TikTok’s Really Running Slowly — What Causes It To Lag?

Once upon a time, it was no big deal when our computers lagged and our phones could barely get a decent, usable signal.

With 5G phones and Gigabit Internet speeds now commonly available, though, we’ve all become accustomed to lightning-fast connections to TikTok and the other social media platforms we’re addicted to. And when the ultimate convenience of instant communication and non-stop entertainment slows down or is interrupted, it can seem like a calamity.

“This shouldn’t be a problem in the mid-2020s,” we think. “My connection shouldn’t be lagging. What’s going wrong?”

These issues are most often to blame.

Why Is My TikTok Lagging?

Very occasionally, the app experiences technical or server issues. It’s unlikely that you’re lagging for that reason, but you might want to wait a few minutes and see if the problem clears up. It should only take a few minutes if TikTok is the culprit.

In almost all cases, the problem is with your connection, your device, or your app. Let’s explore those possibilities one by one.

Your Internet Connection May Be Poor

Phones capable of 5G connections — providing faster-than-ever speed, more network capacity, and lower latency — have been available since 2019. At this point, almost all TikTok users in Western nations have one.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can always take advantage of the technology; a poor or unstable Internet connection will cause buffering and lag. Try finding a better signal by moving closer to your router or modem or to a different part of the room, see if there’s another network available in your location, or switch to mobile data instead of Wi-Fi.

Once you have a strong signal, the lag will often disappear.

There’s a Problem with Your App

When you first downloaded the app and signed up for a TikTok account, you probably loved the platform’s speed and functionality. Over time, though, it’s not uncommon to notice the app’s performance slowing down. Here’s what can happen, and what you can do to restore that “new car smell” to your TikTok app.

• Data saver mode: Your app may be set to reduce data consumption, which prevents users from quickly using up the data your mobile plan provides. Unfortunately, it also slows the app down and can cause lagging. Make sure the option is turned off by visiting your TikTok profile, tapping the Menu icon (three horizontal lines), going to Settings and privacy > Data Saver, and making sure the toggle switch is set to “off.”
• A full cache: The app stores temporary files in a “cache,” and as those files build up, a full cache can slow performance dramatically. Clear the cache by going to Settings and privacy>Data Saver, and clicking the “Clear” button next to “Cache.” It might help to clear your saved Downloads, too.
• Background operations: TikTok may leave some operations running in your app even if they’re no longer needed, and that can lead to lag. Try logging out and back in again. (This should also solve the problem if the app has locked up.)
• An old app version: The TikTok app is constantly updated and improved, but those changes (which are automatically downloaded to your phone) sometimes cause conflicts in older installations. Deleting TikTok and upgrading to the newest version can solve many issues with prior versions of the app. (Always save your TikTok video drafts to your phone first, though; they’re lost when you upgrade.)

There’s a Problem with Your Phone

The same types of app issues that may cause lagging can also be issues with your phone or device. To troubleshoot and resolve the problems, clear your phone’s cache, check to make sure your phone hasn’t used up all available memory (and delete large files if it has), restart the device, or install the latest version of the phone’s operating system (iOS or Android). 

If you’ve made it all the way through this checklist, you’ve improved the performance of your TikTok app and phone, and that troublesome lag should be gone!