Ever made a TikTok video that you thought was perfectly edited, only to spot mistakes in it after it was published? Or maybe you like to let your TikToks cook for a bit before you post them? If that sounds like you, then you’ll want to learn all about TikTok drafts.
In this article, we’re walking you through how to save and find your TikTok drafts, as well as how to delete them. We’ll also dive into posted drafts and how you can use them.
How to find TikTok drafts
All your TikTok drafts are saved in a folder at the top of your feed. From there, you can edit, delete, or post them. Here’s how you can find your drafts.
- Log in to the TikTok app.
- Tap on the Drafts folder at the top left of your feed.
How to find posted drafts
A posted draft is essentially a copy of your most recent TikTok video that is saved automatically in a new “Posted drafts” folder, found under the “Drafts” tab. These posted drafts are editable within three days after a video goes live. So whether you notice a typo in your caption, or change your mind about the sound featured in the video, you’ll have a 72-hour window to re-edit and upload your post again.
The best part? Even if you edit your posted draft, its existing views and engagement will be retained. No need to start from scratch. That means you never have to balance fixing small mistakes with keeping that engagement.
Here’s how you can find your posted drafts:
- First, log in to the TikTok app.
- Next, go to your profile and tap on the Drafts folder at the top left of your feed.
- When you’re on the Drafts page, tap on the Posted drafts folder at the top left.
- From the Posted drafts page, you can select the published video that you wish to adjust. Remember, these drafts will disappear after three days. Here, you’ll be able to see how many days you have left until the end of the editing period for each draft.
How to save TikTok drafts
Any TikTok you make can be saved as a draft just before you publish it. Here’s how it’s done:
1. First, record your TikTok, then hit the checkmark at the bottom right.
2. After you’ve recorded, edited, added text, and whatever else you want to do to your TikTok, hit Next.
3. Now, just before posting, look to the bottom of your screen. Instead of hitting Post, select Drafts.
4. And that’s it! Go and check your Drafts folder, and you’ll find your new draft video in there, ready for editing and publishing.
How to edit TikTok drafts
Now that you’ve got a draft ready to go, let’s cover how you can edit it and get it ready to publish.
1. Start from your profile and hit your Drafts folder, at the top of your feed.
2. Find the draft you want to edit and tap it.
3. You’ll be directed back in the editor you usually see right before you post a TikTok.
4. You’ll then see a few options you can use to edit your draft. Let’s break it down:
Settings
Editing a draft TikTok’s settings lets you change its privacy (meaning who can see it), allow comments, make disclosures, and more.
Edit
Hit Edit and you’ll bring up your TikTok’s timeline, allowing you to edit both video and audio, split your TikTok into clips, speed it up, and a lot of other options.
Templates
TikTok templates let you immediately level up your content, giving it a crisp, trendy look. If there’s a particular TikTok trend you’re looking to capitalize on, templates are a good place to start.
Text
Adding text to your TikTok is a great way to re-hook your audience or call out the most important part of your content. With this option, you can add simple text, color it, and more.
Stickers
A sticker is a simple visual element you can add to your TikToks to make them pop. Just hit Stickers, pick the one you want to add, and drag it onto your TikTok to place it.
Effects
The Effects screen lets you add transitions, visual effects, motion effects, and a whole lot more. There’s even a Trending tab, useful for creators looking to jump on the latest TikTok trends.
Filters
If you’ve used any social media platform before, you know how filters work. TikTok has a ton of them, from some that are designed specifically for snapping pics of your food to filters that really bring the vibes.
Captions
With over 11 million individuals who consider themselves deaf or seriously hard of hearing in the U.S. alone, adding captions to your video doesn’t just make your content more accessible, it’s also useful for tapping into this under-served market. Select this option and TikTok will automatically generate captions for you.
How to save TikTok drafts to your camera roll
While there isn’t an obvious option for doing this, you can save your TikTok drafts to your device’s camera roll with a sneaky workaround.
1. First, select the draft you want to save.
2. Then, hit Settings.
3. Under the Who can view this post header, select Only you, then Next.
4. From the Post screen, choose More options.
5. Scroll down to Advanced settings and make sure the Save to device is checked.
And that’s it! You’ll find your TikTok in your camera roll, and since it’s set so only you can see it, you don’t have to worry about anyone else getting access to it. Feel free to delete it from your TikTok account.
How to delete TikTok drafts
1. To delete a TikTok draft, start in the Drafts folder.
2. Tap and hold on the draft you want to delete to select it. Then hit Delete at the bottom, and that’s it!
Tip: If you want to delete multiple drafts at once, just tap and hold to select them all, then hit delete.
Get it right the first time (or the second, or the third)
With TikTok drafts, you don’t have to worry about every clip being picture-perfect. You can always try again, make edits as you need to, and post when you’re good and ready. And with posted drafts, you can even make changes to videos after they’ve gone live, which is pretty nifty.
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TikTok drafts FAQ
Where are my drafts on TikTok?
You can find your TikTok drafts from your TikTok feed. All you need to do is:
- Log into the TikTok app.
- Go to your feed.
- Look at the top-left corner. You’ll see a TikTok with Drafts: X in the top-left, with X being the number of drafts you have saved. Tap that to find your drafts.
How do you get drafts back on TikTok?
If you delete a TikTok draft, it’s gone forever. There’s no way to recover it.
How can you edit your TikTok videos after posting?
Posted drafts allow creators to edit their TikToks in the first three days after they’ve been posted without losing engagement or comments. Here’s how:
- Go to your TikTok profile.
- Hit the Drafts folder in the top-left.
- Find and hit Posted drafts.
- Find the video you want to edit and select it.
If I delete TikTok, what happens to my drafts?
If you delete TikTok from your device, all your drafts will be deleted.
Why are my TikTok drafts gone?
If you open TikTok and all your drafts are gone, one of two things happened. Either you uninstalled TikTok from your device, which deletes all drafts, or your TikTok account was switched to a different device.
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Further reading
- How To Get More TikTok Followers: 19 Simple Hacks
- TikTok SEO: 8 Tips To Help Your TikTok Videos Rank High in Search
- How To Make Short-Form Video Content Work for You
- How To Use TikTok Hashtags To Get More Views
- What Are the Best Times to Post on TikTok?
- TikTok Money Calculator: Estimate How Much You Can Earn as a Creator
This article was originally published in November 2022, and updated in July 2024 with additional information.
