As the TikTok ban finalised on January 19, users are rushing to safeguard their content before the app is potentially removed from major platforms. This comes after a Supreme Court decision upheld a law mandating the ban.

If no unexpected changes occur, TikTok will be banned starting Sunday, January 19. The legislation, signed last year by President Biden, requires TikTok's Chinese owners to either sell the app or face a complete ban due to national security concerns. A legal representative for TikTok recently warned that the app could "go dark" as soon as the ban is enforced. On Friday, the Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the legislation, setting the stage for the ban to proceed.

What the TikTok Ban Could Mean

The impact of the ban may mirror what has happened in countries like India, where TikTok has already been prohibited. In these regions, users cannot download the app, and those who still have it installed find that content no longer loads. Experts predict that TikTok in the U.S. may face a similar shutdown, with its functionality gradually disappearing once it’s removed from app stores like the App Store and Google Play.

How to Download Your TikTok Data

With uncertainty looming, many users are choosing to back up their data, including videos, likes, and comments. If you want to save your content before January 19, TikTok provides an option to download your data through its desktop site.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your web browser and visit TikTok’s website.
2. Click the Butten 'LogIn' in the top-right corner to Log into your A/c 
3. Hover over your profile picture in the top right and click “Settings.”
4. Select the “Manage Account” section and Go to “Download your data”
5. On the “Download TikTok Data” page, choose the type of data you want (e.g., all data or just your profile and posts) and pick your preferred file format.
6. Click “Request Data” and verify your account if prompted.

TikTok will process your request, and you’ll have four days to download the file once it’s ready.

Steps to Access Your Posts

When your data is ready, you can download and access it using these steps:

1. Go to 'Download-TikTok-Data' page - Click on the “Download” tab.
2. Download the zip file provided.
3. Open the zip file on your device.
4. Go to 'TikTok' folder and then open the 'Posts' folder.
5. Locate the text file with links to your videos.
6. Copy a link, paste it into your browser, and view the video.

Note: The downloaded data might not include everything. TikTok mentions that content involving the privacy of others will be excluded. Additionally, videos are saved as links rather than actual files, meaning you might need to download some videos individually.