TikTok has exploded in popularity as a platform for creating and sharing short videos. However, many users run into frustration when trying to save video drafts and getting the error “Not Enough Space to Save Draft.” This prevents posting videos due to insufficient storage space on your smartphone.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dig into the causes of this TikTok error and walk through various solutions to fix it.
Whether an iPhone or Android phone, we have you covered with troubleshooting tips to resolve the issue for iOS and Android devices. Keep reading to learn how to diagnose the problem and successfully save space for TikTok drafts.
What Causes the “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” Error on TikTok?
There are several key reasons why the “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” error may appear in the TikTok app:
Insufficient Device Storage
The most obvious cause is not having enough available internal storage space on your phone. TikTok needs a certain amount of free, usable memory to temporarily store video drafts before they are posted.
If your phone is low on storage, TikTok won’t have room to save drafts, leading to this error even if your drafts are short. Try checking your available phone storage under device settings.
Large Video File Size
TikTok places a cap on the file size for video drafts you can save. So if your draft video is recorded in high resolution or is very long in length, it may hit that size limit.
Even if your phone shows available storage space, a large draft file size can still cause this error. Check if your drafts are exceeding one minute, which tends to produce much larger files.
Bug or Glitch in the App
Sometimes a minor software glitch, bug, or app crash can interfere with TikTok’s ability to properly save draft videos.
If the app encounters an error when trying to save, it may show the “Not Enough Space” message even if storage is actually sufficient. Reinstalling the app or updating to fix bugs can resolve this.
Outdated App Version
Using an old version of TikTok that still has file size restrictions or bugs in the draft saving functionality could also lead to this error.
Ensure you upgrade TikTok to benefit from the latest updates that improve performance and fix saving issues.
How to Fix “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” on TikTok
Luckily, there are several troubleshooting techniques you can try to solve the “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” error:
Free Up Storage Space on Your Device
First, check your device storage under settings and free up space if it is nearly full. Here are some easy ways to clear storage:
- Uninstall unneeded apps – Remove apps and games you no longer use to recover more internal memory.
- Transfer photos/videos – Save photos and videos to cloud storage or a computer to open up GBs of space.
- Clear cached data – Delete temporary app files and browser caches which quickly occupy storage.
- Remove Message Attachments – Old message threads with photos/videos as attachments can be deleted.
After freeing up space, close and re-open TikTok to see if drafts can save without that error. Having plenty of available storage is key.
Compress the Video File Size
If TikTok indicates your draft video exceeds the file size limit, try compressing the video to shrink its size:
- Trim the length – Edit the video in the TikTok app or other editing apps to make the clip shorter in duration.
- Use a compressor app – Compress the draft video through a file compressor app to reduce its size.
- Lower video resolution – Decrease the draft video resolution or image quality to achieve a smaller file.
- Use lower resolution camera – Create the draft using the lower resolution front camera on your phone.
Importing a compressed draft video with smaller file size may allow TikTok to save the draft without sizing issues.
Update the TikTok App
Check that you have the latest version of the TikTok app installed, as updates often fix bugs causing this error:
- On iPhone, update TikTok through the iOS App Store.
- On Android phones, update TikTok by searching Google Play Store for any available updates.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling TikTok to force an upgrade to the current app version.
Installing new TikTok updates frequently resolves technical issues that may disrupt saving drafts.
Reset the TikTok App
If updating TikTok does not resolve the issue, try resetting the TikTok app on your device:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage and find the TikTok app.
- Tap “Offload App” which temporarily removes TikTok and its data.
- Then go to the App Store to reinstall TikTok.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > See all apps > TikTok.
- Tap Force Stop, then Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data.
- Uninstall and reinstall the TikTok app from the Google Play Store.
Resetting removes any corrupted data or glitches that could cause problems saving drafts in TikTok.
Contact TikTok Support
If all else fails, reach out to TikTok’s customer support team directly through the app. Here’s how:
- In TikTok, go to your Profile > Settings > Report a Problem.
- Tap Report a Problem and select Drafts then “Can’t Save Draft” and explain the error.
The TikTok support team may be able to provide customized troubleshooting assistance or a fix for the specific issue you are experiencing.
Best Practices to Avoid “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” Error
Follow these tips when using TikTok to avoid the headache of the “Not Enough Space” error:
- Maintain at least 500MB of free device storage – Don’t max out your phone’s storage capacity.
- Use cloud backup instead of local storage for photos/videos – This prevents filling up your phone storage.
- Compress drafts prior to saving – Trim length or reduce resolution to lower file sizes.
- Only use rear/lower resolution camera for drafts – The higher resolution front camera produces much bigger files.
- Update TikTok frequently – Download updates as soon they become available in app stores.
- Use a newer model iPhone/Android – Newer phones have greater storage space for saving drafts.
Sticking to these best practices will ensure you avoid the annoying “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” error in TikTok.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fixing TikTok Draft Error
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about solving the “Not Enough Space” TikTok draft error:
Does deleting old videos fix the TikTok draft error?
Yes, removing old videos reduces storage space for TikTok on your phone which can fix this error if storage was full. You can also offload videos to the cloud or computer instead of deleting.
Will compressing draft videos always fix the “Not Enough Space” error?
In most cases, compressing large draft videos resolves this issue by reducing the file size. But if your phone storage is completely used up, compressing alone may not work – you’ll also need to free up space.
Can I recover a lost TikTok draft due to this error?
Unfortunately there is no way to retrieve a TikTok draft that was lost as a result of encountering the “Not Enough Space” error. The draft does not get saved at all if this error occurs.
Why does TikTok keep showing “Not Enough Space” even with available storage?
If your phone does genuinely have enough free storage, the “Not Enough Space” error likely indicates a technical bug or glitch in the TikTok app itself. Updating the app or reinstalling TikTok often fixes these types of issues.
Does this error happen on both iPhone and Android devices?
Yes, this error can occur on both iOS (iPhones/iPads) and Android phones when using TikTok. The troubleshooting tips in this guide apply to solving the problem on both platforms.
Conclusion
Dealing with the irritating “Not Enough Space to Save Draft” error in TikTok can ruin your video creating flow. But with the right troubleshooting approach, you can isolate the cause and get TikTok saving drafts properly again.
Maintaining adequate free storage, compressing drafts, updating TikTok, and resetting the app are all effective solutions covered in this guide. Put these tips into action to say goodbye to this error for good!
