How to Fix the TikTok Following Glitch

Hitting a wall where you can’t follow anyone on TikTok can stop your growth strategy dead in its tracks. You tap the Follow button, it flashes to Following, then snaps right back - a frustrating loop that leaves you wondering if your account is broken. This article will walk you through exactly why the TikTok following glitch happens and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to fix it so you can get back to building your community.

What Exactly Is the TikTok Following Glitch?

Before we jump into the fixes, it helps to understand what you're up against. The "TikTok following glitch" isn't one single issue but a catch-all term for several related problems. You might be experiencing:

• The Button Reverts: This is the most common symptom. You tap "Follow" on a user's profile, the button briefly changes to "Following" or shows a checkmark, and then immediately reverts to "Follow" as if you never took the action.
• Follower Count Doesn't Update: You might successfully follow a few people, but when you check your own profile, your "Following" count remains stubbornly the same.
• Accounts Magically Unfollow: In some cases, you successfully follow an account, but the next time you open the app, you discover you are no longer following them.

This isn't just a minor annoyance, for creators and brand managers, it’s a direct obstacle to networking, community building, and organic growth. When you can't follow back supporters, engage with peer accounts, or connect with potential collaborators, your account's potential is capped.

Why Can't I Follow Anyone on TikTok? Main Causes Revealed

Understanding the root cause is the first step to finding the right solution. Most of the time, what feels like a random glitch is actually a result of platform rules, app behavior, or a technical hiccup. Here are the most likely culprits.

You've Reached TikTok's Following Limits

Many users don't realize that TikTok has built-in limits to regulate platform activity. These aren't bugs, they're rules. There are two "invisible" walls you might have hit:

• The Overall Limit: You can only follow a maximum of 10,000 accounts on TikTok. If you’ve reached this number, you won't be able to follow anyone new. While this limit seems high, active users who use a "follow for follow" strategy can hit it over time.
• The Daily Limit: TikTok doesn't officially publish its daily following limit, but the community generally agrees it's somewhere around 200 follows per day. Exceeding this triggers a temporary block on your ability to follow new accounts, which typically lasts for 24 hours.

You're Following Accounts Too Quickly

Even if you're well under the daily limit, the speed at which you follow accounts matters. If you go on a rapid following spree - tapping that button on dozens of profiles within a few minutes - TikTok's algorithm might flag your behavior as spam or bot-like activity. It can’t tell the difference between an enthusiastic user and an automated script. To protect the platform's integrity, it places a temporary restriction on your follow action as a safety measure. This is often misinterpreted as a glitch but is actually the system working as designed.

It's a Temporary App Bug or Server Issue

Sometimes, the problem isn't you - it's them. Like any massive tech platform, TikTok experiences server outages and app-level bugs. If their servers are down or they've pushed a buggy update, features like following users can become temporarily unavailable. A good way to check this is to visit a site like Downdetector or search for "TikTok down" on X (formerly Twitter) to see if other users are reporting similar issues.

Your App's Cache is Overloaded

The TikTok app stores temporary data, called a cache, on your device to help it load faster. Over time, this cache can become bloated with old or corrupted files, leading to all sorts of unexpected behavior, including the following glitch. A cluttered cache can interfere with the app's ability to communicate properly with TikTok's servers, preventing your "follow" actions from being registered correctly.

Poor Internet Connectivity

It sounds almost too simple, but a weak or unstable internet connection is a frequent offender. If your Wi-Fi is spotty or your mobile data signal is low, the follow command from your phone might not reach TikTok's servers. The app shows the button changing temporarily on your end, but without a solid connection to confirm the action, it reverts once the app fails to get a response.

How to Fix the TikTok Following Glitch: 8 Actionable Solutions

Now for the good part: the fixes. Work your way down this list, starting with the simplest solutions. In most cases, one of these will get you back up and running.

1. Stop, Pause, and Wait

If you suspect you've been following too rapidly, the most effective solution is also the easiest: just stop. Put your phone down and step away from the follow button for at least 24 hours. Trying to force it or repeatedly tapping the button will only make the system see your behavior as more suspicious, potentially lengthening the temporary restriction. Patience is the cure here. After a day, the platform will typically lift the restriction, and you'll be able to follow accounts again at a more moderate pace.

2. Clear Your TikTok Cache

Clearing your app's cache is like a digital spring clean. It gets rid of junk files without deleting your account data, drafts, or login credentials. It's often the quickest way to fix weird app behavior.

• Open TikTok and go to your Profile.
• Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
• Select "Settings and privacy."
• Scroll down to the "Cache & Cellular" section and tap "Free up space."
• Tap the "Clear" button next to "Cache." Relaunch the app and see if the issue is resolved.

3. Unfollow Accounts to Get Below the 10,000 Limit

If you're an avid TikTok user, it's worth checking your following count. Navigate to your profile and see what the "Following" number says. If it's at or very near 10,000, you’ve found your problem. You’ll need to unfollow some accounts to make room for new ones. A good strategy is to go through your following list and remove inactive profiles or accounts that no longer post content relevant to your interests.

4. Update the TikTok App

Developers are constantly pushing updates to fix bugs and improve performance. If your following glitch is caused by a known bug in your current version of the app, updating it might be all you need to do. Head over to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, search for TikTok, and see if there's an "Update" button waiting for you. If a newer version is available, install it, restart your phone, and try following someone again.

5. Check Your Internet Connection

Don't overlook the basics. Test your connection by trying to load another app or website. If it's slow, try these steps:

• Switch Networks: If you're on Wi-Fi, switch to your mobile data. If you're on mobile data, try connecting to a stable Wi-Fi network. Often, this one switch is enough to solve the problem.
• Restart Your Router: If your Wi-Fi is the issue, a simple router reboot can often fix connectivity slumps.

6. Log Out and Log Back In

Logging out of your TikTok account and then logging back in can reset your session with the server. This can resolve temporary token authentication issues or sync errors that might be preventing your actions from being processed. Make sure you remember your password before you do this! You can find this option under "Settings and privacy" by scrolling all the way to the bottom.

7. The Hard Reset: Restart Your Device

The oldest trick in the tech support book still works wonders. Restarting your phone clears its temporary memory (RAM) and shuts down background processes that might be interfering with the TikTok app's functionality. It's a simple, low-effort step that can resolve a surprising number of app-related problems.

8. Report the Problem to TikTok Support

If you’ve tried everything on this list and you're still stuck, it's time to call in the professionals. The issue might be a more persistent, account-specific bug that only TikTok can resolve. You can report it directly through the app:

• Go to "Settings and privacy."
• Scroll down and select "Report a problem."
• Find a relevant topic, or use the "Submit a report" option at the bottom.
• Clearly and concisely describe the issue. Explain that you cannot follow anyone, that the button reverts, and mention all the troubleshooting steps you've already taken. Attaching a screen recording of the glitch can be extremely helpful.

Final Thoughts

The TikTok following glitch is a common roadblock, but it's rarely permanent. Whether you've hit a platform limit, gone a little too fast with the follow button, or are dealing with a simple technical bug, the solutions are usually straightforward. By methodically working through the fixes above, you can diagnose and resolve the issue quickly.

Consistently growing on social media is about more than just following accounts, it's about strategy and smart management, which helps you avoid spammy actions that can get your account flagged in the first place. This is where we built Postbase to make a real difference. By using our visual calendar to plan and schedule high-quality content, you can attract followers organically, reducing the need for aggressive follow tactics that trigger glitches. Managing everything from one reliable dashboard keeps your workflow smooth and your accounts healthy, freeing you up to focus on creating, not troubleshooting.