Lag No More: Quick Solutions to Fix Your TikTok Recording Woes

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Written by: Alex Popa

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Lag No More: Quick Solutions to Fix Your TikTok Recording Woes

Are you having issues with lag when trying to record a TikTok video? You’re not the only one!

Many users have been complaining about lag during video recording that doesn’t go away no matter what.

It’s annoying when the video is unwatchable because of the lag, and you must record it again.

This article will present several solutions to the lag issue:

  1. Force-close TikTok and reopen it
  2. Restart your phone
  3. Update TikTok (if necessary)
  4. Switch between WiFi and Mobile Data
  5. Turn off Data Saver on your device
  6. Reinstall TikTok
  7. Clear the TikTok cache

This comprehensive guide goes through every known solution for the lag problem on TikTok. One of these fixes should help you out.

Keep reading to start fixing your problem!

Summary: Are you fed up with laggy TikTok recordings? I've got you covered! In this article, I explore seven possible solutions to fix the annoying lag issue, including force-closing and reopening TikTok, restarting your phone, updating the app, switching between WiFi and mobile data, turning off Data Saver, reinstalling TikTok, and clearing the app cache. 

Try these methods in order and get ready to enjoy smooth, lag-free TikTok videos!

Force-Close TikTok and Reopen It

We’ll start with something easy. Try force-closing TikTok and reopening it to refresh the session and see if the lag disappears.

Follow the steps below to do this:

1. Tap the “Overview” button/icon on your phone

Tap the "Overview" button/icon on your phone
Tap the “Overview” button/icon on your phone

To force-close TikTok, you need to open the Overview menu on your phone. To do that, tap on the “Overview” button/icon at the bottom of your device.

The icon may look different based on the model of your phone, but it should be placed in the bottom-left corner.

Tap it and follow the next step!

2. Force-Close TikTok

Force-Close TikTok
Force-Close TikTok

After you open the Overview menu on your phone, find TikTok and swipe right or up, depending on your phone.

Some phones only accept right swipes, while others accept upside swipes to close apps in the Overview menu.

If you’re unsure about this setting on your phone, select the “Close all” option to close all active apps.

This will also force-close TikTok. After doing this, reopen TikTok and try recording a video. If it’s still laggy, try other solutions on this list!

Restart Your Phone

Another simple solution to laggy recording on TikTok is to restart your phone. You won’t even need pictures for this.

Hold down the Power button on the right side of your phone and wait until you see this menu appear.

Select "Restart"
Select “Restart

Ok, I lied. There’s one picture. And this menu may look different based on your device, but the “Restart” button should be somewhere.

Tap on it to restart your phone. Then, try recording a video on TikTok again and see if the lag persists. If it does, try another solution on this list!

Update TikTok

This one may be a no-brainer, but you may have forgotten to put TikTok on auto-update. And if you haven’t updated to the latest version, you may get lag during video recording.

Here’s how to update TikTok:

1. Open the Play Store

Open the Play Store
Open the Play Store

To update TikTok, you need to open your Play Store app, which you can find on your device’s app list. Tap on it and continue with the guide!

2. Search for TikTok using the search bar

Search for TikTok using the search bar
Search for TikTok using the search bar

Once you open the Play Store, use the search bar at the top of the page to look for TikTok. Select the first option when you see the search results.

Open the TikTok page
Open the TikTok page

Select the “TikTok” search result, the first on the list.

3. Update TikTok

Update TikTok
Update TikTok

After you open the TikTok page on the Play Store, the Update” button should be on the right, next to the TikTok icon.

If there’s no “Update” button and instead, you see the “Open” button (like in the image above), it means you’re already using the latest version of TikTok.

Move on to another solution!

Switch Between WiFi and Mobile Data

It could be because of your internet connection if you’re lagging when recording a video on TikTok.

Try switching between WiFi and Mobile Data to see if this solves your issue. Follow the steps below to do that:

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen

Swipe down from the top of your screen
Swipe down from the top of your screen

To switch between WiFi and Mobile Data, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Menu.

2. Switch between WiFi and Mobile Data

Switch between WiFi and Mobile Data
Switch between WiFi and Mobile Data

Once you open the Quick Menu on your phone, you should see the WiFi and Mobile Data icons in the top-left corner. Usually, Mobile Data is first on the list.

WiFi is either 3rd or 2nd, depending on your phone. Switch between one to see which is best for recording on TikTok!

Turn Off Data Saver on Your Device

The Data Saver feature on your phone may be to blame for your lag when recording videos on TikTok.

When Data Saver is active, it limits the performance of online services to save mobile data. Follow the steps below to see how you can turn this feature off:

1. Hold-tap on the Mobile Data icon in the Quick Menu

Hold-tap on the Mobile Data icon in the Quick Menu
Hold-tap on the Mobile Data icon in the Quick Menu

Open the Quick Menu by swiping down from the top of your screen and then hold-tap on the Mobile Data icon.

