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How to Reset Your TikTok Algorithm (Official Way)

To reset your TikTok algorithm, use Refresh your For You feed: go to Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Content Preferences, then Refresh your For You feed. TikTok then shows you popular posts and rebuilds your recommendations from how you react. The refresh can't be undone and only changes your For You feed.

Sometimes your For You feed gets stuck. You watched three videos about one topic, and now it's all you see. Or your interests have changed and TikTok hasn't caught up. TikTok has an official reset button for this, plus a few gentler tools that steer your feed without wiping it. Here's how each one works, and when to use which.

How to refresh your For You feed

  1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
  2. Tap the Menu button at the top.
  3. Tap Settings and privacy, then Content Preferences.
  4. Tap Refresh your For You feed and follow the steps on screen.

In some regions you can do it straight from a video too: press and hold a post (or tap Share), tap Why this video, then Adjust your For You, then Refresh your For You feed.

What happens after you reset

TikTok says that after a refresh it shows you some popular content. How you interact with those posts, such as liking and commenting, helps reshape your recommendations. So the first few minutes after a reset matter: like and comment on what you want more of, and skip what you don't.

Affected by the refreshNot affected
Your For You feed recommendationsYour Following feed
Your profile
Your inbox
The ads you see

Two things to know before you tap: TikTok says a refresh can't be undone, and it only affects For You. Your followers, your messages and your own videos stay exactly the same.

Gentler ways to fix your feed

A full refresh is a big step. If only one type of content is annoying you, TikTok has smaller tools:

  • Not interested: tell TikTok you don't care for a specific post, and it shows you fewer like it.
  • Filter keywords: remove content containing specific words, their variations and hashtags from your For You and Following feeds.
  • Manage topics: move sliders to see more or less of topics like sports, food and drinks or lifestyle.

How to use Manage topics

  1. Go to Settings and privacy, then Content preferences.
  2. Tap Manage topics.
  3. Move the slider for each topic to show more or less of it.
  4. Tap Save.

TikTok says topic preferences only apply to your For You feed, and it might take some time for your feed to adjust. Give it a day or two of normal scrolling before deciding it hasn't worked.

Why you're seeing what you're seeing

Before you reset, it's worth checking why TikTok picked a video. Tap Share on a post, then Why this post. TikTok lists reasons such as:

  • You commented on, liked, shared or watched similar posts.
  • The post is popular in your country.
  • It was created recently.
  • You're following the creator.

Watching is a signal too. If you let a video play to the end, TikTok treats it as interest, even if you didn't like it. Swiping away quickly is often enough to send the opposite message.

Which option should you use?

ProblemBest tool
One video type keeps appearingNot interested on those posts
A word or hashtag you never want to seeFilter keywords
Too much or too little of a topicManage topics
Your whole feed feels wrongRefresh your For You feed

Turning off personalisation completely

If you're in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, TikTok says you can turn off personalised recommendations in your settings. That's different from a refresh: instead of rebuilding your feed, TikTok stops personalising it. Most people prefer a refreshed, personalised feed, but the option is there if you'd rather not be profiled.

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Resetting for business accounts

If you use TikTok for your business, your For You feed shapes what trends and ideas you see. A refresh can help if your feed is full of content unrelated to your niche. Afterwards, spend a few minutes engaging with creators in your industry so TikTok learns what's useful to you. If you also want a cleaner profile, here's how to change your name on TikTok, and if privacy matters, see how to hide your TikTok account from friends.

How long it takes for your feed to change

Don't expect a brand new feed in seconds. After a refresh, TikTok starts with popular content and learns from what you do next. After a Manage topics change, TikTok says it might take some time to personalise your feed. In practice, a day or two of normal use is a fair test. If your feed drifts back to the old pattern, it's usually because you're still watching that kind of video to the end, so swipe past it.

Mistakes that undo your reset

  • Watching everything to the end. Long watches tell TikTok you're interested.
  • Searching for the topic you wanted to escape. Searches shape your feed too.
  • Ignoring Not interested. A couple of taps on the wrong videos teaches TikTok fast.

My verdict

TikTok's Refresh your For You feed is the official way to reset your algorithm. Use it when your whole feed feels off, and remember it can't be undone. For smaller fixes, Not interested, keyword filters and Manage topics steer your feed without starting from zero.

Frequently asked questions

Can you reset your TikTok algorithm?

Yes. Use Refresh your For You feed in Settings and privacy, then Content Preferences.

Can I undo a TikTok For You refresh?

No. TikTok says once you refresh your feed, it can't be undone.

Does refreshing my For You feed affect my followers?

No. TikTok says only your For You feed is affected, not your Following feed, profile, inbox or ads.

How do I see less of a topic on TikTok?

Go to Settings and privacy, Content preferences, Manage topics, and move that topic's slider down.

Why is TikTok showing me certain videos?

Tap Share on a post, then Why this post, to see reasons such as similar posts you watched or the post being popular in your country.

Published and maintained by the Lilach Bullock team, covering marketing, AI and business growth.
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