The policy is dated 4 November 2024; that date is stated to be the effective date of changes
The Cookies Policy carries the line “Last updated: 4 November 2024”. The Changes section says the “Last updated” date at the top of the policy shows the effective date of policy changes, so 4 November 2024 is the version this analysis covers. The text does not say what changed in that version.
Supporting quotations
Last updated: 4 November 2024
The “Last updated” date at the top of this Cookies Policy shows the effective date of such policy changes.
Qualifications & exceptions
The date is TikTok’s own statement; the analysis covers the saved copy of this version only.
Not stated here
Whether TikTok has published a later version is not shown in this text.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Context
This policy covers how TikTok and its partners use cookies across TikTok’s apps, websites, software and services
The Cookies Policy explains how TikTok and its partners use cookies and similar technologies. It applies to TikTok’s apps, websites, software and related services, which the policy together calls the “Platform”. It also covers your choices to control cookies. The policy text does not name a region or carve out any country; that silence alone does not show whether other TikTok documents vary these rules by region.
Supporting quotations
This Cookies Policy explains how TikTok and our partners use cookies and similar technologies. It applies to TikTok’s apps, websites, software and related services (together, the “Platform”). It also covers your choices to control them.
Qualifications & exceptions
“Platform” means TikTok’s apps, websites, software and related services together.
Not stated here
No regional version or country-specific exception appears in this text; whether other TikTok documents vary it by region is not shown here.
Use & Processing · Context
Unless this policy says otherwise, TikTok’s Privacy Policy governs the data collected through cookies
Data that TikTok collects through cookies and similar technologies is governed by TikTok’s Privacy Policy, except where this Cookies Policy states otherwise. The Privacy Policy is a separate document that is linked but not part of this text, so what it says about cookie data (for example retention, sharing or international transfers) cannot be described here.
Supporting quotations
Unless otherwise stated in this Cookies Policy, our Privacy Policy applies to the data we collect through cookies and similar technologies.
Qualifications & exceptions
The default applies “unless otherwise stated in this Cookies Policy”; the policy does not list which of its statements override the Privacy Policy.
Not stated here
The Privacy Policy was not supplied; its rules for cookie data are unknown here.
Data Access & Collection · Context
Cookies are described as small files that identify your browser or device and store or access information on it
The policy describes cookies generally: small text files that let websites and apps identify your browser or device, and cookies and similar technologies that let websites and apps store or access information on your device. They turn on features and distinguish you from other visitors. The policy says most website and app providers use them for purposes such as efficient page navigation, web security, usage tracking, remembering preferences and customising the experience, especially for ads. This passage describes the technology in general; TikTok’s own uses are set out in the later purpose sections.
Supporting quotations
Cookies are small text files that let websites and apps identify your browser or device. Cookies and similar technologies let websites and apps store or access info on your device. They turn on certain features and distinguish you from other visitors.
These purposes include: efficient page navigation, web security and usage tracking. These technologies also remember user preferences and customise the user experience, especially in relation to ads.
Qualifications & exceptions
The sentence about purposes describes “most website and app providers”, not TikTok specifically.
Data Access & Collection · Context
“Cookies” in this policy includes SDKs, pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage
TikTok uses cookies and similar technologies, which the policy lists as software development kits (SDKs), pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage. The policy calls all of these “cookies”. So every statement in the policy about cookies also covers these technologies, including mobile advertising identifiers on apps, not only browser cookies.
Supporting quotations
Like many websites and apps, TikTok uses cookies and similar technologies, such as software development kits (“SDKs”), pixels, APIs, mobile ad IDs, tags and local storage. We call them all “cookies” in this Cookies Policy.
Qualifications & exceptions
The list is introduced with “such as”, so it is illustrative rather than closed.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Most cookies on the Platform are set and used directly by TikTok (“first-party” cookies)
Most of the cookies on the Platform are set on browsers or devices and used directly by TikTok. The policy calls these “first-party” cookies. “Most” leaves room for the third-party cookies that Partners set, described separately.
Supporting quotations
Most of the cookies on our Platform are set on browsers or devices and used directly by us. These are referred to as “first-party” cookies.
Qualifications & exceptions
“Most”, not all, cookies are first-party.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
Partners set “third-party” cookies on the Platform for security, promotion, ad measurement and personalised ads
Other businesses, which the policy calls “Partners”, also set and use cookies on the Platform; the policy calls these “third-party cookies”. Their stated purposes are to help TikTok keep the Platform safe and secure and promote TikTok’s services on other apps and websites, and to enable TikTok, its advertisers and measurement partners to measure ad campaign effectiveness and show you personalised ads. The Partners section adds that Partners, including third-party platforms, advertisers and measuring partners, use cookies for the purposes listed in the policy and let TikTok provide additional features, such as logging in with a third-party account (like Facebook or Google) or sharing your content on other platforms. The Partners and links to their own privacy policies are in a separate Cookies Partners List, which is linked but not part of this text.
Supporting quotations
Other businesses (“Partners”) also set and use cookies on the Platform. They help us keep it safe and secure and promote our services on other apps and websites. These cookies also enable us, our advertisers and measurement partners to measure ad campaign effectiveness and show you personalised ads. In this Cookies Policy, we refer to cookies set by Partners on the Platform as “third-party cookies”.
You can find more information about the Partners that use cookies on the Platform and links to their own privacy policies
Some of our Partners, including third-party platforms, advertisers and measuring partners, use cookies on the Platform for the purposes listed above. These let us provide you with additional features on the Platform. For example, you can log in using your third-party accounts (like Facebook or Google) or share your content on other platforms.
Qualifications & exceptions
Measuring ad effectiveness and showing personalised ads are done by TikTok, its advertisers and measurement partners, not only TikTok.
Partners’ own handling of cookie data is described in their own policies, which this text does not supply.
