How to Find Deleted TikTok Videos | Step-By-Step Guide

Learn how to find deleted TikTok videos with a clear, up-to-date walkthrough based on how TikTok works right now. In this post, you’ll walk through exactly what you need to know to manage deleted videos across client TikTok accounts with confidence.

How to Get back Deleted TikTok Videos

TikTok still does not offer a native way to restore deleted videos inside the app, so once a video is removed, it is not recoverable from TikTok itself. You can sometimes recover deleted TikTok videos from the device they were uploaded from, as long as the video was saved locally or backed up before it was deleted from TikTok. If your client is having trouble finding a deleted video, guide them with these instructions: 

1. Go to Their Device’s Photo Gallery Ap

Modern smartphones all have a photo gallery app where all images and videos are kept.  For Android devices, look for the ‘Gallery’ app or something similar. On iPhones, this is simply the ‘Photos’ app.

2. Find the TikTok Folder

Use your device’s photo gallery app to check if TikTok videos were saved, since automatic saving still depends on the device you’re using and the settings enabled at the time you posted. The easiest way to do this is to use the search tool and enter the keyword “TikTok.” 

On Android, saved TikTok videos usually appear in a folder called “TikTok,” though the exact location can vary by device and Android version. On iPhones, saved TikTok videos appear in the Photos app alongside other recent videos rather than inside a dedicated TikTok folder. 

3. Look For the TikTok Video You Deleted

If you find the video in your gallery, you can reuse it for reposting or editing or testing a new angle as long as it follows TikTok’s guidelines and is not reposted with a visible watermark that could limit reach. Spice it up by incorporating TikTok quotes, experimenting with new hashtags, or using a different music track. 

Testing new strategies is the most reliable way to refine your TikTok marketing approach while learning how to become a TikTok influencer by focusing on what actually drives visibility and engagement today. If you can’t find the TikTok folder, make sure you’re checking the device used to upload the original video. Also, check your gallery app’s “recently deleted” folder to check if the videos are there. 

If none of these work, the “Save to device” option was likely turned off at the time of posting. In that case, TikTok never created a local copy, so there’s nothing on the device to recover. 

TikTok Tips to Remember if You Want to Restore Deleted Videos

Before restoring a deleted TikTok video, ask your client to clarify the reason why it was removed.  They might have deleted the video to avoid violating TikTok’s community guidelines and potentially getting flagged or blocked. Or, they may have found the content irrelevant or misaligned with their brand voice.

As a rule of thumb, only restore deleted videos as per your client’s request. You can also restore videos if they were accidentally deleted.  Other than that, here are three additional tips to remember:

• Look at popular TikTok questions to make repurposed content more engaging 
• Re-schedule TikTok posts at optimal times using Vista Social
• Cross-promote TikTok videos on other social media platforms

How to Keep Backups of TikTok Videos

Saving backups of TikTok videos on your device is a healthy habit for active TikTokers.  Make this the standard in your agency if you handle client TikTok campaigns.  The manual method is to save your client’s videos manually to your device.  Fire up the TikTok app and go to your client’s profile page.

Open the video you want to save. Tap the Share button then tap ‘Download’.

That’s it. The video is now saved to your device’s camera roll. Double-check to see if TikTok videos are automatically saved to your device from the post editor. When creating a TikTok post you may see a Save to device option under More options but this toggle is not always available.

Its availability depends on the sound used the type of content your account settings plus your region. The most reliable way to save a video is after it has been posted. Open the video, tap the three dots then select Save to device if TikTok allows downloads for that content. 

If your client already has a huge library of TikTok videos you want to back up, you can save their videos in bulk using Repurpose.io.  This is a more efficient method than saving your TikTok videos one by one.  Inside Repurpose.io, connect your TikTok account by adding it as a Channel from your dashboard. Available connection options depend on your plan and interface version.

