TikTok Tutorial: Videos, Settings and Account Fixes

This TikTok tutorial starts with the three things beginners mix up: your nickname, your username and who can see your posts. TikTok's support pages say a username can be changed once every 30 days and a nickname once every 7 days. Get those settings right first, then use my grouped guides below for everything else.

I've written a lot of TikTok guides, and most of the questions behind them start in the same place: someone's new to the app and isn't sure which setting does what. So this page is the starting point. I've set out what TikTok's own support pages say about your profile, privacy and posting, then grouped every TikTok guide I've written by the job you're doing.

Your TikTok nickname and username aren't the same thing

TikTok gives every account two names, and they follow different rules. Your nickname is the name people see across TikTok, in the For You feed, comments and direct messages. Your username is the tag, such as @username, that makes up your profile link.

	Nickname	Username
Where it shows	Across TikTok, including the For You feed, comments and messages	Your @ tag and profile link
Length	Up to 30 characters	2 to 24 characters
How often you can change it	Once every 7 days	Once every 30 days
Other rules	Must follow the Community Guidelines	Letters, numbers, underscores and periods only, and no period at the end

Here's the bit that catches people out. TikTok says changing your username also changes your profile link, so any old link you've shared stops pointing to you. And if you give a username up, you won't be able to add it to an account for a short period, so don't swap it on a whim. Both are changed from Profile, then Edit profile.

TikTok privacy settings a beginner should check

Plenty of people switch to a private account and assume nobody can see them. TikTok's support pages say otherwise: even on a private account, your name, username and profile photo are visible to anyone on or off TikTok. So choose those three with that in mind.

Each post has its own privacy setting too. TikTok says that on a public account you can choose Everyone, Friends (followers you follow back) or Only you, and on a private account it's Followers, Friends or Only you. To change a post you've already shared, tap More options and then Privacy settings. Here's the order I'd check things in on a new account:

Pick a nickname and username you're happy for anyone to see, since they show even on a private account.
Decide whether the account should be public or private.
Set who can mention you from Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Privacy, Mentions and tags, then Mentions. TikTok offers Everyone, People you follow, Friends or No one.
Before each post, tap Next and look at Manage privacy settings alongside the description, hashtags, tags and location.
Review older posts and change their privacy from More options if your plans have changed.

Posting, tagging and mentions on TikTok

When you make a video or photo post, TikTok says tapping Next shows the extra options: Add description, Add hashtags, Tag people, Add a location, Add link and Manage privacy settings. That screen is where most of the choices about a post happen, so it's worth slowing down there.

Mentions let you tag people in comments, Stories, posts and captions. TikTok says you can mention anyone with an account, public or private, as long as they allow others to mention them, and the people you mention get a notification. In a post description, tap @ Mention on the Post screen and pick the person. In a comment, tap the Mention button in the comment bar. TikTok also notes that the on-screen text and sticker routes aren't available for text posts.

One age rule worth knowing if you're thinking about going LIVE: TikTok's LIVE requirements post says creators must be at least 18 years old to earn from LIVE, or 19 in South Korea. My LIVE and stream key guides below cover the practical side.

TikTok guides, grouped by what you want to do

Choose the group that fits your question. The guides follow TikTok's current app steps.

Account and settings

For setting up and looking after your account: names, age, language, restricted mode, deleting comments, messages and videos, signing out other devices and finding your analytics.

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Videos, sounds and editing

Everything about making and sharing videos, from captions, music, green screen and drafts to reposting, scheduling, video size and why a post isn't getting seen.

Fixes and everyday how-tos

Quick answers to common questions and errors, including tagging, verification, watch history, clearing the cache, buying coins safely and what TikTok slang means.

Where I'd begin with TikTok as a beginner

Start with the account and settings group, and sort out your nickname, username and privacy before you post anything. It's far easier than fixing a profile link you've already shared. After that, the videos group is where you'll spend most of your time. If something stops working, check the fixes group before you delete and reinstall, because the answer's often a setting.

Frequently asked questions

How often can I change my TikTok username?

TikTok says your username can be changed once every 30 days, and changing it also changes your profile link. Your nickname can be changed once every 7 days.

What's the difference between a TikTok nickname and username?

Your nickname is the name people see across TikTok, such as in comments and the For You feed. Your username is your @ tag, which makes up your profile link.

Can people see my profile if my TikTok account is private?

Some of it. TikTok says that even on a private account, your name, username and profile photo are visible to anyone on or off TikTok.

How do I stop people mentioning me on TikTok?

Go to Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Privacy, Mentions and tags, then Mentions, and choose People you follow, Friends or No one.

Can I change who sees a TikTok post after I've shared it?

Yes. TikTok says you tap More options on the post, then Privacy settings, and choose a different audience.

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

TikTok Tutorial: Guides to Videos, Settings and Account Fixes

Your TikTok nickname and username aren't the same thing

TikTok privacy settings a beginner should check

Posting, tagging and mentions on TikTok