TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. One of the key features of TikTok is the ability to create and save draft videos that you can come back and post later.
However, many users have experienced issues with their TikTok drafts not loading properly. If your TikTok drafts are not showing up, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and fix the problem.
Why Your TikTok Drafts are Not Loading
There are a few common reasons why your TikTok drafts may not be loading properly:
Outdated App Version
If you haven’t updated the TikTok app in a while, an outdated version could be the culprit. TikTok regularly releases new updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Make sure you have the latest version of TikTok installed on your device.
Connectivity Issues
Problems with your internet connection can prevent drafts from loading. Check that your Wi-Fi or cellular data is working properly. Slow speeds or connection drops could disrupt the loading of draft videos.
Server Errors
Sometimes server or app technical issues on TikTok’s end could prevent drafts from appearing. If the servers are down for maintenance or experiencing glitches, it can affect the loading of drafts.
Corrupted Data
In rare cases, your draft data could become corrupted, especially if the app closed unexpectedly while saving a draft. This would require you to delete and reinstall the app to fix data corruption.
Account Issues
If you are having trouble accessing your account or have been logged out, it’s possible your drafts will not load. Login issues need to be resolved before your drafts reappear.
Fixes for TikTok Not Loading Drafts
If your TikTok drafts have disappeared or won’t load, don’t panic. Here are some of the top troubleshooting tips to try and get your draft videos back:
Close and Reopen the App
The simplest fix is to completely close out of the TikTok app and reopen it. This refreshes the cache and allows drafts to reload properly. Make sure to fully close the app, not just minimize it.
Update the App
As mentioned earlier, an outdated version of TikTok can cause draft issues. In the App Store or Google Play store, check for any available updates to the TikTok app and install the latest version. This will resolve bugs that may be affecting drafts.
Restart Your Device
Sometimes a basic device restart can solve app problems. Completely power down your smartphone or tablet and turn it back on. Then launch TikTok and check for your drafts again.
Toggle Airplane Mode
Tap on the Airplane Mode setting to turn it on for 30 seconds. This cuts the internet connection temporarily. Turn Airplane Mode off and reconnect to Wi-Fi or data. The reconnect may jolt your drafts into appearing properly.
Reinstall TikTok to Fix the Draft Not Loading Issue
If no other fixes work, uninstalling and reinstalling the TikTok app may be necessary. This gives the app a fresh start, clearing out any corrupted data or cached files that could be interfering with draft loading. Make sure your draft videos are backed up before deleting the app.
Log Out and Log Back In
Not seeing any drafts could point to an account access issue. Open your profile, tap the three dots at the top, choose “Log out” to sign out of your account. Then log back in with your username and password. This should reload your drafts.
Contact TikTok Support
For persistent draft loading problems, you may need to reach out to TikTok’s customer support team. In the app, go to your profile, tap the three dots, choose “Report a Problem” and submit a report about draft issues.
The support team can look into and troubleshoot account or app errors.
Clear App Data/Cache
As a last resort, you can clear all TikTok app data and cached files. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Data/Cache.
On iOS, delete and reinstall the app. This forces cached data to be deleted. Make sure drafts are backed up first.
Preventing TikTok Draft Issues in the Future
Once you’ve recovered your missing TikTok drafts, follow these tips to avoid draft problems going forward:
- Keep the TikTok app updated to the latest version
- Use a stable, fast internet connection when saving drafts
- Avoid closing the app while a draft is saving
- Periodically export your draft videos as a backup
- Make sure your device has enough storage space
- If issues persist, report them immediately to TikTok
TikTok drafts not loading properly can be frustrating. But in most cases, the issue can be resolved through troubleshooting steps like app updates, restarts, reinstalls, and contacting TikTok support if needed.
Implementing backup practices and keeping the app maintained will help minimize draft problems in the future. With these fixes, you can get back to posting your awesome TikTok drafts without a hitch!
Troubleshooting TikTok Draft Issues on iOS
TikTok drafts not loading on an iPhone or iPad? Here are some iOS-specific steps to take:
- Check for TikTok updates in the App Store
- Toggle on Airplane mode for 30 seconds, then turn off
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > TikTok to clear cached files
- Delete and reinstall the TikTok app from the App Store
- Go to Settings > TikTok > Clear Cache to delete temp files
- Make sure your iOS software is updated to the latest version
- Force close the TikTok app by swiping it away in the app switcher
- Sign out then sign back into your TikTok account
- Try restarting your iOS device
Following these troubleshooting techniques for iOS should get your missing TikTok drafts to successfully reload.
