The personalized video recommendations you see on TikTok are the result of an adaptive recommendation system that learns from what you watch, how long you watch it, what you like, and how you interact with creators. Over time that system builds a profile of your preferences that determines which videos appear on the For You feed and in what order.
When your feed drifts away from the topics you want to see — or when you intentionally want a fresh start — you can retrain TikTok’s algorithm by combining native app controls with deliberate account and device-level actions. This guide walks through verified, practical methods to change what the algorithm shows you, explains why each step works, and provides troubleshooting and pro tips so you can regain a more relevant For You feed faster.
Follow the step-by-step sections that match your needs: a gentle tuning (use this when you want small changes), a full refresh (for a near-reset without making a new account), and extreme reset steps (for a truly clean slate). Each method is explained with exact menu locations, expected results, and warnings where the change is irreversible.
This article is an actionable, neutral, and source-based manual intended for regular TikTok users and content creators who want to control the recommendations that shape their experience.
How TikTok’s Recommendation System Works (Brief)
TikTok ranks videos for each user by evaluating a combination of signals. These include direct user interactions (likes, shares, comments, follows), watch-time metrics (completions and rewatches), video information (captions, hashtags, sounds), and device/account settings (language, location, device type). The system aggregates these signals to decide which videos should appear on your personalized For You feed.
Because the recommendation engine is highly sensitive to what you engage with, even a short period of targeted behavior (like repeatedly watching a new type of video) can shift your feed quickly. Conversely, ignoring content you no longer want to see and explicitly marking it as “Not interested” helps the system deprioritize similar items.
Recent product updates provide users with more direct controls to influence topic frequency and keyword blocking. Features such as “Manage topics” and refreshed content preference tools let you manually nudge the system toward or away from broader categories. Use these in combination with behavioral changes for the most efficient retraining.
When You Should Consider Resetting Your Algorithm
Resetting or retraining makes sense when your For You feed consistently shows content that no longer matches your interests, when misinformation or unwanted trends dominate your feed, when you switch content interests (for example, from cooking to programming), or when a content creator you followed saturated your recommendations and you want greater diversity.
It is also useful for creators who change niche and want their new content to reach a different audience; retraining increases the chances TikTok will test the new content with users who have matching viewing signals. Keep in mind that some changes (like clearing watch history or using the refresh feature) are irreversible and may temporarily reduce the relevance of recommendations while the system learns.
Overview of Methods — Choose by Impact
Low-impact tuning (fast, reversible)
Use the “Not interested” control, remove individual liked videos, unfollow specific creators, and engage selectively with new content you want more of. These are precise and safe ways to nudge the algorithm without losing long-term personalization.
Medium-impact refresh (recommended for most users)
Clear the app cache, delete search and watch history, use the official “Refresh your For You feed” option in Settings, and actively follow creators in target niches while avoiding undesirable content. These actions produce a noticeable change while letting TikTok rebuild your profile from recent interactions.
High-impact reset (near-total restart)
Log out and create a new account or reinstall the app and avoid linking previous social logins; clear app data (on Android) or offload/delete the app (on iOS) before reinstalling. This method yields the cleanest slate but also loses saved history and personalized signals. Use only when you want a near-complete recommencement of recommendations.
Step-by-Step: Gentle Tuning (Quick, Minimal Disruption)
1. Use “Not interested” aggressively
When you see a video that doesn’t fit your interests, press and hold the video and choose Not interested. You can also select options to hide videos from the creator or hide videos using the same sound. This sends a clear signal to the recommendation model to reduce similar content.
2. Clean up your follows and likes
Unfollow channels that consistently produce content you don’t want. Go through your liked videos list and remove likes for content that no longer represents your interests. Liking less of the unwanted content and more of the content you want will gradually shift the feed.
3. Start engaging with preferred content
Search for creators, hashtags, and sounds in the niche you want, then deliberately watch their videos all the way through, like, comment, and follow. The algorithm gives strong weight to watch time and completion rate, so sustained viewing of new preferred content produces faster retraining.
Step-by-Step: Medium-Impact Refresh (Balanced and Effective)
1. Clear watch and search history
Open Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy → Activity or Privacy → Watch history, then remove entries you don’t want influencing recommendations. Clear search history (Settings → Privacy → Personalization & data → Clear search history) to remove past signals. Deleting these records prevents old content from being used as strong signals in the immediate retraining window.
2. Clear app cache
Settings → Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy → Free up space → Clear cache. Clearing cache removes locally stored thumbnails and temporary files and can sometimes improve responsiveness while you retrain your feed. Note that clearing cache is not a full account reset, but it supports a cleaner start without losing likes or follows.
3. Use the official Refresh feature
In Settings and privacy → Content Preferences → Refresh your For You feed, follow the prompts to refresh. This official option is designed to help users who want a reset; it will remove some historical signals and begin re-personalizing the feed based on your current interactions. Use this when you want a significant but supported refresh while keeping the same account.
Step-by-Step: High-Impact Reset (Clean Slate)
1. Offload or uninstall the app (iOS) / Clear app data (Android)
On iOS, use Settings → General → iPhone Storage → TikTok → Offload App, then reinstall. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → TikTok → Storage → Clear data. These device-level actions remove local data and can reduce lingering device-specific signals; after reinstalling, you’ll start with fewer local cues influencing content.
