TikTok is one of the most popular apps for creating and sharing short videos. With its fun effects and challenges, it has amassed over 1 billion monthly active users across the globe.
However, as with any app, TikTok users can occasionally run into technical issues that hamper their experience. One common error that people face is the “Your device isn’t compatible with this version” message.
This essentially means your device or its operating system is too outdated to run the latest version of TikTok. And if you can’t use the app, well, you’re missing out on all the trending dances, viral sounds, funny memes, and more that TikTok has to offer!
So if you find yourself facing this device compatibility error on TikTok, don’t worry. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore all the possible reasons for this issue and show you different methods to fix it.
What Causes the “Your Device Isn’t Compatible” Error on TikTok?
There can be a few reasons why TikTok may show the device compatibility error. These include:
1. Your Device Doesn’t Meet the Minimum Requirements
Every app has certain technical requirements that a device needs to meet for it to function properly. These are related to factors like:
- Operating system version
- Amount of RAM
- Processing power
- Available storage space
For an intensive app like TikTok that relies heavily on graphics, videos, and internet connectivity – the minimum requirements are higher.
So if your device is quite outdated and doesn’t meet these technical prerequisites, TikTok will show the “not compatible” error message.
To check TikTok’s minimum device requirements:
- Android Devices: Your phone should be running at least Android 4.1 or higher. It should have a minimum of 1.5GB RAM and above.
- iOS Devices: Your iPhone/iPad should be compatible with iOS 9 or later versions.
If your device falls below these specs, performance issues and compatibility errors can pop up when running TikTok.
2. TikTok Requires the Latest OS Version
Apart from the base technical requirements, TikTok also needs the latest Android and iOS versions to run smoothly.
This is because with each software update, there are under-the-hood improvements that allow apps to leverage new features and better optimizations.
As TikTok frequently rolls out new features, it eventually stops supporting older OS versions. So even if your device originally met the minimum requirements, an outdated operating system can now cause problems.
You’ll need:
- Android 8.0 and above
- iOS 12 or later
Failing to upgrade to newer versions makes your device incompatible for supporting TikTok’s latest features.
3. Issues With System Software Components
Modern operating systems have many underlying system apps and services that work together to enable smooth app functioning. These include:
- Media frameworks
- Camera services
- Graphics engines
- Developer options
If any of these have software issues, bugs, or outdated configurations, apps can fail to initialize properly.
In TikTok’s case, system-level inconsistencies most often lead to the device compatibility error. This is because TikTok relies heavily on core camera, video, and graphics functionalities.
4. Corrupted App Data or Glitched Installation
In some cases, the TikTok app data itself gets corrupted or improperly installed on your device.
Certain components may fail to initialize, Required files can go missing or get corrupted. The app processes can glitch out.
Since this is localized to TikTok’s app data, a reinstallation helps fix such device compatibility issues.
Now that you know what’s causing this “not compatible” error – let’s jump right into some troubleshooting tips and solutions!
How to Fix TikTok “Your Device Isn’t Compatible With This Version” Error
Here are the best methods to try if you get the compatibility error message on TikTok:
1. Check for TikTok Updates
As TikTok frequently releases new versions, always keep the app updated.
Bug fixes, optimizations for older OS versions, and expanded device support are added with app updates. Installing these can eliminate any compatibility issues.
Here’s how to update TikTok:
On Android:
- Open the Play Store app
- Tap the hamburger menu in the top left corner
- Go to My Apps & Games > Updates available
- Check if TikTok app needs an update and tap Update
Or:
- Open Play Store
- Search for TikTok
- If an Update option shows, tap on it.
On iPhone/iOS:
- Go to the App Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down and tap Available Updates
- If TikTok app needs an update, you’ll see the option here.
This will update TikTok to the latest version which supports your device. Now try launching the app – most likely the compatibility error would have been resolved.
2. Restart Your Device
Before trying more complex fixes, try the good ol’ restart to troubleshoot app issues.
When an app faces an initialization, loading, or compatibility failure – a simple device restart will clear out any temporary glitches. All background apps and services are refreshed. This resets improper settings that could be triggering the error.
To restart an Android phone:
- Long press the Power button
- In the power menu – Tap Restart
Alternatively, manually turn off your phone and turn it back on after 30 seconds.
To restart an iPhone:
- Click the Volume Up button
- Immediately click the Volume Down button
- Finally, press and hold the Side button
- Drag the power off slider to turn off your phone
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again to turn your iPhone back on
Once your phone has restarted, open TikTok and see if it loads up without any compatibility issues.
3. Clear TikTok Cache and App Data
When you use TikTok daily, a lot of temporary data including videos, graphics, login credentials, app settings etc. is cached. Over time, this cached data can get corrupted.
Clearing it out ensures any outdated, unstable cached files are removed from your phone. This often resolves improper loading and compatibility issues faced by apps.
On Android phones:
- Go to Settings -> Apps -> TikTok
- Tap Storage and cache.
- Tap Clear Cache.
