TikTok is a fun way to discover new trends or pass the time. Of course, you wouldn’t want to spend expensive mobile data while scrolling through TikTok videos. However, the problem may arise with TikTok not loading videos on Wi-Fi, and many face that issue. Whether it has stopped working entirely or the issue is sporadic, here’s how to fix TikTok not working on a Wi-Fi network.
Table of Contents
1. Restart Router
We usually don’t restart the router like we reboot a phone and computer. Over time, it gets a little sluggish and also warm. Hold down the power button on the router until it turns off. Then you can remove the router from the power source and leave it unplugged for a minute or two. After that, plug it back in and press the power button to start it. When your network is up, access TikTok. Continue reading if TikTok’s Home feed doesn’t load. Â
2. Update Router Firmware
Just like restarting the router, updating its firmware is the last thing we normally do. That’s why we upgraded the router firmware to the latest version. After a few cold reboots, the router restored internet connectivity. Note that, the steps to upgrade router firmware differ from one router brand to another. So, whip open your router’s support page to learn how to install the firmware update and perform a reboot.
3. TikTok Is Blocked on Your School Wi-Fi
Are you having trouble accessing TikTok on your university or school’s Wi-Fi network? Your school or university may have blocked TikTok, Snapchat, and other social media apps on Wi-Fi network. It is possible that many of your fellow mates can’t access it either. If it happens only to you, contact the IT admin or the authorities. There are several ways to load TikTok on a school Wi-Fi without any issues.
You can use a VPN connection on your phone to remove such restrictions. Pick a capable VPN network, enable the connection on your phone and load TikTok on a school Wi-Fi without any problems. Â
4. Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi Frequency
Your home or office may have several devices (old and new) on the Wi-Fi network. By default, most end up crowding the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency band. If you use a dual-band router, switch to the 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency band. The 5GHz is faster than 2.4GHz frequency, but offers a relatively limited range.
5. Disable Low Data Mode on Wi-Fi (iPhone)
Modern smartphones come with a Low Data Mode to avoid using the costly mobile data. However, modern OS updates also support the Low Data Mode for Wi-Fi networks. So TikTok can stutter or not work when the low data mode is active on your phone. You can disable it using the steps below.
1. Open the Settings app and select Wi-Fi.
2. Tap i beside a saved Wi-Fi network.
3. Disable the Low Data Mode toggle.
6. Force Stop TikTok
It’s another handy trick to fix TikTok misbehaves on your phone. You may force stop TikTok, which suspends all the app-related activities on your phone and try again.
1. Long-press on the TikTok app icon and open the info menu.
2. Tap Force stop.
After a few minutes, you can relaunch TikTok to check if it works fine on the Wi-Fi network.
7. Clear TikTok App Cache
TikTok collects cache in the background to load the Home feed quickly. That said, when the app accumulates a large collection of cache files, it can slow down the responsiveness. This can be why TikTok is not working on Wi-Fi or mobile data. There are a couple of ways to clear the TikTok cache on your phone.
Clear TikTok Cache From App Info Menu (Android)
1. Long-press on the TikTok app icon and open the info menu.
2. Tap Storage and cache and hit Clear cache.
Clear TikTok Cache From App Settings
The trick above isn’t available on TikTok for iPhone. iOS users can follow the steps below.
1. Launch the TikTok app and tap Profile in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the hamburger menu at the top and open Settings and privacy.
3. Scroll to Free up space. Tap Clear beside Cache.
8. Update TikTok
An outdated TikTok app on your phone may cause issues with Wi-Fi. You can visit the App Store or the Google Play Store to install the latest TikTok version.
If TikTok still misbehaves on Wi-Fi, delete the app and install it again. Sign in with your account details and check if the Home feed loads on Wi-Fi.
9. Check TikTok Servers
When TikTok servers face an outage, you may run into issues using the app on Wi-Fi or mobile data. You can visit Downdetector on any mobile browser and search for TikTok to confirm the issue. In such cases, TikTok won’t work on Windows PC either.
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TikTok not working on Wi-Fi can spoil your social media game, especially if you rely on the platform for your business and marketing. Before you switch to a rival platform and lose your loyal followers, use the steps above to fix Wi-Fi issues on TikTok.
