How to Reschedule a TikTok Post

Accidentally scheduled a TikTok for the wrong time? We've all been there. This guide walks you through exactly how to reschedule a TikTok post, whether it's still a draft, already scheduled through the desktop app, or even - with a little creative maneuvering - if it's already gone live. We'll cover the official methods and the workarounds you need to keep your content calendar flexible and effective.

So, Why Would You Need to Reschedule a TikTok?

Changing a post's timing isn't just about fixing a mistake. It's a strategic move. Your social media calendar shouldn't be set in stone, it should be nimble enough to react to a constantly changing online landscape. Here are a few common reasons you might need to shift things around:

• A Last-Minute Typo: You spot a glaring typo in the caption moments after scheduling. A quick reschedule gives you time to fix it before it goes live.
• Optimizing Post Times: Your analytics show your audience is most active at 8 PM, not 8 AM. Rescheduling allows you to hit that sweet spot for maximum engagement.
• Adapting to Trends: A new trending audio or challenge pops up that's perfect for your brand. You might reschedule a less time-sensitive video to jump on the trend while it's hot.
• Campaign and Content Shifts: A product launch gets moved up, or a major news event makes your scheduled content feel tone-deaf. You'll need to shuffle your calendar accordingly.
• Spacing Your Content Effectively: You realize you have three videos scheduled for one day and none for the next. Rescheduling helps you maintain a consistent posting cadence.

Flexibility is the name of the game on social media. Knowing how to adjust your schedule on the fly is a critical skill for any content creator or marketer.

The Hard Truth: You Can't Directly Reschedule a Published TikTok

Let's get this out of the way first: once a TikTok video is published and live on your profile, you cannot change its publication date or time. The app doesn't have an "edit time" button for live posts. This is a firm rule with no direct exceptions. Trying to find that hidden setting will only lead to frustration.

However, "can't" doesn't mean you're out of options. It just means you need a workaround. If a video is live and you absolutely need to change when it was posted, you'll have to use the manual delete-and-re-upload method. But before jumping to that, let's look at the easier scenario: rescheduling content that isn't live yet.

How to Reschedule a Draft or a Scheduled Post

This is the ideal situation. If your TikTok hasn't been published yet, rescheduling is a straightforward process built right into TikTok's tools. Since TikTok's scheduling feature is primarily available on desktop, that's where you'll have the most flexibility.

Rescheduling on a Desktop Browser

TikTok's desktop uploader offers a robust scheduling tool that simplifies content planning. If you've already scheduled a video here, changing the date and time is a breeze.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Log In to Your Account: Open your web browser and go to TikTok.com. Log in to the account that has the scheduled video.
2. Find Your Drafts: In the upper-right corner, click your profile icon, then select "View Profile." Next to your video feed, you will see a tab for your "Video drafts." Note: Previously scheduled posts that haven't gone live will appear here under a "Scheduled posts" header.
3. Select the Video: Click on the video you want to reschedule. The upload window will reappear with all your old settings, including the caption, cover photo, privacy settings, and the scheduled time.
4. Adjust the Time and Date: Look for the "Schedule post" toggle. It should already be on. Here, you'll see the date and time you originally set. Simply click on the date or time to open the calendar and clock, then choose your new preferred publication moment.
5. Save Your Changes: After picking the new date and time, double-check that everything else (caption, settings, etc.) is correct. Then, click the "Schedule" button to confirm your change.

That's it! Your video is now queued up to post at the new time you've selected. No deleting, no re-uploading, and no lost work.

The Workaround: "Rescheduling" a Post That is Already Live

So what happens if the video is already published? Maybe you posted it in a rush, or you realized an hour later that it would perform so much better tomorrow. In this case, your only option is to manually save your video, delete the current post, and re-upload it at the right time.

Heads Up: This method comes with a serious trade-off. When you delete the original post, you will lose all accrued views, likes, comments, shares, and saves. You're essentially starting over from zero. This is a significant drawback, so only use this method if the benefits of posting at a different time strongly outweigh the loss of engagement you've already earned.

