In less than 30 seconds, you will learn exactly how to permanently remove a video from your TikTok profile, including the one critical warning about your account’s “Total Like” count that you should know before hitting delete.
Quick Answer: To delete a video, open the posted video on your profile, tap the three dots (…) or Share icon on the right, swipe the bottom menu to the left, and select Delete. A critical limitation is that deleting a video is permanent and will subtract any likes earned by that video from your profile’s total like count.
How to Delete Your Posted TikTok Video
If you’ve posted something by mistake or want to curate your feed, follow these steps for the 2026 UI:
- Go to your Profile tab in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the video you wish to remove.
- Tap the three dots (…) or the Share arrow icon located on the right side of the video.
- In the bottom row of options, swipe to the far left until you see the Delete (trash can) icon.
- Tap Delete and confirm your choice in the pop-up window.
Learn how to save a TikTok video to your phone before deleting it so you don’t lose the footage forever.
Important Limitation (Most Users Miss This)
Deleting a video is permanent. Once confirmed, the video, its comments, and its specific analytics cannot be recovered.
- Like Deduction: Deleting a viral video results in an immediate drop in your profile’s “Total Likes.”
- Business Accounts: Deleting high-performing videos can affect historical performance trends shown in TikTok Business analytics, even if the public data is removed.
- Alternative: If you only want to hide the video, it is often better to change video privacy after posting to “Only Me.”
What Deleting a Video Does NOT Do
- Remove Duets: If other users have created a Duet with your video, their versions remain live.
- Clear Local Downloads: If others saved your video to their devices, those copies are not affected.
- Reset Algorithm: Mass deletion can flag your account for suspicious activity rather than “resetting” your reach.
Quick Decision Guide
- Use Delete if the content violates guidelines or is a major error you want gone forever.
- Use “Only Me” Privacy if you want to hide the video but keep the Likes and data.
- Avoid Deleting if the video is currently trending, as you will kill your account’s momentum.
If you’re unsure which option to choose, this comparison makes the decision clear in seconds:
Action Comparison (At a Glance)
| Feature | Permanent Delete | Set to “Only Me” |
| Visibility | Gone for everyone | Only you can see it |
| Total Likes | Subtracted from profile | Retained on profile |
| Recovery | ❌ Impossible | ✅ Can be set to Public again |
| Analytics | ❌ Deleted | ✅ Preserved |
👉 Learn how to manage TikTok drafts to prevent posting mistakes in the future.
Final Summary: To delete a posted TikTok, use the “Delete” icon found within the video’s share menu, but consider switching the privacy to “Only Me” first to preserve your profile’s total like count.
📅 Accuracy Check: Verified for January 2026. This article reflects the current TikTok UI and behavior.
TopQLearn Editorial Team
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