- Turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok step by step
- Why TikTok asks for a passcode to change Restricted Mode
- What changes on TikTok when Restricted Mode is on
- Restricted Mode on TikTok with more than one account
- When a parent controls Restricted Mode through TikTok Family Pairing
- Should you turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok?
- If TikTok Restricted Mode still seems to be on
- Frequently asked questions
To turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok, tap Profile, the Menu button, Settings and privacy, then Content preferences and Restricted Mode. Enter the passcode and follow the steps to switch it off. If a parent set it through Family Pairing, a teen can't switch it off alone, because the parent's settings take priority.
Restricted Mode is one of those TikTok settings people switch on for a reason and then forget about. Weeks later, the Following feed has vanished, the LIVE button is missing and nobody can work out why. More often than not, Restricted Mode is the answer.
I've put this guide together from TikTok's own Help Center, so you'll know where the switch is, why it asks for a passcode, and what's going on if a parent has set it through Family Pairing. If you manage a business account, it's worth checking this setting before you plan a LIVE session.
Turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok step by step
TikTok's Help Center gives this route in the app:
- Tap Profile at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Menu button at the top, then select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Content preferences.
- Tap Restricted Mode.
- Enter your passcode when asked, then follow the steps on screen to turn it off.
TikTok says Restricted Mode can be turned on or off at any time, so as long as you know the passcode, it's a quick job. Once it's off, the features it was blocking should come back.
Why TikTok asks for a passcode to change Restricted Mode
The passcode is the whole point. When Restricted Mode is first switched on, TikTok asks you to set one, and you'll need that same passcode to turn it off again. It stops someone else, often a younger person sharing the phone, from switching the filter off on a whim.
The same screen works for switching it back on later. Go to Content preferences, tap Restricted Mode and follow the prompts. If you're setting it up for the first time, you'll be asked to set a new passcode as part of the process, so pick one you'll remember and that the other people using the phone won't guess. Write it somewhere safe if you share the device with children.
If it's your own account and you set the passcode yourself, try the codes you normally use. If you can't remember it at all, TikTok's Restricted Mode article doesn't describe a reset route, so I'd contact TikTok through the app rather than guessing: go to Profile, the Menu button, Settings and privacy, Help Center, then Chat with us.
What changes on TikTok when Restricted Mode is on
TikTok's Help Center says some features aren't available in Restricted Mode, including:
- The Following feed.
- Going LIVE.
- Gifting on LIVE.
It also filters what you see. TikTok says automated systems and human moderators decide what's included, and content usually left out includes profanity, sexually suggestive content, realistic violence or threatening imagery, weapons shown in inappropriate settings, illegal or controlled substances and explicit references to mature themes.
| Feature | With Restricted Mode on | With Restricted Mode off |
|---|---|---|
| Following feed | Unavailable | Available |
| Going LIVE | Unavailable | Available, subject to TikTok's other rules |
| Gifting on LIVE | Unavailable | Available, subject to TikTok's other rules |
| Content filtering | Mature or complex themes filtered out | Your usual feed |
Restricted Mode on TikTok with more than one account
Here's a detail lots of people miss. TikTok's Help Center says that if you have more than one account, you need to turn on Restricted Mode for each account separately. The same logic applies in reverse: switching it off on one account leaves it on for the others. If you run a personal account and a business account on the same phone, check both.
When a parent controls Restricted Mode through TikTok Family Pairing
If you're a teen and the setting won't budge, Family Pairing may be the reason. TikTok's Help Center says parents and guardians can turn on Restricted Mode for a teen's account through Family Pairing.
TikTok's Family Pairing article adds a key rule: teens can always increase their own restrictions, but can't reduce the ones a parent has set. It also says Restricted Mode and daily screen time limits stop the teen from logging out or switching accounts in the app. So if a parent turned it on, the teen can't switch it off alone. The conversation needs to happen with the parent.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
For parents, the controls live in Family Pairing. TikTok's steps are: tap Profile, the Menu button, then Settings and privacy, tap Family Pairing, select your teen's account and update the settings. TikTok notes that daily screen time is on by default for teens aged 13 to 17, which is worth reviewing at the same time.
Should you turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok?
For adults, it's your call. If you want your Following feed back or you plan to go LIVE, you'll need it off. If the phone is shared with children, I'd leave it on and use a separate account for yourself, since TikTok treats each account on its own.
For younger users, the filter is there for good reasons. Pair it with the other safety tools on TikTok, such as blocking. My guide to blocking someone on TikTok and what they see explains how that works. And if anything someone sends is threatening, report it to TikTok and, if you're in danger, contact the police.
If TikTok Restricted Mode still seems to be on
- Check you're on the right account. Restricted Mode is set per account, so switching accounts can make it look as if the change didn't stick.
- Close and reopen the app after turning it off.
- Update TikTok to the latest version.
- If a parent linked your account through Family Pairing, the setting is controlled from their account, not yours.
While you're in Settings and privacy, it's a good moment to review the rest of your privacy choices too. My walkthrough on how to turn off TikTok story views covers another setting people often look for.
Related guides live in the TikTok Help: 19 Guides to Views, Pay, Freezing Fixes, Followers and TikTok Shop.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Restricted Mode in TikTok settings?
Tap Profile, the Menu button, then Settings and privacy. Tap Content preferences, then Restricted Mode.
Do I need a passcode to turn off Restricted Mode on TikTok?
Yes. TikTok's steps ask you to enter the passcode set when Restricted Mode was switched on, then follow the steps on screen.
Why can't I see my Following feed on TikTok?
TikTok's Help Center says the Following feed is unavailable in Restricted Mode, along with going LIVE and gifting on LIVE.
Can a teen turn off Restricted Mode set through Family Pairing?
No. TikTok says teens can increase their own restrictions but can't reduce those set by a parent through Family Pairing.
Does Restricted Mode apply to all my TikTok accounts?
No. TikTok says you need to turn it on for each account separately, so check each account you use.
