Apart from sharing and interacting on short videos, TikTok offers a messaging feature to stay in touch with friends and followers. You can start conversations, share trendy videos, explore stickers, GIFs, and more to spice up your chat. However, TikTok’s chat features are irrelevant when you can’t send or receive messages in the first place. If you are unable to send or receive messages on TikTok, read more.
Table of Contents
1. Check Network Connection
You should first check the network connection on your phone. If your iPhone or Android phone is connected to Wi-Fi without internet, you can’t send or receive messages on TikTok.
You can swipe down from your Android phone’s home screen and enable the Airplane mode. iOS users can access the option from the Control Center. Disable it after some time and try sending messages on TikTok.
2. Private Account
If your TikTok account is private, only your approved followers can watch your videos and send messages. If you want to expand your reach on TikTok, make your account public. Here’s how.
1. Open TikTok and go to your profile. Tap the hamburger menu at the top and open Settings and privacy.
2. Select Privacy and disable the Private account toggle.
3. Check Messages Settings
Before we explore advanced tricks, make sure your TikTok account is set to receive messages from people you follow.
1. Head to TikTok Settings and privacy (check the steps above).
2. Select Privacy. Scroll down to Messaging.
3. Tap Messaging and select Friends.
4. Enable Background Data Refresh
If you have disabled background data refresh for TikTok on iPhone, you can’t receive messages when the app is running in the background.
1. Open Settings and scroll to TikTok.
2. Enable the Background Data Refresh toggle.
5. Disable Data Saver Mode
TikTok may fail to send or receive messages in active data saver mode. You should disable the option from the Settings menu and try again.
1. Launch TikTok and navigate to Settings and privacy.
2. Scroll to Data Saver.
3. Disable the Data Saver toggle.
6. Clear TikTok Cache
A corrupt TikTok cache may lead to messaging issues on TikTok. The app collects cache in the background to remember your search queries and improve loading times. There are a couple of ways to clear TikTok cache.
1. Head to TikTok Settings and privacy (check the steps above).
2. Scroll to Free up space.
3. Clear cache from the following menu.
Android users can delete the TikTok cache from the app info menu, too.
1. Long-tap on the TikTok app icon and open the info menu.
2. Tap Storage and cache and hit Clear cache from the following menu.
7. The Person Has Blocked You
When things go south with someone on TikTok, the person may block you on the platform. Since blocking someone is a privacy feature, you don’t receive any notification for it.
If someone has blocked you on TikTok, you can’t send or receive messages from them.
8. Force Stop TikTok
It’s another handy trick to fix common TikTok glitches in no time. You can force stop TikTok and open it again.
1. Open the TikTok app info menu (refer to the steps above).
2. Tap Force stop and try again.
9. Check TikTok Servers
If the TikTok servers are down, you can’t load videos and send or receive messages. To confirm the problem, head to Downdetector and search for TikTok. You may notice high outage graphs and user comments complaining about the same. You need to wait for TikTok to troubleshoot server-side issues from their end and try again.
10. Update TikTok
An outdated TikTok app may cause issues with sending or receiving messages. The company regularly releases new updates to add features and fix bugs. You can update TikTok to the latest version and try again.
11. Use a VPN Network
If the local authorities have blocked the TikTok app in your region, you can’t check your feed and send or receive messages. You need to use a VPN app on your phone and connect to one of the servers where TikTok is still accessible. You can now launch TikTok and check your messages.
12. Reinstall TikTok
Do you still face issues with sending or receiving messages? It’s time to reinstall TikTok. iPhone users can long-tap on the TikTok app icon and delete it. Android users need to head to the app info menu and hit Uninstall.
Now, download and install TikTok from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
Start a Conversation on TikTok
TikTok failing to receive or send messages can confuse you. You can switch to another platform for your friends and family. But for your other TikTok followers, you must the built-in messaging features. The tricks above should fix glitches with TikTok messages in no time.