On iPhones:
- Head to Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage
- Select the TikTok app.
- Tap “Offload App.”
This wipes the TikTok app data and cache from your device for a clean reinstallation.
4. Reinstall the TikTok App
If restarting and cache clearing doesn’t help, completely uninstall and freshly download the TikTok app. This eliminates any residual corrupted files or faulty configurations that could be throwing up compatibility errors incorrectly.
Follow these steps:
On Android:
- Hold press the TikTok app icon
- Select Uninstall
- Confirm the uninstallation
- Open Play Store app
- Search for TikTok
- Tap Install to freshly download it
On iPhone:
- Touch and hold the TikTok icon till icons shake
- Tap the cross icon displayed on TikTok app
- Tap Delete to confirm uninstallation
- Open App Store, search for TikTok
- Tap Get button to freshly install the app
Run TikTok app after reinstalling to check if previous compatibility issues persist.
5. Double Check Your Device Compatibility
Even if your device originally supported TikTok without issues, specs and software requirements can change with app updates.
So double check the latest compatibility requirements posted by TikTok:
Android device requirements:
- Operating System: Android 5.0 or above
- RAM: 2GB minimum
- Free storage space: 100 MB
iOS device requirements:
- Operating System: iOS 11.0 or higher
- Free storage space: 200 MB
Compare these updated requirements against your device’s software and hardware specifications.
To find your device OS version and other details:
On Android device:
- Go to Settings
- Tap About device
- View Android version, RAM, storage details
On iPhone:
- Navigate to Settings
- Tap General -> About
- Check OS version and other details
If your device falls below the mandatory criteria, an upgrade might be necessary to use TikTok properly.
6. Keep Your Operating System Up-To-Date
Apart from checking TikTok requirements, also ensure your device’s OS is updated fully. As mentioned before, TikTok may not work on older Android and iOS versions.
App developers optimize apps to leverage new features and security updates rolled out in latest OS versions. So keeping your system software up-to-date is important for compatibility.
To update Android OS:
- Go to Settings
- Tap About device -> System update
- Check for any available updates
- If updates are pending, tap Download and install
Your phone will automatically download and install the latest Android version.
To update iOS:
- Navigate to Settings -> General -> Software update
- Your iPhone will automatically check for updates
- Tap Download and install to get the latest iOS version
Updating to the most recent Android and iOS versions brings about critical security patches as well fixes for older issues that could impact TikTok’s functioning. With everything up-to-date, apps generally run more smoothly.
7. Try Logging Out and Logging Back Into Your TikTok Account
Sometimes, account-specific data can become unstable and cause conflicts with the app functioning.
Logging out ensures any corrupted user data is cleared out. Logging back in then syncs your profile correctly from TikTok’s servers freshly.
- Launch the TikTok app
- Tap the Profile icon in the bottom right
- Go to its Settings
- Select “Log out” to sign out of your account.
- Close and reopen TikTok
- Enter your login details to sign back in
This should eliminate any account-related glitches that could be interfering with TikTok loading properly.
8. Attempt the Workaround on Another Device
To isolate whether issues lie with your device specifically or account in general – try accessing TikTok on another phone or tablet temporarily.
You can install TikTok on a friend’s device and check if:
- You can log in to your TikTok account.
- Your profile opens without errors
- Scrolling through feed works fine
- Videos play properly
If TikTok has no issues on another device, then the “not compatible” errors likely stem from your phone’s specifications.
But if even the secondary device shows problems, your TikTok account itself may need troubleshooting instead.
10. Contact TikTok Customer Support
If you still face the “Your device isn’t compatible” error despite trying all typical fixes – it’s best to contact TikTok directly for assistance.
The customer support experts can pull up diagnostic reports, analyze your device’s capabilities, user permissions etc. to pinpoint complex issues.
- From within TikTok app: Tap Profile -> Settings and Support -> Report a Problem -> Get Support.
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/contact?lang=en
Provide details like when the issues started, what troubleshooting you’ve attempted etc. to help them resolve TikTok problems fast.
11. Download an Older Version of TikTok App
If the latest TikTok app has abruptly stopped supporting your previously compatible device – installing an older APK could potentially help.
Note:
- This method only works on Android devices, not iPhones
- Only download old TikTok versions from the official website or trusted app repositories.
- Installing from unknown sources is risky.
Here is how to install an older TikTok app if absolutely needed:
- Uninstall the existing TikTok app from your Android device
- Open browser and go to TikTok’s official APK download page: TikTok APKs.
- Scan through the history and select a version that was working fine previously (for you)
- Download the APK file
- Install the older version on your device
- Log into your account
Using an older APK can potentially bypass abrupt compatibility requirement changes or issues in newer versions.
Conclusion
The “Your device isn’t compatible with this version” notification on TikTok can be mildly annoying if you’re an active user.
But some simple checks like keeping your apps, OS updated or reinstalling TikTok usually gets things working again. For complex cases, relying on TikTok’s customer support is your safest bet.