How to Fix TikTok Draft Not Loading Issues on Android
For Android users with TikTok draft problems, here are some troubleshooting steps specific to your device:
- Update TikTok to the latest version in the Google Play Store
- Go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Data and Cache
- Turn on Airplane mode for 30 seconds, turn it back off
- Close the app and clear it from recent apps list to force close
- Restart your Android device
- Delete and reinstall the TikTok app from the Play Store
- Make sure you have the latest Android OS version installed
- Log out and back into your TikTok account
- Check for connection issues or slow data speeds
Following this Android-focused troubleshooting guide should help reload any missing or unviewable TikTok drafts.
Why You Shouldn’t Delete TikTok Drafts
If your TikTok drafts have disappeared, you may be tempted to delete them and start over. However, this should be avoided if possible. Here’s why:
- Deleted drafts cannot be recovered. They are gone for good.
- If the draft loading issues are temporary server problems, deleting them could permanently erase videos you want to keep.
- Losing drafts means losing any work you’ve already put into editing them.
- Once the technical problem is fixed, deleted drafts do not magically reappear.
Instead of hastily deleting them, exhaust all other troubleshooting options first. TikTok drafts not loading is usually a solvable temporary glitch. With a little time and effort, you can get your draft videos back without having to rebuild them from scratch. So don’t delete your hard work unless absolutely necessary!
When to Contact TikTok Support
If you have tried all the standard troubleshooting tips and are still unable to view your TikTok drafts, it’s time to ask for assistance directly from TikTok:
- Open the app and submit a Report a Problem request
- Clearly describe the draft loading issue and what steps you’ve tried already
- Include your TikTok username, email, and any other relevant account details
- Screenshot any error messages you may be seeing
- Check the email associated with your TikTok account for a support response
- You can also try reaching out to @TikTokSupport on Twitter (X)
TikTok customer support can investigate account and technical issues more deeply. They may be able to recover deleted drafts or pinpoint server errors.
Make sure to keep the email receipt after submitting a request. Follow up if you don’t receive a response within a few days.
Tips to Avoid Losing TikTok Drafts
Once you’ve recovered your missing draft videos, use these pro tips to avoid TikTok draft headaches going forward:
Frequently Save and Export Drafts
Don’t wait until a video is completely finished to save it as a draft. Tap Save frequently as you’re editing so you have incremental draft versions. You can also export drafts to your camera roll for backup copies.
Update App and OS Regularly
Install TikTok app updates as soon as they become available to take advantage of the latest features and bug fixes. Also keep your Android or iOS operating system updated.
Use Strong Wi-Fi or Cellular
A weak internet connection can disrupt draft saving. Use a strong Wi-Fi network or solid LTE/5G cellular signal whenever working on draft videos. Avoid public Wi-Fi networks.
Don’t Let TikTok Run in the Background
When done editing drafts, fully close out of the TikTok app instead of just minimizing it. This prevents bugs or crashes from corrupting draft data.
Double Check Drafts Re-Save
Anytime you make edits to an existing draft, make sure to hit Save again. Confirm it re-saves properly by backing out of the draft and reopening to verify changes stuck.
Offload Old Drafts You Don’t Need
If you have lots of unfinished drafts you know you’ll never complete, delete them to clear up storage space and prevent lagging. But only remove drafts you’re absolutely sure about.
Log Out Before Uninstalling the App
If you ever need to delete and reinstall TikTok, make sure to log out first. This ensures your drafts sync properly when logging back in after reinstalling.
Losing your TikTok draft progress is annoying, but being proactive with backups and app maintenance can help avoid draft disasters!
Common TikTok Draft Error Messages
When TikTok drafts won’t load, you may also see some common error messages. Here are some explanations for what these error messages mean and how to fix them:
“Loading Draft Error”
This generic error indicates a draft failed to load. Close and reopen TikTok to try forcing a reload. If the error persists, delete and reinstall the app to resolve data corruption issues.
