- What the verified badge on TikTok means
- TikTok verification criteria, as TikTok lists them
- Followers don't decide TikTok verification
- How to request verification on TikTok in the app
- Getting your TikTok profile ready before you apply
- If your TikTok verification request is turned down
- How people lose the TikTok blue tick
- Is TikTok verification right for your small business?
- TikTok verification scams to watch for
- Frequently asked questions
To get verified on TikTok, meet its four criteria (recognized, active, authentic and notable), then go to Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Account, Verification and tap Start. TikTok doesn't count followers or likes. What trips most people up is notability: you'll need credible news coverage to support your request.
The blue tick on TikTok is one of those things everyone wants and very few understand. I've had small business owners assume it comes with a follower milestone, and creators convinced there's a secret contact who can arrange it. Neither is true, and TikTok's own Help Center is refreshingly clear about how the badge works.
Below, I've set out the criteria TikTok lists, the steps to send a request from the app, and the mistakes that lose people their badge after they've got it.
What the verified badge on TikTok means
TikTok describes the verified badge as a blue check mark next to an account name. It shows that TikTok has reviewed the account and that it represents the person, business or brand behind it. TikTok is careful to say the badge isn't an endorsement. It's about identity, not quality.
That matters for a business. A badge tells customers that the profile they've found is the real one, which helps when copycat accounts pop up using your name or logo.
TikTok verification criteria, as TikTok lists them
The Help Center groups the criteria under four headings. Your account needs to meet them before a request is worth sending:
| Criterion | What TikTok's Help Center says |
|---|---|
| Recognized | The account has a name, a profile photo, a bio and at least one public post |
| Active | The account has logged in to TikTok within the past 6 months |
| Authentic | It represents a real person, business or institution, with proof to match |
| Notable | It's featured in multiple news sources |
On authenticity, TikTok explains that personal verification needs identity verification, business verification needs a Verified Business Account or Organization Account, and institution verification needs official proof of affiliation.
On notability, TikTok says promotional media, social posts and outdated or irrelevant articles don't count. Think real news coverage about you or your business, not a post on your own blog.
Followers don't decide TikTok verification
This is the myth I hear most. TikTok's Help Center says plainly that it doesn't consider the number of followers or likes on an account when granting a verified badge. A modest local business with real press coverage can be a stronger candidate than a big account nobody has written about.
How to request verification on TikTok in the app
TikTok gives this route for sending a request:
- Tap Profile at the bottom of the app.
- Tap the Menu button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Verification.
- Tap Start and follow the steps to submit your request.
TikTok says you'll need to include credible written media coverage, such as news articles, to support the request. It also says it'll let you know the result within 30 days.
If you don't see Verification in your Account settings, menus vary by app version and region, so update the app and check again before assuming you're not allowed to apply.
Getting your TikTok profile ready before you apply
Because the Recognized criterion asks for a name, photo, bio and a public post, it's worth tidying your profile first. Here's my checklist:
- Use a clear profile photo, ideally your face or your logo, so people know they've found the right account.
- Write a bio that says who you are and what you do in plain words.
- Make sure at least one post is public, not just drafts or private videos.
- Gather links to news articles that mention you by name. Recent, relevant coverage is what TikTok asks for.
If your bio links out to several places, my comparison of link in bio tools for Instagram and TikTok might help you choose one that looks tidy.
If your TikTok verification request is turned down
A no isn't final. TikTok's Help Center says that if your request is rejected, you can check the reason and resubmit after a waiting period. Use that time well: look at which criterion let you down. Most often it's notability, so work on earning real press coverage before trying again.
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How people lose the TikTok blue tick
Getting verified is only half of it. TikTok says it may remove a badge if any of these happen:
- The username is changed without sending a username update request.
- Ownership of the account is transferred.
- The account no longer has Verified Business Account or Organization Account status.
- The account repeatedly or severely breaks the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.
TikTok also says it can remove a badge at any time and without notice. The username rule catches out lots of rebranding businesses, so if you're thinking about a new handle, read up first. My TikTok username generator is handy for brainstorming, but on a verified account, go through TikTok's update request rather than just switching.
Is TikTok verification right for your small business?
I'd be honest with yourself before applying. If nobody has written about you yet, the request is likely to come back with notability as the sticking point. That's not a reason to give up. It's a nudge to build a profile that earns coverage: speak at local events, share useful expertise with journalists who cover your field, and keep your TikTok profile complete and active in the meantime.
A badge is nice to have, but your customers will judge you far more on what you post than on the tick next to your name. Steady, helpful videos do more for trust than a badge on an empty account.
TikTok verification scams to watch for
Fake verification offers are everywhere. TikTok's Help Center says getting verified is free, and that anyone claiming they can sell you a badge isn't connected to TikTok. It also says TikTok doesn't contact people by email, direct message or other channels to ask them to apply, except for Government, Politician or Political Party accounts.
If you get a message promising a blue tick, don't click its links and don't share your login. Report it in the app, then carry on with the official route above.
This guide is part of my TikTok Help: 19 Guides to Views, Pay, Freezing Fixes, Followers and TikTok Shop.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers do you need to get verified on TikTok?
None in particular. TikTok's Help Center says it doesn't consider the number of followers or likes when granting a verified badge.
Where do I apply for TikTok verification?
Go to Profile, tap the Menu button, then Settings and privacy, Account and Verification. Tap Start and follow the steps.
How long does TikTok take to review a verification request?
TikTok says it'll notify you of the result within 30 days.
Can I reapply if TikTok rejects my verification?
Yes. TikTok says you can check the reason and resubmit after a waiting period.
Does changing my TikTok username remove the badge?
It can. TikTok says it may remove a badge if the username is changed without a username update request.
