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Can You Save a TikTok Without Posting It? Here's How Drafts Work

Posted on 19th Dec, 2024.

TL;DR (The Short Version)

If you don't want to post a TikTok you've made, you can save it in your drafts. Read on to find out how.
Videos saved in Drafts can be posted at a later date.
Videos can be deleted from Drafts accidentally if you move from using TikTok on one device to another.

Ever recorded a TikTok but thought about posting it? Whether you need time to figure out whether it's suitable for your audience and how many likes it might get or you'd simply prefer to post it at a later date, there's an easy answer to the question of 'Can you save a TikTok without posting it?'.

To save a TikTok without posting it, you can save it to your Drafts.

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How to Save a TikTok Video to Drafts

If you want to record, edit, and save a video without posting it to your profile/FYP, you can save it to your Drafts. Your Drafts will stay there unless you delete a video from them (or one is accidentally deleted - more on that later) and you can post them at any time. Here's how to save a TikTok video to your drafts. Note that drafts aren't visible to your followers or TikTok users unless you post them.

Record and edit your video on the TikTok app as you normally would.
Tap Drafts from the Post page to save your video as a draft without posting.

Drafts are saved to the videos tab on your profile, so you can easily access them when you want to post. If you're waiting for the best time to post to give yourself the highest chance of appearing on the FYP and gaining new followers, try weekdays before or after the working day - in the time zone where your audience is, of course.

Why Do People Use TikTok Drafts?

If you record a video but you're not sure how well it will go down with your audience and you want more time to think on it before posting, saving to Drafts gives you some leeway with timings. For example, if you're trying out a new content technique such as GRWM videos and you're not sure whether your audience will enjoy them, save multiple to your Drafts and post one or two.

See whether the ones you've posted receive engagement, and if they do, post the others from your drafts.

You can record videos but then return to editing them at your leisure, when you've got more time on your hands. You also might decide to post them at a later date when your audience will be more likely to see them.

Nobody else can see what's saved to your Drafts, so you can keep any potential uploads a mystery until you're ready to share them with the world. Plus, you'll have unlimited time to work on them, editing and adjusting until you're satisfied with the final product.

Why Was My Draft Deleted?

Drafts don't necessarily stay on your account forever, so if you're keen to post, do it as soon as possible. Drafts can disappear for one of the following reasons:

You uninstalled then reinstalled the TikTok app on a device.
You moved the account to a different device.

To avoid losing drafts, try to use the same app on the same device and don't uninstall it unnecessarily. You cannot transfer Drafts from one account to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you save a TikTok video without posting it?

You can save a TikTok video without posting it by saving it to your Drafts. Videos will stay in your Drafts until they're posted or deleted by you or by TikTok - the latter can happen if you switch to a new device or remove and reinstall the TikTok app on the same device.

You might choose to save the video as a draft in order to post it at a time that will result in more views. Scheduling is another way to achieve this - our handy guide will show you how.

You can also choose to record the video on your phone and saving it to your camera roll before uploading it to TikTok. It won't be saved in the TikTok app this way, but it will be saved to your device.

How do I save a video from TikTok?

You can save a video that another user has posted to TikTok by navigating to the video, tapping the Share button, and then tapping Save Video. Doing so will download the video directly to your device, where it's typically stored in your camera roll. Saving videos is a great option for when you want a downloaded copy in your camera roll, allowing you to access it without going into the TikTok app and share it with others who don't have TikTok.

How do I save a video from TikTok when it doesn't let you?

If you don't have the option to save a video from TikTok, that means the creator that posted the video has switched saving off. There's nothing you can do about this as it's the choice of the creator and there's no way around it on the TikTok app. You can save the TikTok by clicking the bookmark tab for quick reference and if you really wanted a personal copy, you could always message the creator and ask for one.

Saving a video in Drafts is a great way to keep a video ready to go for a time when you've got more time to edit and upload it. It's easy to do and it gives you more time to perfect your masterpiece, so consider it next time you've uploaded a video but you're just not quite ready to post it.