TikTok Account Hacked: What to Do Right Now

Signs your TikTok account may be hacked

• TikTok emails or texts you about a changed password, email address or phone number that you did not request.
• Your password no longer works, or the login page says there is no account for your details.
• Videos, comments, follows or direct messages you did not make, often spam or scam links.
• Your username, bio or profile photo changed.
• Login alerts or devices you do not recognise in your settings.
• A ban or restriction notice soon after odd activity. See the TikTok account banned guide in that case.

Not every odd event is a hack. A bug, a shared device or a connected third-party app can cause some of these, and a sudden drop in views is usually a reach issue. See the TikTok shadowban guide for that.

What to do, in order

1. Check your email and phone. Look for messages from TikTok about changes to your account. Open links only if they lead to an official tiktok.com address, and when in doubt, open the app yourself instead.
2. Try to log in. If your password still works, change it straight away to a long, unique one. If it does not, use "Forgot password" and ask for a reset to the email or phone on the account.
3. Use the official hacked-account route. If you cannot get in, find the Help Center article for a hacked account and follow the report option it offers. Be ready to describe the account and show it is yours.
4. Once you are in, review devices. In Security settings, look at the devices and sessions that are logged in, and log out of any you do not recognise.
5. Turn on 2-step verification. Use an authenticator app or the options TikTok offers, and save any backup codes somewhere offline.
6. Check linked accounts and apps. Remove third-party apps you do not use and unlink social accounts you do not recognise.
7. Clean up. Delete posts or messages you did not make, restore your bio and tell followers not to click any link that was sent from your account.

TikTok's own Help Center has the current steps for a hacked account and may differ slightly from the above.

Secure the email account too

Many takeovers happen through the email address or phone number on the account. If that email has a weak password or no two-factor protection, an attacker can simply reset TikTok again. Fix the email account first or at the same time.

Do not fall for recovery scams

• Anyone who offers to "recover" a hacked TikTok account for a fee is a scammer, and some are the hackers themselves. TikTok does not sell recovery and there is no paid backdoor.
• Do not send your password, a login code or an ID photo to anyone who contacted you first, including accounts that look like TikTok support.
• Be careful with DMs about "copyright violations", "verification" or "Creator Fund" payouts that link to a login page. Check the address in your browser before typing anything.

If you use the account for business or payouts

Check any linked payout method, TikTok Shop or ad account. Remove people or devices you do not know. If money was taken or a card was used, contact your bank or card provider as well as TikTok.

After you get it back

• Keep 2-step verification on and use a password manager so that every account has a unique password.
• Do not log in through links in DMs or emails. Open the app or type the address yourself.
• If the hacker posted spam, expect some reach to be uneven for a while. Normal, original posting usually settles things.
• Treat the incident as a warning for your other accounts that share the same password or email. Our Instagram hacked account guide covers the same habits.

This guide is general information based on platform help pages and user reports, not an official statement from the platform. Rules and timings change, so check the platform's own notice and Help Center. Never pay anyone who promises to unban an account, and never share passwords, codes or ID with them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my TikTok was hacked or just glitching?

Strong signs are messages about a changed password, email or phone that you did not request, or logins from unknown devices. A single odd video or a drop in views on its own is more often a bug, a connected app or a normal reach change.

Can TikTok recover a hacked account?

Often yes, if you can show the account is yours using the official options, but there is no guarantee. Results depend on what contact details are still attached and what TikTok can verify.

Should I pay someone to get my account back?

No. Offers to recover a hacked account for money are scams. Only TikTok can restore access, and it does not charge for this.

The hacker changed my email and phone. What now?

Look for a notice at your old email or phone with a way to undo the change. If there is none, use the official hacked-account report in the Help Center and follow the identity options it gives you.

Does 2-step verification stop hacking?

It blocks the most common attacks that rely on a password alone, but not phishing where you hand over the code yourself. An authenticator app is generally safer than SMS.