TikTok serves as your ultimate companion for instant entertainment. Following your favorite influencers on TikTok ensures you stay up-to-date with their content.
Yet, the Follow function doesn’t consistently operate flawlessly.
If you’re encountering this issue, rest assured, as I’ll be delving into the solutions for resolving the problem of being unable to follow anyone on TikTok.
Why Isn’t TikTok Letting You Follow People Back?
Following restrictions can occur on TikTok when you hit either the hourly or daily limit for following, or if you encounter a shadow ban. Additional reasons encompass app glitches, being mistakenly labeled a bot by TikTok, or encountering server-related problems.
As with any significant social media platform, TikTok has established rules and protocols aimed at countering misuse or breaches of community guidelines. The TikTok algorithm may curtail certain user functionalities, such as following, in response to rule violations.
Nonetheless, it’s important to acknowledge that instances of such restrictions can also be attributed to errors stemming from bugs, glitches, or server hiccups.
Here are the reasons why you can’t follow people on TikTok:
The Following Limit Reached
TikTok has established limitations on following to counter spam-related activities. Research indicates that the daily allowance for following on TikTok stands at 200 accounts. Furthermore, the hourly following cap is set even lower, at 30 accounts, accumulating to a total ceiling of 10,000 accounts.
Consequently, once you exceed the threshold of 30 users per hour or 200 users per day, your account will have reached its peak limit. In response, TikTok will prohibit any further actions of following additional users.
You Have Been Shadow banned
When you breach TikTok’s terms and conditions, your account often faces restrictions on following other users, resulting in a shadow ban.
In the event of violating the Terms of Service (ToS) or community guidelines, activities such as hate speech, promoting firearms, or sharing violent content can trigger a shadow ban. Additionally, repeatedly following and unfollowing someone, typically 4 to 5 times, can also lead to a shadow block.
Consider this a preliminary caution. Continued engagement in such actions could eventually result in a permanent suspension of your TikTok account.
Processing Error
Accumulating substantial cache files over an extended duration can trigger a processing error within the TikTok app.
When this occurs, the TikTok application might struggle to execute the Follow or Unfollow command upon tapping the respective buttons. Consequently, the app might be unable to facilitate the action of following other users.
How to Fix Can’t Follow People On TikTok Issue
To address the issue of TikTok not allowing you to follow others, begin by restarting the app. If a bug is at fault, restarting can often resolve it. Additionally, consider re-logging in, verifying server status, or updating the app. Should the problem stem from spam-like behavior or hitting the follow limit, patience is key; wait for TikTok to lift the restriction.
Now, let’s delve into these solutions further.
Below are the methods to resolve the problem of being unable to follow others on TikTok:
1. Relaunch TikTok
Extended usage of an app or leaving it open in the background for prolonged periods can lead to processing errors within the app.
This holds true for TikTok as well. Prolonged use can trigger runtime errors that result in issues like the inability to follow other profiles.
The most straightforward and rapid solution is to restart the app. This action reloads the app along with its files, rectifying errors in the app’s functioning.
Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, access the App Switcher and close TikTok. Then, relaunch TikTok from the menu, and this should resolve the problem.
2. Wait for Some Time
Upon reaching the hourly or daily TikTok follow limit, the Follow button becomes inactive. Crossing the threshold of 30 follows within an hour or 200 within a day triggers TikTok to prevent you from following additional accounts.
In such circumstances, your only recourse is to wait until the restriction is lifted.
After surpassing the hourly follow limit, you’ll need to wait for a few hours, with the hope of being able to resume following your favorite influencers. This also holds true if you’ve engaged in rapid following of numerous users. If TikTok still doesn’t permit you to follow, it’s possible you’ve exceeded the daily follow limit. In this case, you’ll have to wait approximately 24 hours before being able to follow new accounts.
Before resigning yourself to a full day of waiting, you can explore the potential solutions listed below to ascertain if they can resolve the issue in your specific situation.
3. Check TikTok Server Status
If TikTok experiences maintenance or encounters unforeseen glitches, it could result in issues with the TikTok Follow function. Therefore, it’s advisable to verify TikTok’s server status before attempting any troubleshooting on your end.
A reliable platform to assess server status is DownDetector. Simply visit their dedicated TikTok server checking page to verify the current server status.
