Can You Edit a TikTok Video After Posting It? Learn How

If you just posted a TikTok video only to realize that you need to add more footage or remove unwanted segments, don’t worry - there are different ways you can go about this. While TikTok doesn’t allow you to edit posted videos directly, there are several workarounds that let you make TikTok edits with relatively little effort.

 Here are the best ways you can edit videos on TikTok after posting.

Save Your Video and Re-Upload It

Whether you want to remove a watermark or add a location to a TikTok video after posting, the simplest method is to save and re-upload it. This option gives you the most control and allows you to make any necessary edits. Saving and re-uploading a video include lets you make changes including:

• Adding or removing hashtags.
• Rewriting video descriptions.
• Turning on captions.
• Changing style effects.
• Inserting background music and audio.
• Trimming and rearranging clips.

Follow these steps to remove a video and repost it with the new edits. 

1. Go to Your Profile

Open TikTok on your phone and click “Profile” in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

2. Select the Video and Click the Three Dots

Find the posted video you want to edit. Select the video and tap the three-dot icon in the bottom-right menu. 

3. Save

Click the “Save Video” button. From the available sharing options, choose to save the video to your device’s storage. Alternatively, you can send it to a cloud storage application like Google Drive, where you can easily retrieve the video from any connected device. 

4. Delete

Before moving on, return to the menu and tap “Delete” to remove the video. Note that this also deletes any likes and comments, and the reposted version may not perform as well. Only do this if you’re absolutely sure you want to remove the content.

5. Re-upload

Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to re-upload the saved video. You can now edit the effects, adjust the video dimensions, or change the caption before reposting it.

Edit Your Saved Drafts

If you want to avoid starting from scratch and re-uploading videos, you can cut down on time and effort by using drafts to save your unfinished content. This way, you can have one or multiple video versions if you need to replace a posted video. Here’s how to use saved drafts to edit posted content.

1. Go to Your Profile

Tap the Profile icon on the TikTok homepage to navigate to your profile. 

2. Open Drafts and Select

Click “Drafts” to open the folder with all your saved videos — the folder should be listed before all the other videos in your profile. Select the one you want to edit.

3. Edit the Video

Edit your draft to fix errors or add effects, or use this as an opportunity to go in a completely different direction. 

4. Save as a Draft or Upload

Once you’re satisfied with your edits, either save your updated video as a new draft or upload it. The more drafts you have of a video, the easier it is to go back and change different elements, so it’s never a bad idea to do both.

Change the Privacy Settings

An incorrect or poorly edited video can damage your brand image and affect your channel’s growth. That said, there may be times when you want to post or keep a video but prevent people from seeing it.

Changing the privacy settings lets you hide shared content from the public, so you can decide whether you want to make changes before anyone sees what you’ve posted. Follow these steps to change your privacy settings.

1. Go to Your Profile

Click on the Profile icon.

2. Select and Click on the Three Dots

Find the video you want to edit. Tap the video and choose the three-dot icon to open the options menu.

3. Select Privacy Settings

Tap “Privacy Settings” to adjust the post’s sharing options. 

4. Change Privacy Settings

Adjust the privacy option from “Everyone” to “Only Me” to prevent others from viewing your post. Alternatively, you can restrict the post to friends and followers if you’re okay with it remaining visible to a limited audience. You can always adjust these settings later if you change your mind. 

Remake Your Video With Captions

It’s one thing if you just want to add hashtags after posting on TikTok — it’s another situation entirely if you have to fix multiple mistakes. In this case, making a TikTok video from scratch might be better than trying to correct all the errors. This is when Captions can help. 

Captions’ AI-powered features allow you to make TikTok-ready videos in seconds. Use AI Creator to generate high-quality videos in numerous languages or automatically edit existing clips with AI Edit. Captions lets you enhance your content video with effects like subtitles or captions, seamless transitions, and royalty-free music. 

Here’s how to use Captions to edit your posted TikTok videos. 

1. Go to Your Profile, Save, and Delete

Login to TikTok and go to profile. Choose a video, save it (or add it to your drafts), and then delete the post. 

2. Add File to Captions’ Video Editor

Open Captions on your mobile device or desktop and import the saved video. 

3. Edit or Remake

Edit the video yourself or let AI do it for you. For best results, your video should:

• Be 60 seconds or shorter — if it’s longer, you can trim it.
• Use a vertical (9:16) orientation.
• Have no current edits (such as trims, transitions, or sound effects).

If you import a video longer than 10 minutes, you can use the AI Shorts feature to create short-form clips from the original content. 

4. Upload Your New Video 

After editing, save the video to your device and share it on TikTok. 

Try Captions today and discover an easier way to improve and reimagine your TikTok videos. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Edit a TikTok Video Cover After Posting?

Unfortunately, the TikTok app doesn’t let you edit a video cover after you’ve posted. The cover, which is the thumbnail viewers see before playing your video, is locked after you publish. If changing the cover is important, you might want to delete and reupload the video with the desired edits. To avoid this, always double-check your cover before hitting “Post.”

Is It Okay To Delete and Reupload TikTok?

Yes, it’s okay to delete and reupload a TikTok, but there are a few things to consider. When you delete a video, you lose all of its likes, comments, and shares. Reuploading gives you the chance to make edits or choose a better cover, but the content may perform differently the second time due to TikTok's algorithm and timing. Use this option only for important adjustments.

Why Can’t I Edit a Video on TikTok?

The TikTok app doesn’t let you edit videos right after posting because the platform focuses on quick, real-time content sharing. If you realize there’s an error, you’ll need to delete and reupload the video with your changes. To prevent this, use Captions’ or TikTok’s editing tools or external apps to perfect your video before sharing. Planning and reviewing your content thoroughly can save time and avoid this issue.