TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users.
However, many users suddenly find their accounts temporarily suspended for violating TikTok’s community guidelines. Getting your account suspended can be frustrating, especially if you rely on TikTok for entertainment, self-expression, or even income.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to get your temporarily suspended TikTok account back. We’ll cover:
- Common reasons for temporary suspensions on TikTok
- Appealing suspensions through TikTok support
- Using a VPN to access your account during suspension
- Preventing future suspensions by understanding and following guidelines
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge needed to recover and maintain access to your TikTok account, even if it gets suspended again in the future.
Reasons Why Your TikTok Account Has Been Temporarily Suspended
TikTok suspends accounts to enforce their community guidelines and maintain a safe, positive environment. Some of the most common reasons for temporary suspensions include:
Violating Content Guidelines
TikTok prohibits certain types of content, including:
- Adult nudity and sexual activities
- Harmful or dangerous acts
- Violent, graphic, or shocking content
- Hate speech, harassment, and bullying
- Spam, misleading information, and scams
If TikTok’s moderators find you sharing this kind of prohibited content, they will suspend your account temporarily or even permanently in severe cases.
Sharing Unauthorized or Copyrighted Material
TikTok has strict rules against sharing content you don’t own the rights to. You can get suspended for sharing:
- Music, audio, or visual content owned by someone else
- Lengthy clips from TV shows, movies, or other videos
- Logos, images, or other materials with copyrights
TikTok uses advanced content matching technology to detect unauthorized sharing. Avoid posting any material you didn’t create yourself or get explicit permission to share.
Violating Other Terms of Service
TikTok’s Terms of Service prohibit certain activities that detract from the user experience. You risk suspension for:
- Having multiple accounts
- Buying, selling, or transferring accounts
- Using bots, scripts, or other automated means to boost popularity
- Misleading others about your identity, location, qualifications, etc.
Carefully read TikTok’s full Terms of Service to ensure you don’t engage in any prohibited or fraudulent activities.
Bug Exploits and Hacks
Exploiting bugs or security vulnerabilities to gain views, followers, or other benefits will get your account suspended quickly. TikTok also prohibits using third-party apps or services that claim they can make you famous overnight. Stick to proper use of the TikTok app itself.
Location and Age Violations
TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old. If moderators think you’re below 13, or are accessing TikTok from a country where the service is not available, they will suspend your account. Make sure to use accurate information when creating your profile.
By understanding the main reasons for suspensions, you can avoid the triggers and hopefully maintain full access to your account. But if you do get suspended, don’t panic! Just move on to the next steps.
Appealing TikTok Suspensions Through Support
If TikTok suspends your account, the first recourse is submitting an appeal to TikTok Support. Here is how the appeal process works:
Check Your Email
TikTok will send an email to the address associated with your account stating that your access has been restricted. This email will usually specify the reason for suspension and the duration, such as 24 hours or 7 days.
It will also include a link to submit an appeal if you believe the suspension was an error.
Appeal Right Away
Request an appeal as soon as possible after receiving the suspension notice—don’t wait! TikTok Support is more likely to overturn suspensions that are appealed quickly. Leaving it for days or weeks reduces your chances of success.
Provide Additional Information
The appeal form will ask you to provide any information or context about why the suspension was unwarranted. Here are some tips for submitting a compelling appeal:
- Be polite and respectful
- Explain in detail why the suspension was incorrect or unfair
- If it was an innocent mistake, apologize and promise not to repeat the violation
- Ask TikTok to re-review the offending content, in case moderators made a mistake
- Assure TikTok you understand the rules and will comply going forward
Providing thoughtful, complete information demonstrates you want to be a responsible user.
Wait for a Response
It takes 1-3 days to receive a response on your appeal. TikTok Support reviews millions of accounts, so be patient. If approved, they will restore access to your account—hopefully this will be the outcome!
But if your appeal is denied, the suspension will stand. You’ll then have to wait out the duration before your account is automatically restored.