4. Update TikTok
Outdated app versions might harbor bugs that lead to issues like inability to follow users or the TikTok synchronization problem. However, a swift resolution is available through a straightforward app update.
Follow these steps to update the TikTok app:
For iPhone users:
- Launch the App Store on your iPhone.
- Search for TikTok in the search bar.
- Tap the Update button next to TikTok to initiate the update.
Android users can follow these steps:
- Open the Play Store on your Android device.
- Search for TikTok using the search function.
- Tap the Update button to ensure your app is upgraded to the latest version.
5. Clear the Cache
Interestingly, a sizable cache can impede your TikTok app’s ability to accurately process commands and requests. Therefore, if you’re encountering difficulties in following new users, it’s recommended to clear the app cache.
Here’s how to clear the cache of the TikTok app:
- Navigate to Settings.
- Go to General.
- Tap on iPhone Storage.
- Find TikTok and tap on it.
- Hit Offload App.
- Tap on Reinstall App.
For Android users, navigate to Settings > Apps, locate TikTok, proceed to Storage and cache, and then choose Clear Cache. Keep in mind that option names might vary based on the phone brand and Android version.
After completing this procedure, relaunch the app and proceed to follow a user on the TikTok platform. This should effectively resolve the issue.
6. Re-Login to TikTok
Performing a basic logout and login procedure can significantly assist in resolving the problem. The process remains quite similar, whether you’re using Android or iOS.
Here is the procedure to re-login in TikTok:
- Tap on the bottom right Profile icon.
- From the top right corner, select the Hamburger menu.
- Opt for Settings and privacy. Scroll down and tap Log out to initiate the sign-out process.
- Close the app from the list of recent apps.
- Reopen TikTok and once more tap on the Profile icon. Various login options will be visible.
- Select your preferred login method and provide the required credentials to complete the login process.
Now, verify if the problem has been resolved by attempting to follow TikTok users.
7. Check Your Internet Connection
A malfunctioning internet connection can hinder your ability to follow new users on TikTok.
When network problems arise, proper browsing on TikTok and other social media platforms becomes impossible. Additionally, other TikTok functionalities commonly employed by users might also falter. Running a speed test can help confirm the state of your internet connection.
Upon confirming an internet connection issue, proceed to restart your router.
If this step doesn’t prove effective, it’s advisable to reach out to your ISP (Internet Service Provider). The issue could be on their end, and they possess the capability to identify and rectify the internet problem for you.
8. Use TikTok on the Web
The TikTok mobile app might be encountering problems due to a recent bug. Rest assured, we anticipate resolving the issue through forthcoming updates.
However, there’s no need for concern, as TikTok provides a web version accessible at TikTok.com. The majority of actions you undertake using the mobile app, such as viewing content or following accounts, can be replicated on the web version.
To proceed, visit TikTok’s web or desktop version, log in to your account, and immerse yourself in the content. Once the TikTok team patches the mobile app, you can easily transition back to using it.
9. Reset Network Settings
In certain instances, resolving the TikTok follow issue can involve resetting the phone’s network settings. It’s worth attempting this solution.
Please be aware that resetting network settings will erase all stored Wi-Fi passwords. Ensure you have your Wi-Fi password on hand before proceeding with the process.
To reset network settings on your phone, follow these steps:
- Access Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Navigate to Reset Network Settings.
- Confirm the action.
- Your phone will then restart, requiring you to log in to your Wi-Fi network for internet connectivity.
10. Contact TikTok Support
If you’ve tried everything and TikTok still stops you from following users, you can email TikTok authorities for help.
For account-related support, reach out to info@tiktok.com, legal inquiries can be sent to legal@tiktok.com, and privacy concerns can be addressed at privacy@tiktok.com. For business-related inquiries, you can contact business-servicesupport@tiktok.com.
You can also seek assistance through TikTok Support’s official Twitter account, @TikTokSupport.
Final Thoughts
Following on TikTok may become restricted due to reasons like a temporary ban, outdated app versions, app cache issues, exceeding hourly or daily follow limits, or server problems.
To address this, consider restarting the app, clearing the cache, updating or reinstalling TikTok. At times, the most effective solution is to exercise patience, as TikTok might temporarily prevent following.
Should you require additional assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.