How to Reset TikTok For You Page Algorithm

Feeling like your TikTok For You Page is stuck in a rut, serving up the same stale content over and over? It happens. One day your feed is a perfect mix of humor, hobbies, and helpful tips, and the next it feels completely unrecognizable. This guide gives you the exact steps to reset your FYP algorithm, both with the quick official method and through a manual retraining process for a more curated long-term fix.

Understanding the TikTok Algorithm (Before You Reset It)

Before you hit the reset button, it's helpful to know what the algorithm is paying attention to in the first place. Think of it as a very eager personal assistant trying to figure out what you like so it can keep you entertained and scrolling. It's not magic, it’s just a pattern-recognition machine.

The "For You" Page algorithm is primarily influenced by a few key signals:

• Your Direct Interactions: This is the strongest signal you send. The algorithm watches which videos you like, share, save to your favorites, and comment on. It also tracks which accounts you follow and which videos you watch all the way through or even re-watch multiple times.
• Negative Feedback: Just as important is what you signal you don't like. When you long-press a video and tap "Not Interested," you’re sending a clear message. The same goes for skipping a video quickly or blocking an account.
• Video Information: The algorithm reads the details of the content itself. It analyzes the caption text, the sounds or music used, and the hashtags included (e.g., #BookTok, #CleanTok, #DIY). If you engage with lots of videos using a specific sound, it'll show you more videos with that sound.
• Account and Device Settings: Less influential but still part of the mix are your language settings, your country setting, and the type of device you’re using. These help TikTok localize content for you.

The problem arises when the algorithm gets stuck in a feedback loop. Maybe you watched a few videos on a topic out of passing curiosity, and now your entire FYP is dedicated to it. Resetting gives you a chance to break that loop and start fresh.

The Official Method: TikTok’s Built-In Reset Feature

For years, resetting your algorithm meant manually clearing caches and meticulously clicking “Not Interested” on dozens of videos. Thankfully, TikTok has since introduced a built-in feature that gives you a clean slate in just a few taps. This is the fastest and most direct way to reset your FYP.

Important Note: This method does not affect your followers, your own posted content, your saved videos, or your inbox. It only resets the content suggestions on your "For You" and "LIVE" feeds, essentially making the algorithm see you as a brand-new user.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile page by tapping the icon in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner to open the menu.
3. Select Settings and privacy from the bottom of the screen.
4. Scroll down to the "Content &, Display" section and tap on Content preferences.
5. Tap on the option that says Refresh your For You feed.
6. A screen will pop up explaining that this will show you content as if you just signed up for TikTok. Tap Continue.
7. Choose a reason for refreshing (optional) and then tap Refresh one last time to confirm.

That's it. The next time you open your "For You" page, you’ll see a broad range of popular, mainstream content rather than your previously hyper-personalized feed. From here, you can start retraining the algorithm from scratch with your deliberate interactions.

The Manual Retrain: How to Curate a Better FYP Over Time

While the official reset is quick, it’s a bit of a blunt instrument. Maybe you don’t want to completely erase your feed’s history, but just want to gently steer it in a new direction. Or perhaps you've just used the reset button and now want to mindfully curate what comes next. The manual method is an ongoing process of giving the algorithm clear, consistent feedback.

Step 1: Get Rid of What You Don't Want

The fastest way to improve your feed is to be merciless about what you don't want to see. Your FYP gets cluttered when the algorithm makes wrong guesses, so your job is to correct it loudly and clearly.

Master the "Not Interested" Button

This is your most powerful tool for fine-tuning. When a video appears that doesn't fit the vibe you're going for:

• Long-press on the video itself.
• A menu will pop up. Tap Not interested.
• TikTok will then show a confirmation, "You won't be shown videos like this as often."

Use this feature liberally in the days after your reset. Don't feel bad about it - you're not hurting the creator's feelings, you're just training your personal algorithm.

Filter Out Specific Keywords and Hashtags

Tired of seeing spoilers for a show you're watching? Or maybe you're just over a particular viral trend? TikTok allows you to filter out videos containing specific words or hashtags.

1. Go to Settings and privacy >, Content preferences.
2. Tap on Filter video keywords.
3. Tap Add keyword and type in the word or hashtag you want to avoid (e.g., #TheBachelorette, "celebrity gossip," "Kardashian").
4. Choose whether to filter from the "For You" feed, "Following" feed, or both.

This is an excellent way to proactively remove entire categories of content from your experience, giving you greater control.

Block Irrelevant Accounts

If you consistently see videos from a specific creator that you simply don't enjoy, blocking their account is the most definitive way to stop it. This also sends a strong signal to the algorithm that content like this isn't for you.

Step 2: Actively Engage with Content You Love

Now for the fun part: telling the algorithm what you want more of. Don't be a passive viewer. Every action you take is a vote for the type of content you want to fill your feed.

• Like with Purpose: Don’t just like everything. Reserve your likes for videos you genuinely enjoyed and wouldn't mind seeing more of.
• Save Videos to Favorites: Saving a video (by tapping the bookmark icon) is often considered a "super-like." It tells the algorithm, "I value this content so much I might want to see it again later." This is a very strong positive signal. Actively save clips you love, audios you want to use, or tutorials you want to try.
• Leave Thoughtful Comments: Engaging in the comment section shows a high level of interest in a video and its niche.
• Watch Videos to the End (or Multiple Times): Your watch time is a huge factor. Finishing a video, and especially letting it loop two or three times, is a massive indicator to the algorithm that you were hooked.
• Search for What You Want: Use the "Discover" or search page to proactively look for topics, creators, and hashtags you're interested in. If you want more videos about pottery, search for "#potterytok" and binge-watch a few of the top results. This shows proactive intent, which helps the algorithm learn your tastes much faster.
• Follow Creators You Genuinely Enjoy: Following someone is a direct commitment. The algorithm will start prioritizing their content and looking for similar creators for you to discover.

Other Quick Tips for a Cleaner FYP

If you're not ready for a full reset but want to give your algorithm a little tune-up, here are a couple of other things you can do:

• Clear Your Cache: This won’t reset your algorithm's preferences, but it will clear out temporary data files that can sometimes cause the app to behave strangely. Think of it as a light digital dusting. You can find this option under Settings and privacy >, Free up space.
• Spend Time in Your "Following" Tab: The "Following" tab only shows you content from creators you have explicitly chosen to see. By spending more time there, you reinforce to the algorithm that these are the accounts and content styles you are most interested in.

Final Thoughts

Whether you opt for the quick and official refresh button or prefer the methodical process of manual retraining, taking control of your TikTok FYP is entirely possible. By consciously signaling what you dislike and amplifying what you love, you can transform your feed from a mindless distraction into a genuinely curated stream of content that inspires, educates, or just makes you laugh.

Thinking strategically about the content you consume is just as valuable as planning the content you create. For our brand's presence on TikTok, we organize and schedule all our video content ahead of time with Postbase. Since it's built with short-form video in mind, we can use the visual calendar to lay out our content strategy and ensure our posts go live reliably every time, helping us build a consistent and engaging feed that serves our audience well.