TikTok has become such an important force in so many people’s lives that they often freak out if they find out that their account has apparently been locked.

The first thing to do if you think that’s happened to you? Take a deep breath. It isn’t the end of the world; believe it or not, billions of people existed for centuries without access to the social media platform.

Once you calm down, it’s time to figure out what’s gone wrong and take steps to remedy the situation. You can’t know what to do until you know what’s caused the problem, so let’s look at the possibilities.

1. TikTok is Having Technical Issues

It’s rare when tech glitches prevent you from using your account, but the problem may be on their end, not yours.

Wait a few minutes and try again. If the issue persists, ask a friend who’s also on the app to see if they’re experiencing problems as well. If it’s just you, it’s time to move on to the next diagnostic steps.

2. You’re Having Technical Issues

TikTok’s full functionality won’t be available to you if your app or your connection isn’t working properly. Check these possibilities:

• Your network is down or you don’t have a strong signal. Make sure the network is up and your connection is good; if not, try a different network or connection method (or just move closer to your modem and/or router to see if that helps).
• Your app or phone has locked up. Try logging off and back onto TikTok, restarting your phone, or downloading the latest app version.
• You’ve run out of storage. Empty the cache (on iOS devices, do it from your TikTok settings; on Androids, do it from your phone settings) and try again.

Still no luck? The problem’s probably with your account.

3. You’ve Had a Password Problem

If you use the wrong password too many times, TikTok locks you out.

Try resetting your password by clicking the “Sign up” link on the login screen, and then going to Log in > Use phone/email/username > Email/username, and then tap “Forget password?” Follow the instructions from there.

If you don’t make any progress, there’s more you can do.

4. You Need an Account Reset

Accounts can sometimes be recovered if two other TikTok users will vouch for you.

1. Tap the “Help” link at the top of the login screen and then click “Recover your account.”
2. Enter your TikTok username or email and tap “Search.”
3. When your account screen comes up, click “Can’t access these?” at the bottom, and then choose “Ask friends to verify.”
4. Click “Start” and then “Share,” and you’ll see a list of instructions for your friends to follow. You can either share them directly through a messaging app or cut and paste them into a text or email.
5. You need at least two TikTok followers/friends to verify you. They’ll get a notification in their account and must respond to it quickly.

You’ll be notified whether your account has been reset. If it hasn’t, the news probably isn’t good.

5. Your TikTok Account Has Been Hacked or Banned

We’ve saved these possibilities for last because they can be difficult and time-consuming to deal with.

You’ve Been Hacked

Hackers usually change your password and access details immediately, making it impossible for you to log in. Contact TikTok Support immediately on the web at support.tiktok.com and use the “Report a problem” link for further instructions and help. (You can reach support via the app, of course, but if you’re locked out, that’s not a possibility.)

There’s Been Suspicious Activity on Your Account

TikTok may temporarily lock an account if they think that something fishy is going on. The most common issues are repeated password changes or login attempts.

You can either wait to see if a temporary block is resolved, or you can contact the app’s support team as described above to see if the issue can be resolved.

You’ve Violated the App’s Rules

You’ll usually get a warning that you’ve run afoul of Community Standards or TikTok’s Terms and Conditions before your account is locked or banned. If you’ve gotten one or more notifications about violations, there’s a good chance you’ve been banned from the platform.

Serious breaches of the rules, however, can lead to an immediate lock or ban. A large banner at the top of the screen will be displayed if you’ve been banished from TikTok, but you may not have noticed it in your attempts to log in.

If you believe the lock or ban isn’t deserved, click on the banner and then tap “Appeal,” and honestly explain why you believe the penalty is in error and your account should be reinstated. Be patient and keep your fingers crossed; it may take a while to receive a response.

Good luck!