2. Create a new account (if necessary)
If you want a truly fresh recommendation profile, create a new TikTok account and avoid importing follows or preferences from the old account. A new account starts with a blank slate of engagement data and the algorithm will build a new profile solely from the new account’s actions. This is the most drastic method and should be used when other measures fail.
3. Rebuild intentionally
After creating a new account or clearing data, deliberately search, watch, and interact with the exact types of content you want the algorithm to prioritize. The faster and more consistently you engage with desired topics, the faster the algorithm will serve similar videos to your For You feed.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
I still see unwanted videos after cleaning up — why?
The recommendation system uses multiple signals beyond your immediate actions: device settings, regional popularity, and short-term trending signals. If a content type is trending strongly in your region, you may see residual items until your sustained actions outweigh those trends. Continue to mark “Not interested,” unfollow creators, and consistently watch preferred content to accelerate change.
My refresh made the feed worse — what now?
Refreshing removes many of your older signals, so the system will need new signals to rebuild a relevant feed. If the feed feels worse immediately after a refresh, actively engage with the exact types of videos you want and avoid interacting with unwanted content. Within a few days of consistent, focused behavior, relevance should improve.
Will blocking keywords or categories help?
Yes. TikTok’s keyword and topic controls allow you to block words and adjust topic sliders in Content Preferences. Use keyword blocking for persistent unwanted themes and manage topic sliders to reduce broad categories such as “sports” or “dance.” These controls work best in combination with behavioral signals.
Practical Checklist: Steps to Reset (Quick Reference)
- Mark “Not interested” on each unwanted video: long-press the video and select Not interested; this sends a direct negative signal to the model. Do this for multiple examples so the system generalizes the preference reduction.
- Remove likes and unfollow creators who skew your feed: prune follows and liked videos to reduce ongoing positive signals for undesired content.
- Clear watch and search history in Settings to remove past recorded interactions that the algorithm may still use for personalization; this helps accelerate retraining.
- Use the Refresh your For You feed feature in Content Preferences for an official refresh that tells TikTok to start rebuilding your recommendations from a narrower recent activity window.
- Clear app cache or data on your device if you want to remove local artifacts that might subtly influence content; offloading or reinstalling is effective on mobile devices.
- Create a new account only as a last resort when you want a near-complete restart and are willing to lose saved history and followers; rebuild the new account by deliberately engaging the content you want to see.
- Adjust Manage Topics and keyword blocks in Content Preferences to reduce the frequency of broad categories and to block specific terms that repeatedly surface.
Pro Tips (Expert Advice to Speed Up Retraining)
1. Be consistent for several days
The algorithm adapts quickly to consistent patterns. Spend concentrated sessions (30–60 minutes daily) for a few days watching and interacting only with target content to accelerate the retraining process. Avoid casual scrolling that engages with undesired content during this window.
2. Use targeted searches
Search for niche hashtags, sounds, and creators you want to see, then watch those results in full. Explicit search behavior signals clear intent to the recommendation system and can be more effective than passive viewing.
3. Limit interaction with trending noise
When major trends dominate your region, temporarily mute or avoid trending tags that pull your feed away from your goals. Use the Manage Topics sliders to deprioritize broad trending categories while you rebuild.
4. Combine native controls
Use the “Not interested” button, keyword blocking, follow pruning, and the official Refresh option together rather than relying on one single method. Layered signals provide clearer guidance for the recommender and reduce the time to desired outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long does it take for TikTok to change my For You feed after I start retraining?
A: You can see noticeable changes within hours if you take concentrated actions, but for a fully adapted feed it often takes several days of consistent behavior. The more consistent and deliberate your interactions, the faster the algorithm reweights your profile.
Q: Will clearing cache delete my likes, followers, or saved drafts?
A: Clearing cache removes temporary files and thumbnails and does not delete account-level data like likes, follows, or drafts. Clearing app data (Android) or offloading the app and reinstalling (iOS) can remove more local artifacts; be cautious and back up drafts if necessary.
Q: Is creating a new account the only way to fully reset recommendations?
A: Creating a new account is the most comprehensive way to start fresh because it removes almost all prior account-level signals. However, using the Refresh feature combined with cache clearing and careful behavior often provides a sufficiently fresh feed for most users without the social cost of losing followers.
Q: Does TikTok store data outside my app that affects recommendations?
A: TikTok’s recommendation model uses a mix of account interactions, device signals, and aggregated popularity trends. Some regional trends and device-level defaults may still shape what you see, but your personal interactions remain the dominant signal. That is why consistent personal behavior is the most effective lever.
Conclusion
Resetting or retraining your TikTok algorithm is achievable without drastic measures in most cases. Start with precise, reversible steps — marking “Not interested,” unfollowing, and liking the content you want — and escalate to medium-impact options like clearing watch history and using the Refresh feature when needed. Only use device-level data clears or new accounts if the other tactics fail or you need an almost complete restart. Combine behavioral signals, native preference controls, and topic/keyword management to shape a For You feed that reflects your current interests. With consistent, intentional actions, the recommendation system will adapt and deliver more relevant content within days.
