can lead to compatibility problems that cause apps like TikTok to become unstable.

• On iOS: Go to Settings >, General >, Software Update. If an update is available, you’ll see an option to download and install it.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, System >, System update (or Settings >, About Phone >, Software Update, as the path can vary by manufacturer). Follow the prompts to check for and install any available updates.

4. Check Your Internet Connection

While a poor internet connection usually just causes videos to buffer, it can sometimes cause the app to hang or crash unexpectedly, especially when it's trying to load data. Try switching between Wi-Fi and your cellular data to see if the problem persists. If the app works on one but not the other, you've likely found a network issue, not an app issue.

Clear Out Clutter for Better Performance

If the quick fixes didn't work, the next step is to clear out the temporary data and files that TikTok accumulates over time. This digital buildup can slow down the app and lead to instability.

1. Clear TikTok's In-App Cache

TikTok has a built-in tool that makes this process incredibly easy. The cache stores temporary data like profile pictures, video previews, and effects to help the app load faster, but it can become corrupted or bloated over time.

Heads up: Clearing your cache will not delete your drafts, saved videos, or account information. It’s completely safe.

1. Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile page.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings and privacy.
4. Scroll down to the "Cache & Cellular" section and tap on Free up space.
5. Under "Cache," just tap the Clear button.

After clearing the cache, close the app completely and reopen it. For many users, this single step will solve the crashing problem.

2. Clear TikTok's Data from Your Phone's Settings (Android Only)

If you're on Android, you have an even more powerful option to clear out data. This is a bit more aggressive than just clearing the cache.

Important: Clearing data will log you out of your TikTok account and may delete your drafts saved on your device. Make sure you know your login details before proceeding.

1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap on Apps or Application Manager.
3. Find and tap on TikTok in the list.
4. Tap on Storage or Storage & cache.
5. You'll see two options: Clear cache and Clear data (or Clear storage). First, try clearing the cache here (it's the same as the in-app option). If that doesn't work, come back and tap Clear data. Confirm your choice.

3. Offload the App (iOS Only)

iPhones have a handy feature called "Offload App." This deletes the app itself but keeps all its documents and data safe on your device. When you reinstall the app, all your information, including your drafts and login, should be right where you left it. It's an effective way to fix a corrupted app installation without losing your stuff.

1. Go to Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage.
2. Wait for the list of apps to load, then scroll down and tap on TikTok.
3. Tap Offload App and confirm your decision.
4. Once it’s done, the button will change to Reinstall App. Tap it to download a fresh copy of TikTok.

The Final Resort: Reinstallation and Other Checks

If you’ve tried everything above and you’re still getting kicked out of the app, there are a few final, more drastic steps you can take.

1. Check Your Phone's Storage

When your phone is running out of storage space, nothing works correctly. Apps need space to store temporary files and operate smoothly. If your device storage is packed, it can cause any app, including TikTok, to crash.

• On iOS: Go to Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage to see a breakdown of your space.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, Storage.

If you have less than 1-2 GB of free space, try deleting old photos, videos, or unused apps to free things up.

2. Delete and Reinstall TikTok

This is the nuclear option. Deleting the app entirely and reinstalling it from the App Store or Play Store will give you the cleanest possible version. However, this action will almost certainly delete any unpublished drafts you have saved in the app.

Before you do this: Open TikTok and check your drafts. If there are any you can't bear to lose, try to save them to your phone's gallery as a video first.

Once you’re ready, simply press and hold the TikTok app icon on your home screen and choose "Remove App" (iOS) or "Uninstall" (Android). Then, head back to your app store and download it again.

3. Check if TikTok is Down

Sometimes, the problem isn't your phone at all. Widespread outages can cause the app to crash or fail to load for everyone. If you've tried everything else, it’s worth checking if TikTok itself is having a bad day.

The easiest way to check is to visit a service status website like Downdetector or to search for "#TikTokDown" on another social media platform like X (formerly Twitter). If a lot of people are reporting issues at the same time, the best fix is simply to wait it out.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a crashing TikTok app usually involves a straightforward process of elimination, starting with simple updates and cache clears before moving on to reinstallation. By following these steps methodically, you can almost always identify the source of the problem and get back to creating and enjoying content without interruptions.

We know how frustrating it is when a tool you rely on - whether for fun or for business - just stops working. It's what drives us to build a better social media experience. We designed Postbase with rock-solid reliability at its core because your scheduled content should publish, every single time. Instead of fighting with tools that feel outdated or glitchy, you get a clean, modern platform built specifically for today's video-first content, so you can manage your TikTok, Reels, and Shorts without the headache.