“Cannot Connect to the Server”
Your device cannot communicate with TikTok’s servers, often due to connection problems. Make sure Wi-Fi or cellular data is enabled. Try toggling Airplane mode on and off to reset the connection.
“Please log in again”
This points to an account access error. Log out and log back in to refresh your login credentials. Make sure you don’t have the app open on another device at the same time.
“Application Error Occurred”
The app encountered a critical error trying to load data. Close TikTok fully and clear app data/cache to fix software issues. If not resolved, reinstall the app.
“Draft videos not found”
TikTok can’t locate your drafts, either due to a server error or corrupted local data. Try deleting and reinstalling the app as a fresh start if drafts don’t reappear on their own.
Knowing the meaning behind error messages can help diagnose the cause of draft loading problems more accurately. Contact TikTok support if error messages persist after troubleshooting.
Restoring Deleted TikTok Drafts
If you’ve accidentally deleted TikTok drafts that you still need, all hope may not be lost. Here are a few last ditch methods to try and restore deleted draft videos:
Undelete App for Android
On Android devices, download a dedicated undelete app from the Google Play store. Run the app to scan for and restore deleted files from TikTok. Apps like DiskDigger or Dumpster can recover lost data.
Backup and Sync
If you had previously enabled backup and sync to Google Drive or iCloud, you may be able to restore deleted drafts from the cloud. Check your synced data for TikTok files.
Contact TikTok Support
Explain the accidental draft deletion to TikTok’s customer support. Provide your account info and draft details. They may be able to recover drafts from their server backups, but cannot guarantee restoration.
Check Your Camera Roll
If you had previously exported your drafts to the camera roll, they may still be archived in your photo gallery. Scroll back through your camera roll pictures to potentially find deleted draft clips.
While undeleting social media content is tricky, these methods could get your lost TikTok drafts back if you act quickly enough and have backups enabled.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about troubleshooting TikTok draft issues:
Why Your TikTok Drafts Won’t Load on My New Phone
Here are a few potential reasons why your TikTok drafts may not be loading on your new phone:
- The drafts were not synced to the cloud before switching phones. TikTok drafts are saved locally on your device, not automatically synced across devices. You need to have manually synced your drafts to the cloud for them to transfer to a new phone.
- Your TikTok account is not properly logged in on the new phone. Make sure you’ve logged into the same TikTok account on your new device that had the drafts.
- There was an issue during the transfer of data from your old phone to new phone. Sometimes drafts and other local app data can get corrupted or not fully transfer over.
- Your internet connection is having issues. Drafts need to sync from the cloud, so no internet or spotty connection could prevent them from loading.
- Your TikTok app needs to be updated. Outdated apps sometimes have compatibility issues. Make sure both phones have the latest TikTok version installed.
- It’s a bug specific to your new phone model. Some phones may experience TikTok draft loading errors depending on their specs.
I’d recommend checking that you’re logged into the right account, force closing and reopening the TikTok app, and trying over WiFi if on cellular data to see if that helps load your drafts. Reach out to TikTok support if the problem persists.
How do I recover my deleted TikTok drafts?
Unfortunately there’s no guaranteed way to recover deleted drafts, but you can try TikTok support, undelete apps, cloud backups, and checking your camera roll to see if any drafts were exported there.
Can someone else delete my TikTok drafts?
No, other people cannot directly delete your drafts. However, if someone logs into your account from another device, they could then delete your drafts. Always use unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
How many drafts can you have on TikTok?
Currently TikTok allows up to 100 draft videos saved at one time. The oldest drafts will start being deleted automatically as you approach the 100 limit. Make sure to publish or export drafts you want to keep.
Why is TikTok not saving my drafts?
Drafts failing to save points to connection instability, outdated app version, or insufficient device storage space. Check these factors if your drafts won’t properly save when tapping the Save button.
Conclusion
TikTok drafts not loading can temporarily halt your video creation process. But using savvy troubleshooting techniques like updating the app, clearing cache, reinstalling, double checking Wi-Fi, and contacting support you can get your draft videos to reappear.
Make sure to frequently save and back up drafts going forward to avoid this frustrating issue. With persistence and patience you can recover your drafts and get back to posting fun TikTok content.