Configure your TikTok connection by giving it a name and signing in via the pop-up window. Repeat the same steps to connect your Google Drive account to have both services linked to Repurpose.io.

Next, create an automation or workflow that uses TikTok as the source and Google Drive as the destination, following Repurpose.io’s current setup flow. Create a workflow with TikTok as your source and Google Drive as the destination. Be sure to select ‘Upload Video’ as your workflow action and create a new folder to make your videos more searchable on Google Drive.

Click ‘Done’ to finish your workflow and get back to the Repurpose.io dashboard.

On your “Workflows” page, look for the workflow you just created and click ‘View Content.’

You can automatically send new TikTok videos to Google Drive using third-party automation tools that sync your content based on rules you configure outside of TikTok, eliminating the need for manual uploads.  To manually choose which videos to back up, use the ‘Publish’ button next to the content.

Why do you need to keep TikTok backups?  First, it makes it easier to recover TikTok deleted videos in the future.  If you are dealing with an account ban or regional access issues, having videos saved on your device gives you a reliable fallback so your content is not trapped inside TikTok and can be reused elsewhere. 

How to Find Saved Drafts on TikTok

Figuring out how to get 1,000 followers on TikTok requires a lot of trial and error.  TikTok drafts are still useful here, but only on the device where they were originally created. Saving posts as drafts lets you compare hooks pacing plus edits before committing to a final version. 

Drafts can work as a temporary review step, but they are best used for quick checks rather than long-term approvals since drafts stay tied to one device and account. Rather than posting or scheduling TikTok posts yourself, save them as drafts and have your client give the final go-ahead. 

To find saved drafts on TikTok, follow these steps:

1. Open the TikTok app
2. Go to your client’s profile page
3. On their feed, tap “Drafts” in the upper-left corner of their profile grid

For more TikTok marketing tips, read our guide on how to get more views on TikTok after posting. 

Tips to Keep Your TikTok Videos From Being Deleted

Prevent your client’s TikTok videos from being intentionally or accidentally deleted with these tips:

• Keep backups of your client’s TikTok videos: It’s always a good idea to save a copy of your client’s TikTok videos on your device in cloud storage or on an SD card. This way, even if the videos are accidentally deleted from TikTok, you still have a copy of the deleted video. You can easily retrieve and restore deleted TikTok videos for clients.
• Be careful when deleting videos: If you must delete a video, ensure you select the correct content before confirming the deletion. Double-check the video thumbnail and the video description before hitting the delete button to save your team and clients the headache later.
• Follow TikTok’s community guidelines: Ensure your client’s videos comply with TikTok’s community guidelines to avoid getting flagged and removed by the platform since you can’t recover deleted videos. Here are the most common reasons videos get removed, such as nudity or hate speech, as well as graphic violence.
• Avoid copyrighted content: TikTok has strict rules around copyrighted content. Avoid using copyrighted music or other materials in your client’s videos unless you have obtained permission from the owner.
• Enable the “Save to Device” feature: Turn on the “Save to Device” option in the TikTok settings to automatically save your client’s videos to the device’s camera roll. It lets you keep copies of the videos even if they are removed from the platform.

Consider following these best practices to help ensure that your client’s TikTok videos remain safe and secure from accidental or intentional video deletion.  Also, consider implementing an approval process before your team can delete TikTok videos to avoid accidental deletions and disasters.

Common Reasons for Losing TikTok Videos

The most common reasons for losing your clients’ videos can include the following:

• Network issues: If the device you’re using to record and post your client’s content encounters network issues, you could lose the video on TikTok. 
• Not saving videos: As mentioned, not saving the videos your clients record and upload to TikTok to the device’s local storage means losing them if the original post gets taken down or deleted. 
• App-related issues and bugs: Issues like corrupted TikTok app updates and bugs that haven’t been fixed yet can make the app malfunction and potentially cause your clients’ videos to disappear. For instance, you can lose the TikTok-recorded video if the app crashes before or during posting it on your client’s feed. 
• Sudden power off: If your phone suddenly turned off or restarted while posting your client’s just-recorded TikTok content, you could lose that video forever if it wasn’t backed up anywhere.     
• Corrupted video files: If the original TikTok post gets deleted and your backup video on your phone or local drive gets corrupted, you’ll have no way of recovering the video.

