How to save your TikTok videos and data before the impending ban

Those looking to save TikTok memories are in luck before its impending shutdown in the US on Sunday.

Barring a last-minute U-turn, the popular social media app will not be available in all 50 states following the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Friday to uphold a law banning TikTok by January 19, unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

TikTok users can download their own videos, data — including follower lists and direct messages — and videos of other content creators.

How to download TikTok videos

To download individual videos, users can go to their profile page, select a video, and then tap the three lines on the right of the screen. From there, you can click “Save Video” or email it to yourself where you can download the clip before Sunday.

It is also possible to download from TikTok’s webpage to your laptop or computer. You can right click on the video and choose the “Download Video” option. This option likely means there is a TikTok watermark on the video.

Getting all your videos at once is much more difficult. Third-party sites are available, but their security varies.

Use Chrome extensions to download TikTok videos

Chrome extensions are another available option. Searching for “TikTok Downloader”, a common phrase associated with performing this activity, will help you find the right device. To finish the download, you will have to click Download All.

As for data, the easiest way to do this is to click on the three lines at the top right of your profile page before selecting “Settings & Privacy” and then “Account.” You can then click “Download your data”.

You can follow the same steps on your laptop or desktop. There are options to download all your data or a duplicate amount. File formats vary between text and JavaScript object notation (JSON).

If creators allow their videos to be downloaded, you may be able to save them if TikTok shuts down by Sunday.