With its fast-paced algorithm and tailored For You pages, TikTok stands out among social media platforms as a kingmaker—with the right ideas for short-form videos, everyone has a chance to make it big.
But even the biggest creators started with the same first steps: creating an account and learning how to use the app’s native recording interface. Here’s everything you need to know to fire up your TikTok engine and make engaging videos with the touch of a few buttons.
How to create a TikTok account
- Download the TikTok app
- Tap Sign Up
- Select your sign-in method
- Enter your birthday
- Choose your username
- Personalize
To record your first video, you first need to set up a TikTok account:
1. Download the TikTok app
Go to the App Store on iOS or the Google Play store on Android to download TikTok. You can also create an account on a desktop browser, though you won’t be able to film native videos without the mobile app.
2. Tap Sign Up
When you open the app, you’ll see a log-in page. Tap the Sign Up link at the bottom of the page to create a new account.
3. Select your sign-in method
To set up your account, sign in with a phone number or email address, or you can link your TikTok account to an existing Facebook, Apple, Google, or X account. Follow the prompts to complete the process.
4. Enter your birthday
To ensure community safety, TikTok has a number of age-restricted features. You must be 13 years or older to use the platform.
5. Choose your username
Your username must be a unique combination of up to 24 characters; you can use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Choose a username that’s memorable and relevant to your content. Try to use the same username across social media accounts for searchability.
If you’re having a hard time coming up with a good username now, don’t worry, you can always change it later.
6. Personalize
TikTok prompts you to personalize your page: Add a profile photo, a short bio, and a nickname (this can be your actual name or a moniker of your choosing). These account details are optional, though they can boost searchability and make your page look more inviting to other accounts.
How to record a TikTok video
- Tap the + sign
- Experiment with pre-recording options
- Tap the Record button
- Tap the red checkbox for editing tools
- Tap the Next button for post settings
- Tap the Post button
TikTok’s native recording tool lets you film, edit, and upload videos directly in the app, making the app a one-stop shop for your content creation process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to recording a TikTok video:
1. Tap the + sign
Tap the + button at the center of the bottom toolbar in the app to access the TikTok camera.
2. Experiment with pre-recording options
There are different video settings to play with in the recording interface: “Add sound” at the top, a toolbar along the right with options like flash, recording speed, timers, and color filters, an effects box on the bottom left for green screens, and a swipe bar above the record button with options for desired video lengths. Feel free to experiment with these options, but none are necessary for filming.
3. Tap the Record button
To start filming, tap the round red Record button. Tap the button again to pause recording. Your video clip is temporarily stored when you pause. Review it by tapping the red checkbox on the bottom right or delete it by pressing the white delete box just to the left. You can record multiple clips back-to-back or record one long video at once.
4. Tap the red checkbox for editing tools
Tap the red checkbox at the bottom right of the screen to access the in-app editing tools, which include many of the options available during filming (including sounds, filters, and visual effects) and some new ones (like text boxes, prompts, and audio effects).
5. Tap the Next button for post settings
Once you’re happy with your video, tap Next in the bottom right corner to go to the post interface, where you can write a caption, add relevant hashtags, tag other users, add a location, and link to other videos. You can also choose a thumbnail cover image to determine how your video appears on your profile.
6. Tap the Post button
When your new video is finished, hit Post in the bottom right corner to post it to your TikTok page. If you’re not quite ready, you can tap the white Drafts button to the left to save the video to your drafts folder for later.
How to make a TikTok with multiple videos
To make a TikTok with multiple video clips, tap the round red Record button, then tap it again to pause. TikTok temporarily stores the first clip within the recording interface. You can add more clips by pressing Record again.
Here are some tips to make the process smooth:
- Use the Delete button. At the bottom of the recording screen, there’s a white Delete button that deletes the last clip you recorded. Use it to redo clips you’re not happy with, but be aware—it only deletes the most recent clip, so if you want to fix a clip followed by several good clips, you’ll need to delete the good clips to get to it.