2. Go to “Data Usage

Go to "Data Usage"
Go to “Data Usage

Once you hold-tap on the Mobile Data icon, a new window should open. Scroll down until you find the “Data usage” or “Data saver” button and tap on it.

3. Select “Data Saving

You should find the “Data saving” option at the bottom of the “Data usage” page. Select it and move to the next step!

4. Disable “Data Saving

Disable "Data Saving"
Disable “Data Saving

Disable the “Data saving” feature on this page; you should have no more problems with lag on TikTok recordings.

But if you do, try another solution on this list.

Uninstall/Reinstall TikTok

This one is also a no-brainer, but you might not have thought about it. Try uninstalling and reinstalling TikTok to see if there’s any change.

It only takes 2-3 minutes, so it’s worth a shot. Follow the steps below to do that:

1. Hold-Tap on TikTok

Hold-Tap on TikTok
Hold-Tap on TikTok

To uninstall TikTok, you must open the “App Info” page. A faster way of doing that is finding TikTok on your phone and hold-tapping on it.

2. Select “App Info

Select "App Info"
Select “App Info

Once you hold-tap on TikTok for 1-2 seconds, a list will appear, and you’ll see the “App Info” option at the top of the list.

Tap on it and continue with the guide!

3. Select “Uninstall

Select "Uninstall"
Select “Uninstall

Once you open the App Info TikTok page, find the “Uninstall” button and tap it slightly. This will begin the uninstallation process.

4. Confirm the uninstallation

Confirm the uninstallation
Confirm the uninstallation

You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to uninstall TikTok. Select “Ok” and continue with the guide.

5. Open the Play Store and reinstall TikTok

Open the Play Store and reinstall TikTok
Open the Play Store and reinstall TikTok

Once you uninstall TikTok, open the Play Store, find TikTok, and install it. The green “Install” button is on the right, next to the TikTok icon, so you should find it easily.

Once you reinstall it, open TikTok and start recording a video. Is it still lagging? Then, you only have one last solution to try!

Clear the TikTok Cache

The last solution I have for you is clearing the TikTok cache. This will reset the session and delete any problematic files that may interfere with your recording on TikTok.

Follow the steps below to clear the TikTok Cache:

1. Tap on the Gear icon

Tap on the Gear icon
Tap on the Gear icon

To clear the TikTok cache, you need to open the TikTok settings from within your phone’s settings. First, look for the Gear icon on your home screen and tap on it.

2. Select “Apps

Select "Apps"
Select “Apps

Once you open the phone settings, you’ll open a window with multiple settings. Scroll down until you see the “Apps” option and tap on it.

3. Go to “App Management

Go to "App Management"
Go to “App Management

After you select the “Apps” option in your phone settings, you should get to this page, depending on your phone.

Select “App Management” or “App List” or “Installed Apps“, depending on your options, and you should get to your App List.

Follow the steps below!

4. Search for TikTok using the search bar

Search for TikTok using the search bar
Search for TikTok using the search bar

In the “App Management” list, you need to find TikTok manually or use the search bar at the top of the page. Type in “TikTok” and select the first result.

Open the TikTok settings page
Open the TikTok settings page

Tap on the TikTok app to open the “App Info” page. That’s where you can clear the cache!

5. Select “Storage Usage

Select "Storage Usage"
Select “Storage Usage

Find the “Storage usage” option once you get to the TikTok “App Info” page. Or, if your phone is different, find the “Clear cache” icon on this page.

6. Clear the data and the cache

Clear the data and the cache
Clear the data and the cache

Here you are. Tap on the “Clear cache” and “Clear data” buttons to clear the data files on TikTok. If you’re asked to confirm, select “Ok“.

Select "Ok" to confirm the deletion of the app data
Select “Ok” to confirm the deletion of the app data

Clearing the app data will permanently delete settings, databases, and other files and app data that you don’t need.

After you do this, try recording another video on TikTok. This time, you shouldn’t have any more lag.

Conclusion

To summarize, your TikTok lags when you record because of corrupt data or a bad internet connection.

Here’s what you can do to solve this:

  • Force-close TikTok and reopen it
  • Restart your phone
  • Update TikTok (if necessary)
  • Switch between WiFi and Mobile Data
  • Turn off Data Saver on your device
  • Reinstall TikTok
  • Clear the TikTok cache

Start with the simplest solutions and move on to more complex ones. Troubleshoot your issue using every solution until you come across the solution.

Leave a comment below, and stay tuned for other articles about TikTok!

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Alex Popa

My name is Alex and I have a knack for social media in all its shapes and forms. I’ve dealt with such things for quite some time and I noticed that many people have issues with social media and technicalities.

Unforeseen errors, bugs, and other problems make their use of social media problematic. These things will be discussed amply in the guides on Whizcase.

I'll present the facts as they are, and offer quick and easy solutions for them.

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