# What Data Does TikTok Collect About You? TikTok collects 3 kinds of data: what you give it (your profile, posts, messages), what it gathers automatically as you use the app (device details, IP address, what you watch and search, how you interact), and what it receives from other sources such as advertisers and partners. [![apidojo](/blog/authors/apidojo.png)**Apidojo** *15+ years of experience in data retrieval.*](/blog/authors/apidojo/) **12 October 2026** Published **3 min** Read ![Cover card reading 'What Data Does TikTok Collect About You?'](/blog/covers/what-data-tiktok-collects.png) **TikTok collects 3 kinds of data: what you give it (your profile, posts, messages), what it gathers automatically as you use the app (device details, IP address, what you watch and search, how you interact), and what it receives from other sources such as advertisers and partners.** Its US privacy policy also says it may collect precise location if you allow location services. TikTok publishes the details in its privacy policy, which differs by region. This guide summarises what the US policy covers, what changed in 2026, how to see your own data and how to limit collection. Downloading your own copy is covered in [how to download your TikTok data](/blog/tiktok-data/download-your-data/). The parts you can review yourself include [your TikTok watch history](/blog/tiktok-data/watch-history/), and this is a different question from [how much mobile data TikTok uses](/blog/tiktok-data/mobile-data-usage/), which is about your data plan. ## What Information Does TikTok Collect? **TikTok’s privacy policy groups what it collects into information you provide, information collected automatically, and information from other sources.** The table summarises each group ([TikTok Privacy Policy](https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy-us?lang=en)). | Group | Examples | | --- | --- | | Information you provide | Account details, profile, posts, comments, messages, purchases, contacts if you sync them | | Collected automatically | Device model and operating system, IP address, approximate location, what you watch, search, like and share, how long you watch, keystroke patterns, cookies | | From other sources | Advertisers and measurement partners, other platforms you link, publicly available information | TikTok has said it uses keystroke patterns to detect unusual behaviour such as fake logins and spam ([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/14/tiktok-claims-its-not-collecting-u-s-users-biometric-data-despite-what-privacy-policy-says)). ## Does TikTok Collect Your Location? **Yes, TikTok collects approximate location from your SIM and IP address, and its 2026 US privacy policy adds that it may collect precise location if you’ve turned on location services for the app.** You can switch location services off for TikTok in your phone’s settings at any time. Earlier US versions of the policy said the app didn’t collect precise GPS location ([Fortune](https://fortune.com/2026/01/27/tiktok-privacy-policy-immigration-status-ice-protests-user-anxiety-big-tech-social-media/?rand=8593)). ## What Is “Sensitive Information” in TikTok’s Privacy Policy? **TikTok’s US policy lists categories of sensitive personal information it may process, such as health or immigration status, because state privacy laws like California’s require that disclosure.** A lawyer quoted by TechCrunch explained that if you disclose something sensitive in your content, it becomes part of what the platform technically collects ([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/23/tiktok-users-freak-out-over-apps-immigration-status-collection-heres-what-it-means/)). The policy language predates the 2026 ownership change. ## Does TikTok Collect Biometric Data? **TikTok’s US policy says it may collect biometric identifiers such as faceprints and voiceprints from your content, as defined under US law.** TikTok has said face recognition for effects runs on your device and that it doesn’t hold that data (TechCrunch). ## How Can You See What TikTok Has on You? **You can see your own data by requesting your TikTok data file: Settings and privacy, Account, Download your data.** It includes your profile, watch and search history, comments, likes, messages and settings. The steps and file contents are in [how to download your TikTok data](/blog/tiktok-data/download-your-data/), and your viewing record in [how to see your TikTok watch history](/blog/tiktok-data/watch-history/). ## How Do You Limit the Data TikTok Collects? **You can limit TikTok’s data collection through your phone’s permissions and TikTok’s own privacy settings.** Listed below are the 6 most effective steps. 1. **Turn off** location services for TikTok in your phone settings. 2. **Stop syncing** contacts and Facebook friends in Settings and privacy, then Privacy. 3. **Turn off** ad personalisation in your ad settings. 4. **Make your account private** so only approved followers see your videos. 5. **Clear** your search and watch history regularly; see [how to clear your TikTok search history](/blog/tiktok-search/clear-search-history/). 6. **Review** which apps you’ve connected to TikTok, and remove the ones you don’t use. ## What Can Third-Party Apps See? **Apps that connect to your TikTok account can only see what you authorise through TikTok’s official developer APIs, such as your basic profile and your own videos.** The Display API, for example, shows a logged-in user’s own profile and videos in another app. What each API can access is covered in [TikTok Display API and Login Kit](/blog/tiktok-api/display-api/). Public content is different: anyone, and any tool, can see public videos, profiles and comments. Making your account private is the way to limit that. ## Questions people ask ### Does TikTok collect data if you don't have an account? TikTok's website and app collect device and usage data from visitors through cookies and similar tools, even without an account. ### Does TikTok read your messages? TikTok's policy says it collects messages you send on the app, including for safety and moderation. ### Does TikTok sell your data? TikTok's privacy policy sets out how it shares data with service providers, advertisers and partners; check the current policy for your region. ### Is TikTok data collection different in the EU? Yes, the EU policy follows the GDPR and gives rights such as access and deletion; TikTok publishes region-specific policies. ## More on your TikTok data - [How to Download Your TikTok Data (What's Included) Request your TikTok data in TXT or JSON, how long it takes, what's inside the file and how to read your watch and search history.](/blog/tiktok-data/download-your-data/) - [How to See Your TikTok Watch History Find your TikTok watch history in the Activity center, how far back it goes, how to delete it, and why it sometimes doesn't show.](/blog/tiktok-data/watch-history/) - [Find Saved Videos and Manage Collections on TikTok Find your saved TikTok videos, create and delete collections, control who sees them, and fix saved videos showing as unavailable.](/blog/tiktok-data/saved-videos-collections/) - [How to Find TikTok Drafts and Save Them to Camera Roll Find your TikTok drafts, back them up to your camera roll, and avoid losing them when you reinstall the app or change phones.](/blog/tiktok-data/drafts-camera-roll/) - [How Much Mobile Data Does TikTok Use? Why TikTok uses so much mobile data, how to check your own usage, how to turn on Data Saver and other ways to use less.](/blog/tiktok-data/mobile-data-usage/) ![apidojo](/blog/authors/apidojo.png) ## [Apidojo](/blog/authors/apidojo/) 15+ years of experience in data retrieval. API Dojo is always ready for you. With 15+ years of experience, data acquisition has never been that easy. Cheapest prices with high availability. - 🏯 15+ years of experience in data retrieval. - 💰 Cheapest prices, qualified data. - ⚙️ High availability, extreme maintenance. - 🐉 Hyper communicative, excellent support. - [apify.com](https://apify.com/apidojo) - [x.com](https://x.com/apidojo_) - [github.com](https://github.com/apidojo-io)