If you're ready to proceed, here's how to do it safely.

Step 1: Save Your Video Without the Watermark (If Possible)

Before you delete anything, you need a high-quality copy of your video. Your approach here depends on whether you have the original file.

• Best Case: You Have the Original File. If you edited your video outside of TikTok and still have the final, exported file on your phone or computer, you're in good shape. This is the cleanest option because it won't have the TikTok watermark. We always recommend saving a "clean" final version of your videos to a cloud drive for this very reason.
• Good Case: Download From TikTok. If you don't have the original, you can download it directly from the app. Navigate to the live video, tap the `…` icon, and select "Save video." The video will save to your phone's camera roll, but it will include a TikTok watermark with your username that moves around the screen. While not ideal, it's perfectly acceptable for a re-upload. Most users won't even notice.

Step 2: Take Inventory of Your Caption and Hashtags

Once you have a copy of the video file, don't delete the original just yet! You need to save your caption. Open the video on TikTok and copy your entire caption, including all hashtags and tagged accounts. Paste this into a notes app on your phone so you have it ready for the re-upload. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to remember the perfect set of hashtags you used.

Step 3: Delete the Original Post

With the video file secured and your caption copied, it's finally time to delete the live post. Again, remember that this is a permanent action. All analytics and engagement are gone for good once you click confirm.

1. Navigate to the video on your TikTok profile.
2. Tap the three-dots icon (`…`) to open the options menu.
3. Swipe along the bottom row of icons until you find "Delete."
4. Tap "Delete" and confirm. The video will be permanently removed from your profile.

Step 4: Re-Upload and Post or Schedule the Video

Now you're ready to re-post your content. You can either post it immediately if it's the right time, or you can use your phone's draft feature to post it later.

1. Tap the + icon in the TikTok app to start a new upload.
2. Select "Upload" and choose the video file you just saved.
3. Proceed to the editing screen. Your video should be ready to go, but you can add trending stickers or effects if it suits the new context.
4. On the posting screen, paste the caption and hashtags you saved earlier. Make any necessary adjustments.
5. From here, you have two choices:
   • Post Now: If it's the ideal moment, simply tap "Post."
   • Save as a Draft: If you want to post it later, tap "Drafts." You can then come back anytime, open the draft from your profile, and post it with a single tap.

While this manual process is cumbersome and has its downsides, it gives you full control over a post that's already gone live. Just use it judiciously.

The Pro Strategy: Plan Your Content with a Visual Calendar

The "delete-and-re-upload" dance is a stressful, last-resort solution. Constantly saving drafts and scheduling piecemeal on the TikTok desktop site isn't much better, especially when you're managing multiple social platforms at once. The most efficient and stress-free way to manage your content schedule is with a social media management tool built for today's video-first world.

Imagine seeing your entire month - your TikToks, your Instagram Reels, your YouTube Shorts - laid out in a single, beautiful calendar. Notice two big posts are accidentally scheduled for the same day? Just drag one to a different slot. Want to reuse a successful video concept in two weeks? Duplicate it with a click.

This approach transforms scheduling from a reactive chore into a proactive strategy. You stop thinking about individual posts and start looking at the bigger picture. Are your content pillars balanced? Are you posting consistently? Is there a gap in your schedule you need to fill? A visual planner gives you these answers at a glance and makes adjustments feel effortless.

Final Thoughts

Rescheduling a TikTok post is entirely possible, though the method depends heavily on whether the video is already live. For drafts and scheduled content, TikTok's built-in desktop tools are straightforward. For posts that are already published, your only option is to download, delete, and re-upload, being mindful that you'll lose all existing engagement.

We've spent years managing social media calendars and know the pain of needing to change plans on a dime. That's why we built Postbase to make scheduling feel effortless. Instead of the clumsy process of downloading and re-uploading, our visual calendar lets you drag-and-drop any post to a new time slot in seconds. It allows you to stay organized and responsive without the headache of managing everything across different native apps.