- The catch: when you add it changes what's on offer
- How to record with an effect and save favourites
- How to add a filter and set its strength
- The camera tools on the side panel
- Making your own effect in the mobile effect editor
- Effects on the editing screen after you shoot
- My verdict on TikTok effects and filters
- Frequently asked questions
On TikTok, effects and filters sit in two different places: tap the Add Post + button, then tap Effects at the bottom of the camera screen for effects, or Filters on the side panel for filters. Filters can go on before or after you record or upload and have a strength slider, while effects can be added before or after recording but some only exist at one of those stages.
The catch: when you add it changes what's on offer
If an effect you used last week has vanished, it may not be gone at all. TikTok says some effects are only available before recording and others only after, so the list you see depends on where you are in the process. Filters work differently: you can add them before and after recording or uploading. And there's a Management option in the filters panel that decides which filters appear in the app at all, so a missing filter is worth checking there first.
| Effects | Filters | |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find them | Effects at the bottom of the camera screen | Filters on the side panel |
| When you can add them | Before or after recording, but some only at one stage | Before and after recording or uploading |
| Save or organise | Favorites button at the top of the effects panel | Management in the filters panel |
| Adjust | Pick another effect to preview | Slider above the filters panel for strength |
| Take off | Remove button next to the effect | Remove button on the left of the filters panel |
Everything on this page comes from TikTok's own help pages (source: TikTok Help Center, read October 2026), and the menu and button names are written the way TikTok writes them.
How to record with an effect and save favourites
- In the TikTok app, tap the Add Post + button at the bottom.
- Tap Effects at the bottom of the camera screen.
- Select an effect to preview. It's applied to your screen automatically.
- Tap anywhere to return to the camera screen and record with the effect.
To keep an effect handy, select it and tap the Favorites button at the top of the effects panel. It'll now appear in your Favorites. Tap the same button again on that effect to take it out.
How to add a filter and set its strength
- In the TikTok app, tap the Add Post + button at the bottom.
- Tap Filters on the side panel.
- Select a filter you'd like to use.
- Adjust the slider above the filters panel to preview different filter strengths.
- Tap anywhere to return to the camera screen and record with the filter.
The slider is the bit most people skip. A filter at full strength can look heavy, and pulling it back is often all it takes to make it look natural. Taking effects and filters off is a short job with its own quirks for photos and the retouch filter, and I've covered it in my guide on removing filters on TikTok.
The camera tools on the side panel
| Tool | What it does | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Flip | Switches between front and back camera | Tap Flip on the side panel, or double-tap the video, before or during recording |
| Speed | 1x is standard; 0.3x and 0.5x slow it down; 2x and 3x speed it up | Tap Speed on the side panel and pick a speed |
| Video length | Record up to 10 minutes in TikTok, or upload up to 60 minutes | Select a length before you tap Record |
| Timer | Records without holding the button | Tap Timer, pick the countdown, slide the bar for maximum length, tap Start countdown |
| Flash | Turns the camera light on or off | Tap the Flash button |
| Zoom | Zooms in or out while recording | Press and hold Record and slide, or pinch on the camera screen |
One thing catches people out: if you pick a sound before you record or upload, the sound's length decides the video length. And TikTok's camera is the only one you can record with inside the app; if you'd rather use your phone's own camera, record separately and upload.
Making your own effect in the mobile effect editor
Creators can build their own effects in the app using makeup, stickers, filters, randomizers, green screens and more. The effect types are Stickers (attached to the face, hand, foreground or background), Randomizer, Green Screen, Transformation (warp and face stretch) and Visual effects like flashing, blurring and dissolving. If you want to use green screen effects rather than build one, see my guide on using green screen on TikTok.
- Tap the Add post + button at the bottom.
- Tap the Effects button.
- Scroll across and tap Create.
- Tap Create effect.
- Choose one or more effect types at the bottom, or tap Templates to start from a template.
- Tap Done when you've finished editing.
- Tap the Add icon + button below Effect icon, then choose a model from the gallery or from Recents.
- Enter a name below Effect name.
- Tap Submit to send it for review, or Save as draft to edit later.
Once your effect is approved, everyone on TikTok can use it. Effects must follow TikTok's terms, Community Guidelines and Effect Guidelines, and TikTok can reject or remove ones that don't.
Effects on the editing screen after you shoot
Once you've recorded or uploaded, tap the Edit button on the side panel to open the editing tools: overlay and sound effects, video effects, multi-track editing and AI editing effects. The Magic tool adds video and audio effects automatically when you pick an editing style. Effect templates let you drop your photos or videos into a ready-made edit, though the feature isn't available to everyone, and Business Accounts can only use templates made with music licensed for commercial use.
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AI Create generates an image or video from a text prompt and your own photos or videos. It isn't available everywhere, you get a limited number of regenerations each day, and TikTok stores your prompts and uploads for up to 30 days. In a single editing session you can upload up to 35 items, add up to 8 overlays and one sound, and the editing tools work on Duet and Stitch videos too.
If an effect or filter won't add or remove, TikTok asks you to submit feedback with a screen recording of your editing screen, through Need more help? in the app. Before that, it's worth reading why TikTok effects won't work on some devices.
My verdict on TikTok effects and filters
Think of them as two separate drawers. Effects change what's in the shot, filters change how it looks, and you'll find each in a different place. Star the effects you use often so they're in Favorites, tidy your filter list in Management, and always try the strength slider before you decide a filter isn't for you. If something's missing, check whether you're before or after recording, because that's usually the answer.
Frequently asked questions
Where are filters on TikTok?
Tap the Add Post + button, then tap Filters on the side panel. You can add a filter before or after recording or uploading your video.
How do I save a TikTok effect for later?
Select the effect after tapping Effects, then tap the Favorites button at the top of the effects panel. It'll appear in your Favorites.
Can I change which filters show up on TikTok?
Yes. Select Management from the filters panel to choose which filters you'd like to see in the app.
How long can a TikTok video be?
Up to 10 minutes if you record it in TikTok, and up to 60 minutes if you upload it.
