How to Reset Your TikTok Algorithm

The TikTok algorithm shows you the content you will most likely interact with. If you love watching cat videos, you’ll find loads of these on your For You page because of how the algorithm works.

So, what happens if you no longer want to see cat videos? How do you get the algorithm to promote other videos on your For You page?

When you keep watching personalized videos from your For You page, it leads to a filter that limits your exposure to other content.

Fortunately, you can escape the never-ending cat videos by using the TikTok refresh feature. This feature allows you to essentially rebuild your FYP with one tap.

When you reset your algorithm this way, you will find new and popular videos on your For You Page, enabling you to choose what you want to see.

Moreover, when resetting the algorithm, you can clear your watch and search history along with the app cache. When you do this, it removes all the past signals that guide your content recommendations.

Why Should You Reset Your Algorithm?

Whenever you watch a video similar to the one you watched, the algorithm assumes the content is all you are interested in.

So, if you’ve only watched cat videos for three months, you will find only cat videos popping up on your FYP.

When you reset your algorithm, you ‘break free’ from this limited content recommendation. You also:

• Refresh your TikTok discoveries.

  Resetting your algorithm means finding content creators and topics you have never encountered.

• Fix mistakes.

  You may have accidentally interacted with videos or reacted to videos you are not interested in. Resetting your algorithm can remove recommendations for similar videos.

• Break repetitive patterns.

  As much as you love cat videos, you may not want to see 100 daily. Refreshing and resetting your algorithm will break this pattern and allow you to discover local or trending content.

Refresh Your For You Feed

The easiest way to refresh your For You feed is to use the Refresh tool. With this feature, you can build your feed from scratch with a single tap.

• Open the app and tap Profile at the bottom of the screen.

• Tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner.

• Choose Settings and Privacy, and then Content Preferences.

• Tap Refresh Your For You Feed and follow the prompts.

However, note that once you refresh your feed, you can’t undo it. After refreshing, the app will rebuild your FYP based on the videos you watch moving forward.

Clear Your Watch History

TikTok tracks all the videos you watch. It considers whether you complete or replay the videos in order to tailor future content recommendations.

If you delete your watch history, you remove the algorithm signals.

• Go to your TikTok profile and tap the hamburger menu.

• Navigate to Settings and Privacy, Activity Center, and Watch History.

• If you want to delete only one video, tap and hold and select Delete.

• If you want to delete several videos, tap Select in the top-right corner. Tap on each video you want to delete and select Delete.

• If you want to clear your watch history, tap Select and enable Select All Watch History at the bottom of the screen. Tap Delete.

Clear Your Search History

What you search for on TikTok also influences the algorithm. Removing the search terms you’ve previously used can help prevent repeat video suggestions.

• Open the app and tap on the search bar at the top of the screen.

• Tap on the ‘x’ next to each search term you want to remove.

• If you want to see all your previous searches, tap on the ‘see more’ option.

• Select the ‘clear all’ option if you want to remove your entire search history.

• Remember to click confirm to ensure the history is removed.

Remember that clearing your search history might not completely change what you see on the FYP immediately. You may need to watch different videos for a few days to see a difference.

Clear Your App Cache

As part of the strategy to reset the TikTok algorithm, you should also consider clearing your app’s cache. Doing this frees up storage and removes data that may affect your FYP.

• Go to your profile and tap on the hamburger menu.

• Select Privacy and Settings and scroll down to Cache and Cellular.

• Tap on Free Up Space to see the storage options.

• Tap Clear next to Cache and wait for the Clear Again window to open. Tap on this window, and the cache will be cleared.

• Clear your TikTok cache once a month to keep your FYP running smoothly.

Edit Your Content Preferences

You can also change your content preferences on the app, which will affect what you see on the FYP.

• Tap on Profile, go to the hamburger menu, and select Settings and Privacy.

• Tap on Content preferences and navigate to Manage topics.

• You will find a slider here that you can adjust based on how much content you want to see about a specific topic.

• Tap save to confirm your changes.

You should note that changing your content preferences will only affect the For You Page and feed. It will not change anything about your follower feed, inbox, or profile.

Use the ‘Not Interested’ Feature

Using the 'not interested' feature, you can also ensure TikTok knows you won’t care to watch particular videos.

Every time you scroll and come across videos you don’t want to see, press and hold the screen. Choose ‘not interested’ when the pop-up appears.

You can also use the ‘tell us why’ feature to see less of the same.

Engage With New Content

Once you have reset your algorithm, you can jump-start it in a new direction by engaging with videos that interest you.

• When you enjoy a video, like, share, and comment.

• Follow content creators in the niche communities you want to learn more about..

• Watch various types of content to signal the algorithm.

Over time, your FYP will reflect these new interactions.

Resetting the TikTok algorithm in 2025

It takes only a few minutes to reset your TikTok algorithm, but the payoff is huge. You get a fresh and far more personalized feed.

Remember that you can create a completely new account if you want an entirely fresh start. Either way, these steps will help you avoid repeat videos and align your FYP with your current interests.