Why Can’t I Follow Anyone on TikTok?

Why can’t I follow people on TikTok? If you’re suddenly unable to follow TikTok users, there are several possible causes. Let’s look at each one and how to solve them.

Can’t Follow People on TikTok: 10 Main Reasons and Solutions

Sometimes, users encounter issues where they can’t follow people on TikTok. Following others is essential to the TikTok experience, shaping your For You feed and account suggestions. If you can’t follow on TikTok, don’t worry! Here are the most likely causes and what you can do to fix them:

1. Error Message: Following Too Fast

Ever wondered, “Why won’t TikTok let me follow people?” If you get a “Following too fast” error message, it’s likely because you’ve been following too many accounts too quickly. TikTok monitors activities that seem bot-like or spammy, like rapidly following accounts.

If you’ve been unable to follow on TikTok, it’s probably a temporary restriction. TikTok may pause your ability to follow people for up to 24 hours to prevent potential spam. Although TikTok doesn’t specify a daily follow limit, user reports suggest that following between 140-200 accounts daily is safe. To avoid restrictions, limit following to 30 accounts per hour.

To avoid this, break up your following activity throughout the day. Aim to follow smaller groups, like 10-12 accounts per hour. Also, avoid following and unfollowing the same account repeatedly, as TikTok might flag this as spammy behavior.

2. You Have Reached Your Overall Following Limit

Still wondering, “Why is TikTok not letting me follow new accounts?” Another likely reason is that you have reached your overall following limit. TikTok allows users to follow a maximum of 10,000 accounts. If you have hit this threshold but need to follow some new accounts, you’ll need to unfollow others first.

This would be an excellent opportunity to do some TikTok cleanup. Unfollow accounts you don’t engage with or those no longer active on the platform. You may have followed an account because you really enjoyed a few of their videos. However, if most of their content doesn’t resonate with you, you should also consider unfollowing them.

3. Can’t Follow People Back on TikTok

Have trouble with TikTok not letting you follow people back? There are a few possible reasons for this.

First, remember that even though everyone has a Follow button, private accounts must approve follow requests before granting access. TikTok automatically sets private accounts for teens aged 13-15.

If you can’t follow a public or private account, they may have blocked you. A blocked account can’t view or interact with the blocker’s videos through likes, comments, or direct messages.

Regardless of whether an account is public or private, you can still search for them and view their profile page. Privacy settings may limit access to profile details and videos. If someone blocks you, you can see their profile but won’t be able to interact or view their content.

4. TikTok May Be Down or Experiencing Other Issues

It happens now and then. Sometimes, TikTok ‘follow’ not working is because the app is down. TikTok might experience server problems or undergo routine maintenance, which affects functionality. This can prevent you from following accounts or even accessing the app entirely.

To check if TikTok is down, use an online down detector site. If it’s an outage, you’ll need to wait for TikTok to resolve it.

In some cases, the problem is specific to the app version. Try accessing TikTok’s desktop version through a browser to see if the issue persists.

5. Clear Cache Files on TikTok

Is your TikTok following not working? It might be due to a buildup of cache files. TikTok stores cache files to improve app performance, but too many can cause glitches.

Clearing your cache may solve the issue. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your Profile and tap the Menu in the upper right corner.
2. Tap Settings and Privacy.
3. Scroll to Cache & Cellular, then tap Free up space.
4. Clear cache, downloads, or both to free up space.

You can also manage drafts here if needed. Clearing cache files often help resolve minor app issues.

6. TikTok App Needs To Be Updated

If you’re unable to follow accounts or experiencing other app issues, check if your TikTok app is up-to-date. After an app update, an un-updated version may glitch out. A TikTok following problem can cause users to temporarily lose track of who they were following. The quickest way to check for a TikTok update is by going to the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

1. Open Google Play Store or Apple Store.
2. Type TikTok in the search box. 
3. Select TikTok. 
4. The Update/Install update option will appear if your app needs an update. If your app is up-to-date, you won’t see this option.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, you can also try uninstalling and re-installing your TikTok app. You won’t lose your TikTok information and content when uninstalling the app. However, you will lose your TikTok drafts. 

If the problems persist, you can submit a report to TikTok.

7. Check Connection Issues

Your TikTok app problems may also be the result of internet connection issues. Restart your internet router and your device’s WiFi connection. If the problem is your internet connection, contact your service provider. 

8. You Need To Update Your Privacy Settings

Still asking, “Why is TikTok not letting me follow a new account?” It might be due to your privacy settings. TikTok’s settings can sometimes restrict your ability to follow new accounts. Go to your settings and make sure your privacy preferences allow you to follow other users. Adjust these settings to resolve any restrictions and get back to following people.

