How to Fix TikTok Not Letting You Follow Someone: 11 Tips

Download Article

Understand how to start following people on TikTok again

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: March 17, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Troubleshooting TikTok

|

Why won't TikTok let me follow people?

|

Video

Are you having trouble following others on your TikTok account? Whether you have a new or old account, you may be blocked from following others if you've been flagged or if there is a bug in the TikTok app. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can try to fix the problem. Here's why TikTok won't let you follow people and how to fix it.

Why can't I follow someone on TikTok?

If TikTok is not letting you follow people, make sure you haven't exceeded the 10,000 follow limit. Clear your TikTok cache in your account settings, redownload the app, and check your account status. If your account has been flagged as spam, you'll be blocked from most features.

Section 1 of 2:

Troubleshooting TikTok

Download Article

1
Check your privacy settings. If your TikTok account is private, you can try making it public to see if this fixes the issue. Do the following:
- Tap your profile in the TikTok app.
- Tap ☰.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy.
- Toggle off Private account.
The issue may be with your Wi-Fi network or its connection. Switch to your cellular data if possible, and then try following people.

Advertisement
3
Restart the TikTok app. If you have TikTok running in the background frequently, it may just need a full restart before you get start following people again. This will vary depending on your device.
- iPhone or iPad: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button), and swipe up on TikTok to close it. Then, tap TikTok to load it again.
- Android: Swipe up from the bottom, hold, and then let go. Swipe up on TikTok to close it. Then, tap TikTok to load it again.
4
Clear your TikTok cache. This can be done within the app itself. Clearing your cache can fix any minor software bugs within the app. Be aware that this will delete app information such as saved searches, certain settings or preferences, and recent videos. Do the following:
- Tap your profile.
- Tap ☰.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Free up space.
- Tap Clear next to Cache.
- Tap Clear again.
5
Log out and log back in again. A simple relog can fix some account issues. To log out of TikTok, do the following:
- Tap your profile.
- Tap ☰.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Scroll down and tap Log out.
6
Log in to TikTok on another device. Some users reported that signing into another device seemed to unlock something in their account, which allowed them to follow people again. Use or borrow another device, log into your TikTok account, and don't forget to log out. Then, try using your original device again.
- If you don't have another device, you can try logging into the TikTok website on a computer.
If TikTok still won't let you follow people, delete the app from your phone or tablet, and then download it again from the App Store or Google Play Store.
8
Check your account status. If your account has been flagged for any reason, certain features may be blocked. This could prevent you from following others. To check, do the following:
- Tap your profile.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
- Tap ☰.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Support.
- Tap Safety Center.
- Tap Account Status.
  - If there's an issue, you'll see a warning sign.
It's possible TikTok has flagged your account as a bot without any official notice. In this case, take a break from following others. You can try using the app normally, such as liking and sharing posts, to show TikTok you aren't a bot.
If you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), it may be interfering with the Instagram app or website. Turn it off, restart the app, and then try again.
11
Contact TikTok support. If you still can't follow people on TikTok, you can try sending a report to TikTok. This can be done within the app or on the website.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- To use the website:
  - Go to https://www.tiktok.com/legal/report/feedback in a web browser.
  - Select a topic from the drop-down menu.
  - Provide your email address.
  - Enter details of the issue.
  - Check the boxes to agree to the terms, and click Submit.
- To use the app:
  - Tap your profile.
  - Tap ☰.
  - Tap Settings and privacy.
  - Tap Report a problem.
  - Select a topic and subtopic.
  - Tap No to Is your problem resolved?
  - Tap Need more help?.
  - Tap Chat with us.
  - Enter details of the issue.

Section 2 of 2:

Why won't TikTok let me follow people?

Download Article

You may have a software bug, or TikTok may have flagged you as a bot. If you can't follow anyone on TikTok, you may have been trying to follow too many people too quickly. TikTok may flag you as a bot, especially if your account is new and you're trying to do a bunch of new actions. If your account hasn't been flagged, you may have some corrupted data within the app or your device.
- TikTok allows you to follow up to 10,000 at a time. If you've reached this limit, you won't be able to follow any more users until you unfollow some.