Your clients can lose TikTok videos because of incomplete video transfers plus formatting incompatibility. 

Best Practices for Repurposing Deleted TikTok Videos

Now that you’ve learned how to find deleted TikTok videos and how to recover them, let’s learn the best practices. As long as your clients’ TikTok videos weren’t deleted due to TikTok Community Guidelines violations or other related issues, you can always give them a second chance to shine. Sometimes the video itself wasn’t the problem.

A small shift in timing, structure, or hook can completely change performance, especially when you understand how to go viral on TikTok.

Here are some best practices for repurposing your clients’ deleted TikTok videos.

• Back up everything: Always backup your clients’ TikTok videos to ensure you don’t lose them permanently if they get deleted intentionally or accidentally. 
• Edit and update the video: Keep your clients’ deleted videos fresh before repurposing them by using cool edits and remixes. You can improve videos you deleted before by adding fresh captions plus better music plus new effects to make them more engaging. 
• Develop a re-posting strategy: Make the most of your clients’ repurposed videos by setting an optimal posting schedule and incorporating TikTok trends. For example, you can stitch your clients’ previous TikTok videos with popular and relevant challenges to piggyback on the trend. It’s also crucial to repost your clients’ TikTok videos when target audiences are most active to boost visibility and engagement. 
• Experiment with various formats: Breathe new life into your clients’ deleted TikTok videos by repurposing them into various formats. For example, turn short video clips into a  Story series or mash up Instagram Reels to turn them into one TikTok video. You can also include previously deleted content in end-of-year recap or highlight videos, such as TikTok Wrapped, where past content is revisited and reframed. The possibilities are endless!
• Incorporate follower feedback: Learn from your clients’ followers, especially if they commented on the deleted video’s quality, content, topic, etc. Use the insights to improve your clients’ TikTok videos before repurposing and re-posting them. Address any suggestions or concerns to make your clients’ repurposed videos more snazzy and almost brand new. 
• Ask for audience reactions: Engage your clients’ audiences by asking their thoughts and opinions about TikTok Video 2.0. Spark conversations around the repurposed content to help drive views and engagement. 
• Track the repurposed video’s performance: Monitor your clients’ views and shares plus likes plus other engagement metrics. Analyze these to determine whether the repurposed video resonates better with them. Also, note what works or flops to continually improve your clients’ content strategies and achieve significant TikTok organic growth. 
• Review the videos’ performance: Before repurposing your clients’ TikTok videos, check their performance. How many shares did they get? How many likes? How many comments? How many views? Some TikTok videos can flop initially because of timing and visibility issues, so check if they’re still relevant or have viral potential.

Additional Resources to Grow Followers on TikTok

You need all the help you can get to dominate TikTok. With fierce competition it pays to have the right tools plus clear strategies and walkthroughs that help you grow reach and engagement.  That’s why having the right tools and workflows in place makes a real difference. 

Check out the resources, below you will not only learn how to recover deleted TikTok videos, but you will also learn how seasoned social media managers are winning at this app!

1. How to Get Unbanned on TikTok: Steps, Tips, FAQs
2. 170+ TikTok Bio Ideas for Businesses
3. TikTok Drafts: How to Edit, Post, Save, and Delete Drafts
4. How to Repost on TikTok: Step-by-Step Guide

Repurpose TikTok Deleted Videos With Vista Social

Learning how to find deleted TikTok videos is easy to do. Recovering will come smooth especially if you practice creating backups of your TikTok content.  Make the most of the content you salvaged by re-publishing it through Vista Social. You can fine tune posting times and hashtags while reusing recovered videos across other platforms without starting from scratch. 

