TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps, with over 1 billion monthly active users.
However, many users encounter issues when trying to install TikTok on their Android or iPhone devices.
If you are facing problems downloading and installing TikTok, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
Why TikTok Is Not Installing on iPhone and Android
There are several reasons why you may be unable to install TikTok on your phone:
Internet Connectivity Issues
The most common reason is poor or no internet connection. Downloading and installing apps requires a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data). Check if other apps are working fine. If your internet is disconnected or too slow to download files, TikTok will fail to install.
TikTok Server Outages
If TikTok servers are down due to outages, the app cannot be downloaded during that period. This is a temporary issue that gets fixed once services are restored.
Insufficient Storage Space
Ensure your phone has enough storage space for downloading and installing the TikTok app (roughly 100-150MB). It may fail to install if storage is full or reaches its limit mid-download. Clear cache/data of other apps or remove unused apps.
Software Bugs and Performance Issues
App glitches, software crashes, faulty updates or OS issues on your Android and iPhone can prevent proper installation of TikTok. Restarting your device or installing pending updates may resolve such temporary performance problems.
Restricted App Permissions
If you have enabled parental controls, Screen Time, app download restrictions or not allowed specific app permissions, TikTok will be blocked from downloading/installing. Check such access rules on your device.
Fixes For TikTok Not Installing on Android and iPhone
Now let’s explore the step-by-step solutions to fix TikTok installation issues on Android and iOS.
Check Your Internet Connection
Can’t download apps without an internet connection! If TikTok won’t install, your first test is ensuring you have a stable internet connection on your phone.
Open your phone’s internet browser or another app that requires an internet connection. If web pages and other content fail to load, internet connectivity issues are likely blocking the TikTok download.
To start, disable Wi-Fi on your phone and switch to mobile data, or vice versa. Also, try manually cycling airplane mode on and off (usually via quick settings in the notification shade).
If problems persist on both mobile data and Wi-Fi, restart your home router if you’re on Wi-Fi. Unplug the router, wait 30 seconds, then plug back in to reboot it. Once the router finishes starting back up, try downloading TikTkok again.
Verify TikTok Servers Are Up
Assuming you have a solid internet connection, next verify the TikTok app itself isn’t having problems. As popular as TikTok is, their servers do occasionally go down, preventing app installations and account creation.
Open DownDetector or another site that monitors app outages and check if TikTok is down. Search “TikTok” and see if spikes in outage reports correlate with when you attempted to install the app.
You can also check TikTok’s official Twitter account. They usually post updates whenever widespread technical issues occur.
If TikTok does appear to be experiencing global or regional outages, installing the app will be impossible until TikTok resolves the problem. Continue monitoring DownDetector and wait for reported outages to subside before attempting to download TikTok again.
Restart Your Phone
Before tackling platform-specific troubleshooting, try simply restarting your Android or iPhone. A basic reboot can refresh system resources and clear many minor glitches that could interfere with installations.
On an iPhone 8 or later, quickly press and release the volume up button. Do the same for the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
For Androids, press and hold the power button and tap Restart when prompted. If your phone doesn’t have a restart option, press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to force a reboot.
Once your phone finishes restarting, try opening the app store and downloading TikTok again. Many transient issues will be fixed with this simple step.
Check Date and Time Settings
Another common roadblock when installing new apps is having the incorrect system date or time set on your phone. Thankfully, this is quick to verify and fix.
Open your phone’s Settings app and check the Date & Time menu (sometimes listed as Date and Time or General > Date on iPhones). Make sure Automatic Date & Time is enabled on Android or Set Automatically is toggled on for iPhones. This syncs your system clock to the carrier network, ensuring accuracy.
If automatic settings are already enabled but the time still seems off, manually adjust the time to match your timezone. A few minutes of variance is fine, but the date and time shouldn’t be hours or days off.
After verifying your system date/time settings are correct, try downloading TikTok again. This simple fix resolves many failed installations.
