Using the TikTok repost feature allows you to easily share another user’s content with your own followers. But sometimes the repost icon can mysteriously disappear. Why does this happen and how do you get the option back?
When the repost button fails to show in TikTok, it’s usually due to one of these common issues – the original video isn’t public, your account lacks credibility, technical problems, or restrictions in place. Understanding the cause helps you to troubleshoot the right solution.
Getting the TikTok repost option to reappear takes a mix of checking account statuses, app updates, network switches, cache refreshes, and directly contacting TikTok support if needed. With the right fix, you can resume reposting your favorite TikTok videos.
Why You Can’t See the Repost Option on TikTok
TikTok has rules about what content can be reposted and by whom. Failure to meet the criteria means the desired TikTok lacks the repost button. Possible reasons include:
The Original Video is Not Public
TikTok’s repost policy requires the original video to be posted publicly by the creator before it can be shared by others. Videos using privacy settings like “Friends only” or “Private” do not qualify for reposting.
So if you navigate to the video’s audio or effects, but can’t repost from there, it’s likely that video itself has limited visibility. TikTok does this to respect the original user’s sharing preferences.
Without seeing the padlock icon on a video, confirming it was posted publicly, there’s no way around this limitation. You would need to contact the owner directly asking them to change the video setting to public.
Your Account Lacks Sufficient Credibility
Posting videos, commenting, getting hearts and followers – all of these actions build up your TikTok credibility score. For newer accounts with minimal engagement, reposting abilities are restricted at first. TikTok wants to evaluate participation and prevent spam or policy abuse.
The repost option can take days or weeks of consistent activity before it becomes enabled. Focus on original content and genuine reactions to others’ videos in the meantime. Once your credibility score improves, reposting access is granted to reward your engagement.
App Issues or Lagging Updates
Bugs, glitches or pending updates can all temporarily hide the repost button too. While TikTok regularly issues maintenance fixes for maximum uptime, problems still occur.
Updates roll out gradually as well, causing inconsistent feature visibility if you don’t have the newest version. This will resolve itself in a few hours or days typically. But for urgent access, manually updating the app forces changes through sooner.
Between technical hiccups and staged platform improvements, a little patience usually brings the repost option back shortly.
Ban or Restriction on Account
Breaking community rules or guidelines can prompt warnings, temporary bans, or permanent loss of TikTok access. As penalties take effect, certain features also get revoked in the process.
Losing the ability to repost videos or live stream, for example, are common early restrictions. They alert users that complete banning looms next without correcting the policy violations.
If notifications indicate your account standing suffers violations or restrictions, loss of reposting is an expected side effect. Appeal processes exist providing details that the issues were resolved or punishments weren’t warranted.
How to Fix TikTok Repost Button Not Working or Showing
Once aware why the repost option disappears, you can focus on the right troubleshooting technique to restore it:
1. Confirm Video is Public
Check that the video allows public visibility before assuming glitches are at fault. Tap the creator’s username and look for a padlock icon. If confirmed private, request they change privacy settings or it cannot be reposted.
Without public sharing access in place originally, no amount of troubleshooting will uncover the repost option. TikTok designed their policy intentionally this way both for safety and respecting user preferences.
2. Switch to Better Internet Connection
Temporarily swapping WiFi and mobile data access can reload page content more effectively. Disable WiFi so mobile data is active instead, or vice versa. Close and relaunch TikTok afterward to refresh the feed.
Go to either Speedtest.net or Fast.com and begin a speed test. These third-party sites will assess your download/upload speeds and ping.
Fast.com is offered by Netflix explicitly for this purpose and provides a simple one-click test.
For more granular results, Speedtest.net may provide more numbers but take an extra minute to complete.
If no internet switches resolve it, the problem lies with the app itself. But giving a content refresh this way eliminates network issues as an easy fix.
3. Update TikTok to the Latest Version
Visit your device’s app store manually to check for pending TikTok updates. Install the most recent version offered to ensure you have the newest features and performance improvements.
Updating also resolves any bugs that arose if an earlier version starts glitching. As developers fix problems, updating everything is key. Don’t wait for auto-notifications since those often lag behind.
4. Log Out and Log Back In
Sometimes your user session experiences hiccups blocking newer settings from taking effect. Quickly logging out and back into TikTok essentially reboots your account access with a clean slate.
Completely close and reopen the app before logging back into your account with your password. Then return to the video to check for the repost option again.
5. Clear Cache and Data
Deleting the TikTok app cache and data forces all information tied to the account to reset. On iPhone, this is done by offloading the app then reinstalling it from the App Store.
On Android, enter the App Settings menu to clear data and cache directly before launching TikTok again. This wipes away any corrupted files or outdated postings contributing to the missing repost button issue.
6. Check for Device Ban
Rarely an entire device ends up prohibited from reposting instead of (or in addition to) an account ban. The easiest way to check involves installing TikTok on a different phone or tablet.
If reposting works fine elsewhere, your original device sits in violation instead, likely requiring an appeal to lift the restriction. Checking alternate devices first makes the investigation easier.
7. Use TikTok’s Built-In Troubleshooter
The TikTok app itself includes an automated troubleshooting feature regarding functionality issues. Under your profile and privacy settings is an option to “Report a Problem” which launches their diagnostics.
Step through each screen and questionnaire, providing details around missing reposts specifically. The system then assesses likely causes, attempts solutions, and provides next steps for escalation if needed.
When to Seek Further Assistance
While TikTok aims for a seamless viewing experience, hiccups preventing reposts specifically require extra care working through. If following standard troubleshooting tips don’t successfully reinstate the option, formal help exists as a next step.
TikTok’s customer support team assists with technical problems through their help site and in-app messaging. Prepare details on exactly when the issue started, relevant error messages shown, plus steps attempted already without results.
Screenshots also help illustrate the problem visually for their support team. Capture images showing the missing repost icon within the app and send along. The more context provided, the quicker resolving frustrating boons to standard features typically goes.
Emphasize willingness to cooperate adjusting settings or credentials if somehow user error caused the initial problem too. Support staff access internal tools plus your usage history to properly diagnose what went wrong and the appropriate fixes needed.
Top-notch apps recognize glitches restoring key functionality requires urgency. Let TikTok’s dedicated customer service access and review to determine why that vital repost button refuses showing and what they recommend trying next.
