Why Can’t I Follow People on TikTok – Quick Fixes!

I ran into this problem myself a few weeks back. Every time I tried to follow someone on TikTok, the button either turned grey or showed a message like “Unable to follow.” At first, I thought it was just an internet issue. But when it kept happening again and again, I realized there are multiple reasons behind this issue.

While many other TikTok users will be facing similar issues, based on my experience of how I fixed this issue, this guide breaks down the real reasons, step-by-step fixes, and tips to avoid this issue in future, with insights from TikTok’s official support and user communities.

Why Can’t I Follow People on TikTok

TikTok has become the most addictive social platform, but one of the most common complaints from users is this: “Why can’t I follow people on TikTok?” Sometimes the follow button doesn’t respond, or you hit a mysterious limit where TikTok won’t let you follow anyone new.

Daily/Hourly Follow Limit

TikTok hasn’t published an official number, but most users report that you can follow about 200 accounts per day and 30–50 per hour. Crossing this number will make TikTok temporarily block the follow button because the system thinks you’re spamming. TikTok Community Guidelines warn against “inauthentic interactions,” which includes mass following.

User insight (Reddit): Many creators mention that when they followed too fast, TikTok stopped them for 24 hours. Some even got a pop-up saying “You’re following too fast.”

How to fix it:

• Don’t follow too many accounts at once. After every 10–15 follows, pause for 10–15 minutes.
• If you’ve already hit the daily limit, wait 24 hours before trying again.
• Unfollow accounts; you need to keep your list clean.
• TikTok also has a lifetime follow limit of around 10,000 accounts. If you’ve reached that number, unfollow a few people before adding new ones.

Temporary Restrictions or Shadowban

 A shadowban is when TikTok quietly reduces your account’s reach or features without sending you a notice. If you’ve been liking, commenting, or following too many at once, TikTok may limit your account to protect the platform from spam.

In my experience: After following a large number of users in one go, my account couldn’t follow anyone for two days. Once the limit expired, everything went back to normal.

App Glitches and Technical Issues

Sometimes, the reason you can’t follow someone isn’t a restriction—it’s just a glitch. Bugs in the app, an older version, or poor internet can cause problems. For example, if your connection is slow or your phone’s storage is full, TikTok often fails to function as expected. You may have noticed messages like “Comments aren’t available”—and just like that, the follow button can also stop working.

What to do:

• Check your internet: Check that your internet connection is working properly and isn’t dropping.
• Update the app: Use the latest version of TikTok. Older versions often cause bugs or weird behavior.
• Clear cache or reinstall: Go to your phone’s settings, find TikTok, and clear its cache (Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache). If needed, uninstall and reinstall the app.
• Restart your phone: A quick restart can sometimes fix small issues instantly.
• Check your app version: If you’re using a modded version like TikTok 18+, ensure it’s from a trusted source like tiktok18mod.com. If that app isn’t available in your country’s app store, you’ll likely have to use a VPN or alternative method (in the next section).

Region Restrictions and TikTok Bans

In some countries, TikTok or its certain features are officially banned or restricted. For example, there have been ongoing efforts in the United States to block the app due to concerns over data privacy and national security. If you’re living in a country where this app has been removed from the app store, you won’t be able to redownload it directly. And if you already have it installed, some features might not work properly.

Similarly, modded versions like adult content version are also blocked or limited in certain regions.

• Check if TikTok is banned in your country: First, check if TikTok is banned in your country. Some countries like India, Australia, Afghanistan, Belgium, and Canada have banned it. Even in the U.S., this short video-sharing site has faced temporary bans — and there’s a high chance it could be fully banned in 2025.
• Change your region/account settings: Switch your region if your Google or Apple account is set to a country where this app is blocked (like the U.S.). For iPhone users, go to Settings → Apple ID → Country/Region and change it to a country where this app is still available. Then check the App Store again.
• Use a VPN: To change your virtual location, you can use a VPN. Apps like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark let you connect through countries where it is accessible. 
• Try alternative sources: If the official version isn’t available through official stores, download a trusted third-party version like TikTok 18. 

Someone Might Have Blocked You on TikTok

If you’re trying to follow a user on TikTok and can’t, they’ve probably blocked you. When someone blocks you on TikTok features like follow, like, and messaging get disabled. In those cases, the follow button often appears greyed out or shows an error.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Check if You’ve Blocked Them First:

• Go to your blocked accounts list on TikTok to ensure you haven’t accidentally blocked them. Navigate to:
• Profile > Settings > Privacy > Blocked Accounts.
• If their username appears there, you must unblock them on TikTok before trying to follow them again.

2. It’s possible you blocked them by mistake:

• Sometimes, users get blocked unintentionally. If that happens, unblock them first, then try following again.

3. If They Blocked You:

• If the other person has blocked you, you cannot do much unless someone unblock on TikTok. You can ask them politely to remove the block, but until they do, you won’t be able to follow or interact with them on TikTok.

Private Account or Other Settings Might Be the Reason

Sometimes, the user you’re trying to follow has set their TikTok account to private. Your follow request has been sent in this case, but you won’t appear on their follower list until they approve it. Instead of a “Follow” button, you’ll see “Requested” or the same follow option again.

The solution is simple: wait patiently or send them a message asking them to accept your request.TikTok has also introduced a new feature called Profile View History, which shows who has visited your profile. You can turn this feature off if you don’t want others to see when you check their profiles.

While this setting doesn’t directly affect the following process, it’s still useful to know. Keeping a profile private doesn’t block followers—it just means you’ll need to wait for approval after sending a request.

FAQs

Conclusion

Not being able to follow TikTok usually comes down to reasons like limits, temporary restrictions, or technical glitches. These issues are frustrating, but in most cases, they resolve quickly with simple fixes like clearing cache, reinstalling the app, or waiting out the limit.

From my experience and what many others share online, pacing your activity and avoiding spam-like behavior keeps your account safe. If you live in a country where TikTok faces bans, TikTok 18 Mod is a practical alternative — just remember it’s not official.

The best approach is to use TikTok in a moderate way, compliant with guidelines, and focus on meaningful engagement instead of shortcuts. That way, your follow button will keep working, and your account will remain active without any restrictions.