As one of the most popular apps worldwide, TikTok serves as a creative outlet for millions to share short-form videos. However, many users run into issues with the app malfunctioning after updates intended to enhance the experience.
When TikTok starts crashing unexpectedly, videos fail to load, or you can’t log in after an update, it certainly dampens the fun and causes frustration. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot issues systematically and get TikTok up and running again.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll dive into reasons TikTok may break after updates and provide actionable solutions with clear instructions plus contextual details so you can resolve such problems from their roots.
Why Your TikTok App Is Not Working After Updates
Before jumping into the troubleshooting procedures, let’s demystify exactly why TikTok starts misbehaving for some users when updated to the latest version:
Server Issues at TikTok’s End
Heavy traffic and demands on TikTok’s servers may also cause problems after an update. When lots of users rush to download the update all at once, it can overwhelm the servers. This leads to temporary glitches while using the app.
There’s not much you can do when server issues are at fault. The problems should resolve on their own within a few hours once demands settle down.
Compatibility Concerns
While delivering cutting-edge features, updates cater towards users with modern devices featuring upgraded specifications.
As such, they inadvertently end up causing compatibility issues for those with dated smartphones. The app itself may function perfectly fine, but older phone models simply lack the resources needed to run TikTok’s enhanced version optimally after an update.
Buggy Update Causing Conflicts
Sometimes an update itself contains bugs that break features or cause conflicts with devices. Users have reported issues like videos not loading, unexpected crashes, or problems with sounds/notifications after a TikTok update.
App Permissions
Sometimes an update may change what permissions TikTok needs to access on your device, like your microphone, camera, contacts etc.
If any necessary permissions were removed during an update this can break features that depend on them.
How to Fix TikTok Not Working After Update
Follow these meticulous troubleshooting steps to resolve post-update issues:
Force Stop The App
If TikTok misbehaves or won’t open properly after an update, quickly force stopping the app often helps recalibrate it:
- Access Settings on your smartphone
- Tap into App Manager (or Application Settings)
- Locate and select the TikTok app entry
- Choose the Force Stop option to abruptly halt all TikTok processes.
- Wait briefly before relaunching the app to check if this cleared any problems
Essentially, this brisk reboot fixes instances of TikTok freezing or crashing without needing to delete valuable app data. It’s a quick first step before trying more invasive troubleshooting methods.
Wipe TikTok Cache & Data
If force stopping proves ineffective, clearing away temporary update files may resolve functionality problems in the app and make it work well:
To clear TikTok cache through the app’s settings, follow these simple steps:
- Open your TikTok profile and tap on the hamburger icon (☰) in the upper right corner.
- Tap on “Settings and privacy.”
- Choose “Free up space” under the “Cache & Cellular” tab.
- Tap the “Clear” button next to “Cache” to clear the cache.
With any remnants of problematic updates purged entirely plus settings reverted to default, stability issues diminishing performance often dissipate – restoring TikTok’s smooth operation.
Reinstall TikTok
If TikTok worked fine previously before a specific recent update, pinpointing and undoing said update can yield results:
- In App Manager, select the TikTok app
- Tap Uninstall Updates to automatically roll back to the last version before issues occurred
- Relaunch TikTok to essentially downgrade to the older software build already stable for your device.
By eliminating variables and going back to what already ran smoothly, you can isolate whether a particular update directly triggered functionality problems – reversing them effectively.
Restart Your Device
Before getting too invasive, restarting your device fixes many app issues stemming from stagnant system memory:
- Long press the Power button on your smartphone
- Select the Restart or Reboot option when prompted
- Give the system several minutes to fully complete the restart
- Once powered back on, immediately open TikTok to determine if its issues are eliminated
Restarting flushes out aged device memory and resets all background processes – essentially providing TikTok a fresh start to function smoothly.
Update Device Software
While restarting refreshes the device temporarily, updating its dated software permanently enhances performance:
- Go into your smartphone’s main Settings menu
- Navigate into the Software/System Updates section
- Follow prompts to download & install the latest iOS/Android OS version
- Test opening TikTok once the lengthy update completes
System software updates include optimization of app stability – ironing out any conflicts with TikTok plus introducing efficiency gains allowing it to operate optimally after its own updates.
Backup Data & Reinstall App
When no conventional solutions resurrect an uncooperative post-update TikTok app, the nuclear option should do the trick:
- Backup your TikTok content locally where possible in case of data loss
- Head to App Manager and uninstall Updates to roll back TikTok
- Progress further by fully deleting & removing TikTok from your smartphone
- Redownload a clean TikTok copy from the app store onto your phone
- Sign into your account to reinstate videos & settings
By fully removing then reinstalling TikTok minus outdated data, you essentially force the app to function on a clean slate – circumventing any lasting corrupted files plaguing the previous build.
Perform Network Reset
If other troubleshooting proves ineffective and TikTok still cannot load content properly, resetting network settings may fix connectivity issues:
- Go into smartphone Settings
- Scroll down and select General Management (or Reset option)
- Choose Network Settings Reset
- Enter your device passcode if requested
- Allow the reset to complete before retesting TikTok’s functionality
Resetting network services and their settings often resolves software issues preventing apps like a post-update TikTok version from communicating properly with servers.
Contact TikTok Support
If no suggested troubleshooting steps succeed in restoring TikTok functionality after updates, specialized assistance is available:
- Navigate into your Profile and tap on
- the hamburger icon (☰) in the upper right corner.
- Tap on “Settings and privacy.”
- Select “Report a Problem” from options.
- Choose relevant issue types & elaborate on the problem(s)
- Submit the ticket to TikTok’s dedicated support team
Alerting the developers allows them to diagnose post-update technical issues faster – applying targeted fixes so they don’t persist and hamper the experience for others as well.
So in summary, first exhaust self-help troubleshooting steps before enlisting TikTok’s support to squash bugs slipping past quality control and triggering problems.
I hope this guide offers a robust troubleshooting roadmap to get temperamental TikTok working smoothly again post-updates. Let me know in comments below if any particular fixes ended up doing the trick!
