How to Fix TikTok Shop Not Showing

It’s frustrating when you’re ready to start selling or shopping on TikTok, but the TikTok Shop feature is nowhere to be found. Whether you're a creator trying to get your product showcase live or a user who can't see the shopping cart icon, the fix is usually straightforward once you know where to look. This guide walks you through the common reasons why your TikTok Shop isn't showing up and gives you the exact steps to fix it for good.

Why Your TikTok Shop Isn't Showing Up: The Common Causes

Before jumping into solutions, understanding the root cause can save you a lot of guesswork. More often than not, the issue falls into one of these categories. Pinpointing which one applies to you is the first step to getting your shop visible.

• Geographic Restrictions: This is the biggest one. TikTok Shop is not available in every country. If you're in a region where the feature hasn't launched, you won't see the Shop tab, even if you see creators from other countries using it.
• Eligibility Requirements: For sellers and creators, TikTok has specific criteria you must meet. This includes follower counts, account age, and having a good standing on the platform. If you don't meet these thresholds, you won't be able to set up a shop.
• Account Type: TikTok distinguishes between personal and business accounts. TikTok Shop features are designed for Creator or Business accounts, so if you're still on a personal account, you'll need to make the switch.
• Application Status: If you've applied to be a TikTok Shop Seller, your application might still be pending review or could have been rejected. The shop won’t be visible until it's officially approved.
• App Glitches or Outdated Versions: Sometimes, the problem is just a simple technical bug. An outdated version of the TikTok app might not support the latest features, or a cluttered cache could be causing display issues.
• No Products in Your Showcase: For creators, even if your account is approved for the Shop affiliate program, the storefront tab won't appear on your profile until you’ve added at least one product to your showcase.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Sellers: Getting Your Shop Live

If you’re a business or creator aiming to sell products, your focus should be on meeting TikTok’s backend requirements. Follow these steps to diagnose and solve the issue.

1. Confirm You Meet Seller Eligibility Requirements

TikTok is protective of its e-commerce ecosystem and requires sellers to meet specific criteria. Before you do anything else, review this checklist to make sure you qualify.

For TikTok Shop Creators (Affiliates):

• Location: Your account must be based in a region where the Creator shop feature is available (like the US or UK).
• Followers: You generally need a minimum of 5,000 followers. This can vary, but it's a common benchmark.
• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Account Standing: Your account must be in good standing, with no recent policy violations.

For TikTok Shop Sellers (Your Own Products):

• Location: You must be based in a country with a TikTok Shop Seller program (e.g., US, UK, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc.).
• Business Verification: You’ll need to provide official business documentation (like a business license or your SSN as a sole proprietor) to prove your legitimacy.
• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.

If you don't meet these requirements, your shop won't be approved or visible. The most actionable step is to work on growing your followers and engagement until you meet the threshold for creators or to get your business documentation in order for sellers.

2. Switch to a Business or Creator Account

The full suite of TikTok Shop features is reserved for non-personal accounts. If you're still using a personal profile, you won't see the monetization or e-commerce options. Switching is easy and free.

1. Go to your TikTok profile and tap the three lines in the top-right corner to open Settings and privacy.
2. Tap on Account.
3. Select Switch to a Business Account. Follow the prompts to choose a category that best describes your brand.
4. The process is similar for qualifying creators, who will see prompts to join the Creator program.

After switching, go back to your settings. You should now see a "Business Suite" or "Creator Tools" section where e-commerce options like TikTok Shop reside.

3. Check Your Application Status in the Seller Center

Just applying for TikTok Shop doesn't mean it's instantly live. There's a review process that can take a few days. If your shop isn't showing up, check its status.

1. Go to the TikTok Seller Center website or access it via the app.
2. Log in with the TikTok account you used to apply.
3. Your dashboard should display the status of your application. It could be "Pending," "Approved," or "Rejected."

If it’s rejected, TikTok will typically provide a reason. Common reasons include incorrect documentation, a mismatch between your business name and license, or failing to meet eligibility criteria. Correct the issue and re-apply.

4. Add Products to Your Shop Showcase

This is a small but critical step that trips up many new creators. Your profile's shop tab - the little shopping bag icon on your page - remains hidden until you've added your first product to your showcase.

1. Go to Creator Tools >, TikTok Shop for Creator.
2. Browse the Product Marketplace to find items relevant to your niche.
3. Tap Add on any product you want to promote.
4. Once you’ve added at least one product, go back to your profile page. The shop tab should now be visible to you and your visitors.

Remember to also tag products in your videos. This is how you drive traffic from your content directly to your shop. A visible shop is only useful if people know it's there, and tagged videos are the best way to advertise it.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Shoppers: Seeing the Shop Tab

If you're just looking to browse and buy, but the main "Shop" tab is missing from your app's main navigation, the fix is usually much simpler and often related to your device or app settings.

1. Update Your TikTok App

TikTok is constantly rolling out new features and updates. The Shop tab might be part of an update you haven't installed yet. This is the quickest and most common fix.

• For iOS: Go to the App Store, search for TikTok, and tap the "Update" button if it's available.
• For Android: Go to the Google Play Store, search for TikTok, and tap "Update."

After updating, close and reopen the app. The Shop tab should appear in the main navigation bar at the bottom or top of your screen, often replacing the "Friends" tab.

2. Clear Your App Cache

Over time, cached data can become corrupted and cause parts of the app to not load correctly, including a primary feature like the Shop tab. Clearing the cache is a safe way to refresh the app without deleting your data.

1. Open TikTok and go to your profile.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right.
3. Go to Settings and privacy.
4. Scroll down and tap on Free up space.
5. Hit the Clear button next to "Cache."

Restart the app to see if the Shop tab has reappeared.

3. Double-Check Your Region and Language Settings

TikTok uses your device's region settings to determine which features to show you. If your phone's region is set to a country where TikTok Shop isn't launched, the tab simply won't appear. While using a VPN can sometimes work around this, it's not a reliable long-term solution and can sometimes violate TikTok's terms of service. The most reliable method is to be physically located in a supported region with your device settings matching that location.

4. Log Out and Reinstall the App

If nothing else has worked, this "turn it off and on again" approach can solve deeper-seated glitches. First, try logging out of your account and logging back in. If that doesn't work, take the final step of deleting the app entirely from your phone and reinstalling it from the app store. This ensures you have the absolute cleanest and most up-to-date version possible.

Final Thoughts

Getting your TikTok Shop to show up usually boils down to checking a few key areas: your eligibility and location, your account settings, and ensuring the app itself is up-to-date. By systematically working through these fixes, you can solve the problem whether you're a seller, a creator building a showcase, or a shopper ready to browse.

Once your TikTok Shop is up and running, the real work of promoting your products begins. Keeping your shop visible means consistently creating engaging video content across all your social platforms, and that can become a serious scheduling challenge. We built Postbase specifically for this reality - it was designed for short-form video first. With a simple, visual calendar, you can plan and schedule all your promotional content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts from one place, ensuring your shop gets the steady stream of content it needs to thrive.