Android Troubleshooting Steps
Now we’ll explore Android-specific troubleshooting tips for installing TikTok. Try the following steps from your Android device:
Clear Google Play Store Cache and Data
Over time, cached data and junk files can accumulate in the Play Store app, eventually leading to issues like failed installs. Clearing this data forces the Play Store to start fresh, potentially fixing TikTok download problems in the process.
Open your Android device’s Settings menu and select Apps or Application Manager. Next, scroll down and select Google Play Store.
Choose Storage, then select Clear Cache and OK to confirm.
After the cache clears, also Clear Data for the Play Store, then relaunch the app and search for TikTok again. With fresh cache/data, the installation should now succeed.
If clearing Play Store data/cache didn’t help, also try updating the Play Store to the latest version:
Update Google Play Store
The Play Store itself receives frequent updates that squash bugs, patch security flaws, and improve app installation reliability. An outdated version could definitely be the culprit if TikTok won’t install properly.
In the Play Store app, tap the hamburger menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper left corner. Choose Settings > About > Play Store version to check what version is currently installed. Make note of this number.
Next visit APKMirror from your phone’s browser and search “Google Play Store”. Check the site to see the most up-to-date Play Store version number available.
If the latest version exceeds your currently installed one, download and install the Play Store APK from APK Mirror. Then launch the Play Store again and retry downloading TikTok. Upgrading to the newest version should overcome any bugs impacting TikTok installation.
Check Free Storage Space on Android
Perhaps the most obvious installation roadblock is insufficient storage capacity on your Android phone. Like apps, downloads require free space. If your phone is almost out of built-in storage, TikTok and other large apps won’t install.
Open Settings and select Storage (sometimes listed as Storage & USB or Device Storage). Check how much free space remains versus total capacity.
If less than 500MB – 1GB of storage remains, your limited space is likely the culprit behind TikTok failing to install.
First remove unnecessary files and clear cached junk data to open up storage room. Next, uninstall unneeded apps freeing up capacity in the process. Finally, transfer photos, videos, and other media files from internal storage onto an microSD card (if your Android supports external memory).
With ample free space again, TikTok should now install without storage-related errors.
Download TikTok APK Directly (Android Only)
Rather than install TikTok from the Google Play Store, you can manually download and install the Android application package (APK) file containing TikTok’s app.
Reputable third-party app distributors like APKMirror offer official unmodified APK files across Android versions and devices.
First browse APKMirror and find the latest TikTok APK matching your device and Android version. Download this file directly on your Android device rather than through Play Store.
Before installing, be sure to scan any sideloaded APKs with antivirus software to verify their validity and check for malware. Assuming the TikTok APK checks out cleanly, open the downloaded file and tap Install when prompted.
With the app now installed directly rather than through Play Store, check if TikTok functions properly. Beware that sideloading strips away Play Store’s auto app updates, so monitor TikTok’s version to update manually as needed.
Update Android OS Software
Besides updating the Play Store itself, also check for OS updates for your Android phone. Just like apps, Android receives periodic operating system updates that deliver security patches, bug fixes, and general improvements.
Failing to keep your Android OS up-to-date can therefore lead to compatibility issues, failed installations, and glitchy performance from apps like TikTok.
To check for Android OS updates:
- Open device Settings
- Navigate to System > Advanced > System updates
- Tap Check for updates
If your Android phone indicates a system software update is available, select Download and install. Follow any prompts to approve the OS update installation. The process may take awhile depending on update size. Once finished, your phone will automatically reboot itself.
After updating your Android OS to the latest version, test if TikTok installs properly again via the Play Store. Updated system software optimizes compatibility with new apps.
Note that some Android device manufacturers are slower than others providing OS updates for models. If your phone is several years old, it may no longer receive current Android OS updates. This could force you to either tolerate the issue or consider upgrading your Android device.
Uninstall and Reinstall TikTok App
As a last resort if all else fails, uninstall TikTok then reinstall the app from scratch. This wipes any residual corrupted data or configuration problems from past installations causing grief.
To fully uninstall the current TikTok app or any partial installations, open Settings > Apps. Tap and select TikTok. Choose Uninstall. Confirm deletion if prompted. This completely removes the problematic TikTok app from your Android system.
