TikTok Download Not Working? How to Fix It
Most failed downloads have one of three causes: the link does not point to a single public video, the video itself is private or gone, or the browser is getting in the way. Before anything else, spend thirty seconds on these checks: open the link in the TikTok app and make sure the video plays for you, copy the link again with Share and Copy link, then reload the downloader page and paste the fresh link. If it still fails, find your symptom below.
Start with the link
A downloader works from the address of one particular post. Most problems start with a link that was copied from the wrong place, cut short in a chat or replaced on the clipboard by something else.
- Open the video in the TikTok app or on tiktok.com and make sure it plays.
- Tap the Share arrow and choose Copy link in the lower row of the panel.
- Go straight to the downloader page and paste the link without copying anything else in between.
If you are not sure how to get the address, our guide on how to copy a TikTok link covers the app, the website and the browser address bar. A link that came from a message is worth checking too: some chat apps cut long addresses or add their own tracking part to the end.
Why a video will not download and how to fix it
The account is private
How to tell: the profile shows a lock and a message that the account is private, and the video does not open for people who do not follow it. What to do: nothing on your side will change this. On a private account, only followers approved by the owner can watch the videos, and other people cannot save them. A downloader only sees what is public, so a private video stays out of reach. If the video is your own, sign in to TikTok and save it from the app instead.
The video was deleted or hidden
How to tell: the link opens a message that the video is unavailable, or it sends you to the TikTok home page. What to do: check the profile of the creator. The video may have been deleted, set to Friends or Only you, or removed by TikTok. Once a post is gone or hidden, its link stops working for everyone, and no downloader can bring it back.
The video is not available in your country
How to tell: a friend in another country can watch the video, but it will not open for you. What to do: accept that this one is limited. TikTok says that when content breaks local law, it may restrict access to it in the country where it is illegal while leaving it up elsewhere. Getting around such a block can break local rules, so we do not recommend it.
The link points to a profile, not a video
How to tell: the address ends with the username after the @ sign and has no video part after it. What to do: open the video itself from the profile grid, then copy the link from its Share menu. A profile link gives the downloader a whole account rather than one file, so it has nothing to save.
It is a photo post, not a video
How to tell: the post has dots under the picture and you swipe sideways to see the next image. What to do: photo posts and slideshows are sets of images, so a video tool may find nothing to save. Paste the link into our TikTok photo downloader instead.
The browser cache or an extension gets in the way
How to tell: the page does not react when you press the button, keeps loading or shows an old result. What to do: reload the page first. If that does not help, open it in a private window, where extensions are usually switched off. Ad blockers and script blockers are the usual suspects. As a last step, clear the cached images and files of your browser and try again. In Chrome, saved passwords are a separate option, so ticking only the cache leaves them alone.
The network or a VPN is slow
How to tell: other sites also load slowly, or the download stops halfway. What to do: switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi or the other way round, pause a VPN for a moment and try again.
TikTok itself has a problem
How to tell: videos do not load in the TikTok app either, or many links fail at the same time. What to do: wait and try later. When TikTok is not working properly, there is nothing a downloader can fetch, and such problems usually pass on their own.
The file downloaded, but something is wrong
The video has no sound
Play the same video in the TikTok app first. TikTok removes sounds that break copyright rules or its Community Guidelines, and a muted post stays muted in any copy. If the sound plays in the app but not in the file, try opening the file in another video player on your device. If you only need the audio, the TikTok sound downloader saves it as a separate file.
Where to find the file on iPhone
Files you download in Safari go to the Downloads folder in the Files app. Open Files, tap Browse and look for Downloads. If you do not see it, tap iCloud Drive. Safari also shows a Downloads button next to the address field right after a download, and tapping it lists recent files.
Where to find the file on Android
Most browsers on Android save files to the Download folder of the phone. Open the Files app or the file manager that came with your phone and look for Downloads. In Chrome you can also open the menu and choose Downloads to see the list of saved files. Gallery apps usually pick up new videos from this folder on their own, but some need a minute to refresh.
There is no Save video button in the TikTok app
The Save video option in the Share menu depends on settings of the creator, not on your phone. Every account has a Video downloads setting, and when the creator turns it off, the option disappears for other people. For private accounts and for users under 16 this setting is off and cannot be turned on. You can still share such a video by link, but TikTok does not offer a copy of it.
When the creator has switched downloads off on purpose, take it as a clear signal of what they want. Before you save such a video some other way, read our article on whether it is legal to download TikTok videos.
Still not working? What to send us
If none of the fixes above helped, write to us through the contact page. A message with these details lets us find the problem much faster:
- the link you tried, copied from the Share menu;
- your device and browser, for example an Android phone with Chrome;
- what happened: the text of the error, an endless loading screen or a file without sound;
- roughly when it happened and whether other links work.
Problems inside the TikTok app, such as a missing menu or a video that will not play, are a question for TikTok support. In the app, open Settings and privacy and look for Report a problem or the Help Center.
FAQ
Why does a TikTok video download in the app but not with a link?
The Save video button works inside TikTok for posts that allow it. A downloader opens the video by its public link, so a post that is private, hidden or limited in your country cannot be fetched.
Can I download a video from a private account?
No. Videos on a private account are shown only to followers approved by the owner, and other people cannot save them.
Why is the downloaded video silent?
Check the same post in the TikTok app. If the sound was removed there for copyright reasons, every copy is silent too. If it plays in the app, try another video player.
Does clearing the cache delete my passwords?
Not if you tick only cached images and files. In Chrome, saved passwords, history and cookies are separate options.
Why does my link open the TikTok home page?
The video was probably deleted or made private, or the copied address does not point to a single video. Open the post itself and copy its link from the Share menu again.