- Go to the editing interface regularly. To review your work, tap the red checkbox in the bottom right to access the editing interface where you can watch a preview of your video and adjust clips as you go. This helps avoid locking in mistakes.
- Add music. If you’re worried about off-putting transitions between video clips, set your video to music with the sound effects menu at the top, which lets you add background music throughout every clip, creating a more seamless experience. Choose a recommended song or tap the search bar to browse original music.
You can also create a TikTok with multiple pre-recorded videos. To do this, press the + in the bottom toolbar, tap the camera roll button on the bottom right, and select the clips you want to string together. Tap Next to go into the editor and add audio clips, effects, and more.
Ideas for TikTok videos
No need to reinvent the wheel for your first TikTok video. Here are a few common types of TikToks to get you started creating content:
Dances
Dance videos are a TikTok staple, with users creating or emulating choreography to popular songs and challenging others to do the same. From the classic “Renegade” dance to the recent “Tyla” challenge, there’s always a dance trending on TikTok. Hop into the fun and share your interpretation.
Lip-synchs
Another staple on TikTok, lip-synch videos are the foundation for TikTok megastars like Bella Poarch. If you don’t have dance chops, pick a trending sound or song and put your own unique spin on it.
Challenges
Challenges are a huge part of the TikTok community, encouraging TikTok users to participate in trending activities to share their talents. They range from dance challenges to tempo tests to simple games.
Duets, stitches, and reactions
TikTok’s native collaboration features let you add your take to an existing TikTok—duets by adding your video side by side, stitches by adding your clip to the end, and reaction videos by adding your face in the foreground. Use these features to interact with trending videos and incorporate other content.
Q&As
TikTok’s Q&A feature lets you take questions from other TikTok users and pin them to your video, creating a space where you can respond to comments, create how-to videos, or offer useful information. Q&As are especially popular among business accounts since they let you create a dialogue with potential customers.
Tips for creating TikTok videos
Ready to make a splash as a TikTok creator? Here’s how to make your videos stand out on the social media platform:
Craft an enticing hook
According to TikTok, 63% of the highest-performing videos mention the key message or product in the first three seconds. For viral content, make sure the opening moments of your videos are catchy and informative.
Cut out the fluff
The jury is still out on the perfect length for a TikTok, but between 20 and 35 seconds is a general rule of thumb. If you have a good idea that requires a longer runtime, don’t nix it—a 2024 TikTok study says users spend half their time on the app watching videos longer than a minute. The key is to make sure your video’s length is right for the content.
Jump on trends
TikTok runs on trends, which means that incorporating trending content into your videos can land you on other users’ For You pages. Check out TikTok for Business’s Trend Discovery tool to browse trending hashtags, songs, creators, and videos in your niche.
Emphasize your value
With more than 1.5 billion users, TikTok is a very big pond—an ocean, you might say. It’s more important than ever to stand out with unique, high-quality video content. Figure out what particular value you can offer your target audience, and make sure your videos hit those marks.
How to make a TikTok video FAQ
What are some common mistakes to avoid when making a TikTok video?
Common mistakes include filling the video with unnecessary fluff and forgetting to hook viewers in the first three seconds. To increase your video quality, splice together good takes, capture attention early, and record in a quiet place to avoid excess background noise.
How do you make a successful TikTok video?
There’s no formula for a perfect TikTok, but there are things you can do when creating videos to significantly enhance your chances of going viral. Jump on current trends, put a strong hook in your first three seconds, and emphasize your unique value or perspective.
How to make a TikTok video with pictures?
To create TikTok videos with pictures, like a slideshow, press the + sign in the bottom toolbar, tap the photo reel button on the bottom right, select up to 35 pictures to share, then tap Upload.Upload photos in the order you want them to appear, and then tap Next”to go into the editor and add captions and effects, toggle between video mode and photo mode, and more.