Finally, relaunch the Play Store, search for the official TikTok app, select Install, and test the process again. A clean install from scratch should (hopefully) install successfully this time!
Still having issues? Be sure to also skim the troubleshooting steps for iPhones next…
iPhone Troubleshooting Steps
Does TikTok fail to download or install each time on your iPhone? We’ll explore top troubleshooting tips for iOS devices including:
iPhone Storage Space
Just like with Androids, the most obvious roadblock is filling up your iPhone’s internal storage capacity. Downloading and installing apps requires free space.
Check your available storage by opening Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Review the storage breakdowns – if capacity hits 90% or greater, your limited room lies behind TikTok installation problems.
Fix this by first backing up and then deleting photos/videos, especially large files and media you no longer need. Delete downloaded music you don’t listen to anymore while you’re at it. Review and remove unwanted apps to open up capacity.
Also offload unused apps rather than fully deleting them. This removes the core apps from local storage but keeps documents/data in the cloud for easy re-install later.
Finally, leverage iCloud or external storage to store files outside your iPhone’s internal memory, expanding your available local capacity as large media gets offloaded from the device storage itself.
With ample free storage again, TikTok should now download successfully without space errors.
Update iOS Software
Just like Android system updates, Apple regularly rolls out iOS updates with bug fixes, new features, and compatibility changes to support apps like TikTok.
Neglecting to update your iPhone’s operating system can therefore lead to issues like failed TikTok installations. Software too outdated may lack capabilities or optimizations the TikTok app relies on as well.
Updating an iPhone’s OS is easy:
- Open Settings
- Navigate to General > Software Update
- Tap Download and Install if an iOS update appears
The process takes a few minutes as the latest iOS version downloads and installs automatically. Your iPhone will reboot itself once finished.
Then try downloading TikTok again from the app store. With updated iOS system software powering your device, app installation bugs often disappear.
Offload and Reinstall TikTok
As a last fix attempt, offload and fully reinstall TikTok on your iPhone. This essentially resets the app with a clean slate, overcoming any peculiar issues with prior failed TikTok installations causing problems.
First offload TikTok by long-pressing the app icon and selecting Offload App.
Next, open the App Store again and redownload a fresh TikTok installation. Grant the app all requested permissions and try signing into your account again from scratch.
Hopefully cleansing TikTok’s cached data and installing the app from scratch does the trick!
But if TikTok still doesn’t cooperate installing even after trying every troubleshooting step for iOS devices, reach out directly to TikTok support for personalized assistance getting the app properly configured on your iPhone.
Additional troubleshooting tips to try for fixing TikTok installation issues
Check App Restrictions and Parental Controls
If you have parental control apps, iOS Screen Time limits, or other content filters enabled, make sure TikTok downloads aren’t being blocked.
Navigate to the restriction settings and verify app installs aren’t prohibited and TikTok itself is allowed. Removing any constraints preventing TikTok from downloading should fix installation failures.
Sign Out/In of App Store or Play Store
Another simple fix is fully signing out then back into the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Signing out refreshes your account’s app store connection.
On iPhone, open the App Store > Tap your profile icon > Select Sign Out. Then sign back in with your Apple ID credentials.
On Android, open Play Store > Tap the hamburger menu > Select Settings > Account > Remove account. Then add back the same Google account.
Once signed back in, search for TikTok again and see if the download works now.
Report Issues to TikTok
If you’ve now tried every standard troubleshooting trick in the book yet TikTok still refuses installation, contact TikTok support directly for assistance.
In the TikTok mobile app, visit the Profile tab > Settings & Privacy > Report a Problem to reach their help team and explain your ongoing installation issues.
You can also visit TikTok’s Contact Support website and select App Issues > App Won’t Download for troubleshooting help. TikTok support may be able to push a hotfix specific to your account if they can’t pin down standard installation problems.
As a last-ditch option, back up your device and perform a factory reset, wiping all contents and settings. A clean blank slate cures even the most stubborn software issues. Just prepare to spend time restoring all your apps and settings post-reset!