Vista Social also helps you with the following:

• Write scroll-stopping social copy fast using the platform’s AI Assistant: Create high-impact posts in seconds without friction or second-guessing. You can also use the ChatGPT-powered AI Assistant to brainstorm fresh topics for your clients’ posts and send quick replies to common follower questions and comments. 
• Drive traffic from your clients’ TikTok profiles to their relevant pages with a link in bio tool and customizable micro websites and landing pages called Vista Page: You can integrate payment options plus lead capture forms plus appointment booking calendars with more tools as needed.
• Plan content for your clients on TikTok plus other social platforms using Vista Social’s collaborative content calendar in one shared workspace:You can also generate intuitive workflows, such as an approval workflow, to improve your team’s efficiency
• Sort and plan your clients’ videos with an intuitive Visual TikTok Planner to achieve the look and vibe they want in their feeds. 
• Gain actionable insights into your clients’ audience engagement data and top-performing content using the platform’s TikTok analytics and reporting features.   
• Vista Social also makes it easier to reach more audience with our Employee Advocacy Tool:  Your employees will be able to repost, like, comment and share brand content with a few clicks and stay compliant with a pre-approved copy.

Drive traffic from social networks while collecting payments, generating leads, booking appointments, tracking clicks, plus more from one place. If you want a simpler way to manage backups approvals plus republishing without manual hassle starting with a free Vista Social account is a practical next step.

FAQs on How to Find Deleted TikTok Videos

Can you find deleted TikToks? 

Check your device’s gallery app and search for the “TikTok” folder to see if your TikTok posts are saved there. Regularly create backups of your TikTok videos to easily restore deleted or lost videos in the future. 

When you delete a TikTok video, is it gone forever?

Yes. Deleted TikTok video files are permanently removed from the app. Only backups that were automatically saved or manually created will remain. 

Can you get back deleted TikTok drafts? 

TikTok drafts that were deleted through the native app are lost permanently. Consider uploading posts privately instead to make drafts downloadable before deleting them. 

Will I lose my drafts if I delete my TikTok account?

Yes. Uninstalling the TikTok app still removes all saved drafts stored on that device, since drafts are kept locally and are not reliably backed up to your account, so you should always save anything important first.

Uninstalling the app can be necessary if the app keeps crashing for instance. However, remember to ask clients to save the TikTok drafts in the device’s internal memory before uninstalling the app so you have backups and don’t lose the drafts.

Where do TikTok videos go after I delete them?

Deleted TikTok videos from the app are gone forever, unless you saved a copy in your phone.

If you delete a saved TikTok video on a Windows computer, you may still be able to restore it from the Recycle Bin if it hasn’t been emptied yet. If the Recycle Bin has been emptied, the TikTok video is permanently gone unless you saved it somewhere else such as Google Photos or the Cloud. 

Can you archive TikTok videos?

TikTok still does not offer a true archive feature for regular videos. If you remove a video from your feed, you need to store it elsewhere if you want to keep it long-term.

However, there are workarounds to this.  One option is to set your clients’ privacy option for videos in their accounts to Only me so only those with access to the account can see the videos. Another method is to save your clients’ TikTok videos to your device’s camera roll or photo and video gallery and delete them from your client’s feed.

Can you delete the likes you left on a video from another TikTok user?

Yes, by undoing or “unliking” the TikTok videos. Go to the account’s Liked videos tab and select the video you wish to unlike to play it.  Then, tap the Like (💗) button to unlike it. The video will be removed from the TikTok account’s Liked Videos folder.

How can you see the deleted Search History on TikTok?

There is no direct way to view a deleted search history on TikTok. Your best bet is to try the following tactics:

• Go through your client’s TikTok Watch History
• Review your clients’ comment history
• Request and download your clients’ TikTok data
• File recovery on modern smartphones has very limited success and should not be relied on