9. Check the VPN on Your Phone

Using a VPN can sometimes interfere with TikTok’s functions, including following new accounts. If you notice your TikTok not following accounts, try disabling your VPN. Some regions or networks may block certain TikTok features. Disconnecting from the VPN might solve the issue and restore full app functionality.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for checking and disabling VPN on both iPhone and Android devices:

For iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app: Tap the “Settings” icon on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap General: In the Settings menu, find and tap “General.”
3. Tap VPN & Device Management: Scroll down and select “VPN & Device Management.”
4. Check VPN status: You can view the VPN configuration in this section. If it’s connected, simply toggle it off to disconnect.​
5. Disable VPN: Toggle the switch next to “Status” to disconnect the VPN.

If you want to remove the VPN completely:

1. Tap on the “i” icon next to the VPN configuration.
2. Then tap Delete VPN.

For Android:

1. Open the Settings app: Find the “Settings” app on your Android device and tap to open it.
2. Scroll down and select Network & Internet: Under Settings, tap on “Network & Internet.”
3. Tap on VPN: You’ll see “VPN” in the list; tap it to view your VPN settings.
4. Check VPN status: If your VPN is connected, it will show here.
5. Disable VPN: Tap the active VPN and then select “Disconnect” to disable it.

If you want to remove the VPN entirely:

1. Tap the gear icon next to the VPN and select Forget VPN or Remove.

By following these steps, you can check or disable VPN settings to resolve potential issues with TikTok, regardless of your device.

10. Use TikTok Web App To Follow People

If your TikTok not letting you follow a new account persists, try using the TikTok web app. Switching to a browser version can sometimes fix app-specific issues. Open TikTok in a web browser and follow people from there. This can be a quick workaround when the app isn’t functioning properly.

How To Manage Your Follow Settings

If you’re wondering, “Why can’t I follow someone on TikTok?” it might be due to your account settings. If your personal account is set to private, you must approve all follow requests manually. This feature gives you more control over who interacts with your profile and posts.

How To Make Your TikTok Account Private

To control who follows you and sees your content, you can switch your account to private. Here’s how:

1. Go to your Profile and tap the menu (three lines) in the top right
2. Tap Settings and Privacy
3. Select Privacy
4. Toggle on Private Account

With a private account, you approve all follow requests, ensuring control over who can see your content.

Managing Followers on a Public Account

Let’s say you’re not too worried about the question, “Why can’t I follow people on TikTok?” Instead, you don’t want people to be able to follow you. If you have a public account, you can block users who post hate speech or violent content. You can block users from their profile or directly from your video’s comments section.

To block someone from their profile:

1. Visit the user’s profile
2. Tap the arrow icon next to their name
3. Tap Block

To block someone from your video’s comments section:

1. Tap the comments under your video
2. Long-press the comment of the user you want to block
3. Tap Manage multiple comments and select the user(s) to block
4. Tap More, then tap Block accounts

Removing Followers

If blocking seems unnecessary, you can simply remove unwanted followers. Note, however, that they can follow you again later.

To remove followers:

1. Go to your Profile and tap Followers
2. Tap the three dots beside the follower you want to remove
3. Tap Remove this follower

Or:

1. Visit the user’s profile
2. Tap the arrow icon next to their name
3. Tap Remove this follower

Should You Follow Your Followers?

On TikTok, you don’t just grow your followers; you build relationships and grow a community. The accounts you follow and interact with also inform the TikTok algorithm of your preferences. The algorithm considers these signals when suggesting accounts for you to follow and videos you may want to watch. So, following accounts in your niche and industry is always a good idea. Should you also follow your followers?

Many TikTok users participate in a “follow-for-follow” strategy to quickly build an audience. Deciding whether to follow your followers depends on the size of your account and the time you can dedicate. For smaller accounts, it’s easier to review follower profiles and decide if following them back will benefit your community. Do they post content relevant to your interests? Are they actively engaged? Even if the person is a regular user, following them back may help boost your visibility and reach.

People often see following back as a courtesy, but they don’t necessarily expect it. For smaller, niche communities, following your followers can strengthen relationships and build a loyal, active fanbase. These tight-knit communities often lead to higher engagement and more meaningful connections.

Once you’ve answered, “Why can’t I follow people on TikTok?” and addressed any technical issues, you can refine your following strategy. For even greater audience targeting, consider signing up for a High Social plan. High Social’s advanced AI helps you reach more viewers who are genuinely interested in your content. Start growing your TikTok community today!

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