Submitting a clear, polite appeal is the best way to recover your account through official channels. But sometimes appeals fall short. When that happens, the next sections cover workarounds to access your account until the suspension expires.
Using a VPN to Access Your TikTok Account During Suspension
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) allow you to access the internet through servers located in different countries. This can help circumvent geo-restrictions and access blocked content.
During a TikTok suspension, you can also use a VPN to access your account before the suspension period ends. Here’s how:
Choose a Reliable VPN Service
For bypassing TikTok restrictions, choose a VPN with these features:
- Servers in multiple countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Proven ability to unblock geo-restricted sites
- Apps for iOS, Android, Chrome, etc.
Some top options include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost.
Download the VPN App
Once subscribed to a VPN service, download and install their app on the device where you access TikTok. For example, get the ExpressVPN app for iPhone through the App Store.
Most VPNs offer user-friendly apps that make it easy to get connected.
Connect Through a Different Country
Open the VPN app and connect to a server located in another country. For example, if you’re suspended in the United States, connect through a UK or Canada server.
This will assign you a new IP address from that location. As far as TikTok knows, you’re now accessing from that country instead of your real location.
Try Accessing TikTok
With your device now connected through the VPN server, open the TikTok app and try accessing your account.
In many cases, connecting from a different country will allow you to bypass the suspension and access your account before the timer runs out.
Disconnect When Done
As soon as you finish using TikTok, be sure to disconnect from the VPN server. This resets your device’s IP address back to your actual location.
Using a VPN to access TikTok under suspension does violate the platform’s Terms of Service. Only do so at your own risk, and never share or engage with prohibited content.
A VPN merely provides temporary access—getting reinstated by Support should always be your number one priority. But it can help in a pinch!
Preventing Future Suspensions by Understanding TikTok Guidelines
The very best way to recover your account is avoiding suspensions altogether. Now that you know the common suspension triggers, make sure you fully understand and comply with TikTok’s rules.
Here are some best practices:
Read the Community Guidelines
TikTok’s Community Guidelines cover what you can and cannot share on the platform. Thoroughly read through all categories of prohibited content so you know what to avoid:
- Adult nudity and sexual activities
- Minor safety
- Illegal activities
- Violent and graphic content
- Suicide, self-harm, and dangerous acts
- Harassment and bullying
- Hate speech
- Spam and scams
- Election and political integrity
- User deceptions
- Intellectual property
These categories include detailed explanations and examples—be sure to fully understand each one.
Follow Copyright Rules
Only share original content you created yourself, or have explicit permission to post. Avoid lengthy clips from copyrighted material, and don’t share logos or images owned by other brands/people without authorization.
Report Questionable Content
If you ever come across content that seems questionable under the guidelines, report it. This helps train TikTok’s moderation systems.
Be Cautious When Using Songs/Audio
Music and sounds often get TikTok accounts suspended for copyright reasons. Only use popular songs, viral sounds, or original audio you own full rights to.
Don’t Purchase Likes/Followers
Buying popularity through third-party services violates TikTok’s terms and may get you suspended. Focus on making high-quality videos to grow your account organically.
Use Profile Info Carefully
Avoid changing your birthday or location in ways that violate age and geo-restrictions. This could trigger suspensions.
By thoroughly learning and following all Community Guidelines, you’ll stay far away from anything that could risk suspension. But mistakes happen—so keep this guide handy in case you ever need to recover your account!
Conclusion
Getting your TikTok account suspended can be a stressful experience, but this guide covers all the key techniques to get reinstated quickly:
- Submit polite, thorough appeals to TikTok Support
- Use a reliable VPN to temporarily access your account from a different country
- Read TikTok’s rules closely and follow them strictly to avoid future issues
The most important takeaway is maintaining your integrity and being patient. If you comply with all guidelines going forward, TikTok will restore your full account access either through a successful appeal or once the suspension expires.
Just be more diligent about following the rules, and your account should continue providing you entertainment and creative expression without another disruption. But you now have the knowledge needed to recover if you ever face another temporary suspension down the road.