Not stated here
Which businesses are Partners and what their policies say is not in this text; the Cookies Partners List was not supplied.
Retention & Deletion · Context
Session cookies end when the browser closes; persistent cookies stay for a set time and can be recognised on other sites
Cookies can stay on your computer or mobile device for different periods. Session cookies exist only while your browser is open and are deleted automatically when or shortly after you close it. Persistent cookies stay after you close your browser or app and expire automatically after a set time, which the policy illustrates as a few days or weeks. When you return to the Platform, a third-party site or other sites that use the same cookies, persistent cookies on your device can be recognised. Specific retention periods for named cookies are given in the Types of cookies section.
Supporting quotations
Cookies can remain on your computer or mobile device for different periods of time. Some cookies are “session cookies”. They exist only while your browser is open and are deleted automatically or shortly after you close your browser.
Other cookies are “persistent cookies”. They stay after you close your browser or app. Persistent cookies expire automatically after a set time, like a few days or weeks. When you return to the Platform, a third-party site or other sites that use the same cookies, persistent cookies on your device can be recognised.
Qualifications & exceptions
“A few days or weeks” is an illustration; the named cookies later in the policy carry periods from 1 month to 24 months.
Not stated here
Which sites other than the Platform use the same cookies is not stated.
Use & Processing · Company practice
TikTok uses cookies to provide, secure, analyse and customise the Platform, and for ads
TikTok says cookies let it provide and secure the Platform and analyse and customise it, including giving users a safer, personalised experience; for example, TikTok verifies logged-in users to give them an appropriate experience. Cookies also let TikTok, its advertisers and measurement partners measure how effective ad campaigns are, and let TikTok show you ads based on your browsing and your profile. The Types of cookies section then explains each purpose with named example cookies.
Supporting quotations
Cookies enable us to provide and secure, as well as analyse and customise, the Platform. This includes providing a safer, personalised experience to users of the Platform. For example, we will verify logged-in users to give them an appropriate experience.
Cookies let us, our advertisers and measurement partners measure ad campaign effectiveness. They also allow us to show you ads based on your browsing and profile.
Qualifications & exceptions
Measuring ad campaign effectiveness is done by TikTok together with its advertisers and measurement partners; showing ads based on browsing and profile is stated as TikTok’s own use.
Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception
Essential cookies needed for the Platform and features you requested cannot be declined or turned off
TikTok says some cookies are essential to provide you with the Platform and the features you have requested, and that you cannot decline them or turn them off afterwards. The policy does not say which of its named cookies are essential: the Types of cookies section describes purposes and examples without marking each cookie as essential or optional.
Supporting quotations
Some cookies are essential to provide you with the Platform and features you have requested. You cannot decline or turn them off afterwards.
Qualifications & exceptions
“Essential” is tied to providing the Platform and the features you have requested; the policy gives no further definition.
Not stated here
Which named cookies count as essential is not stated.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Optional, non-essential cookies are used based on your usage and the sites you visit
Cookies that are not essential are called optional. TikTok says these optional, non-essential cookies will be used based on your usage and the sites you visit. This passage does not explain how you choose; the section on controlling cookies says you can accept or refuse optional cookies, and a functionality cookie records that choice. The policy does not label each named cookie as essential or optional.
Supporting quotations
Other optional, non-essential cookies will be used based on your usage and the sites you visit.
Qualifications & exceptions
“Based on your usage and the sites you visit” is the policy’s own wording; it does not explain how usage or visited sites decide which optional cookies are set.
Not stated here
Which named cookies are optional is not stated.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Functionality cookies keep you logged in and remember language, country and your optional-cookie choice
TikTok uses functionality and customisation cookies to make the Platform work better, to customise it to your preferences (for example showing it in your preferred language) and to verify your account when you are logged in. The examples given are: “sid_tt” cookies, which remember your login details and status while you browse, retained for 2 months; “default_lang” cookies, which record your preferred language, retained for 1 year; “locale” cookies, which record the country from which you visit the Platform, retained for 1 year; and other cookies that record your consent so your choice of optional cookies is remembered. These are examples, not a complete list.
Supporting quotations
Some cookies help the Platform work better. They also let us customise the Platform to your preferences. For example, we can display it in your preferred language. We also use cookies to verify your account when logged in.
Some cookies allow for the proper functioning of the Platform and our services. These cookies remember your login details and status while you browse the Platform, for example, “sid_tt” cookies (retained for 2 months).
Some cookies record your preferred language, like “default_lang” cookies (retained for 1 year). Other cookies, like “locale” cookies (retained for 1 year), record the country from which you visit the Platform.
Other cookies record your consent to remember your choice of optional cookies.
Below, we provide examples of the cookies we use for functionality and customisation.
Qualifications & exceptions
The named cookies are introduced as examples; other functionality cookies may exist.
Not stated here
No retention period is given for the cookies that record your optional-cookie choice.
Security & Safeguards · Company practice
Security cookies detect fraud, bots and suspicious activity and check for suspended accounts
TikTok uses some cookies to keep you and the Platform safe and secure. The examples given are: preventing fraudulent attacks on the Platform; detecting non-human traffic (bots); detecting suspicious activity; checking whether an account was suspended for violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines, so TikTok can take appropriate action; and scheduling traffic and distributing it across networks. The cookies used for these purposes include “ttwid” (retained for 1 year) and “security_verification_ticket” (retained for 1 month). The analytics section separately says “ttwid” lasts up to 13 months.
Supporting quotations
We use some cookies to keep you and the Platform safe and secure.
For example, these types of cookies enable us to:
Prevent fraudulent attacks to our Platform.
Detect non-human traffic (bots).
Detect suspicious activity.
Check if an account was suspended for violating our Community Guidelines. This will let us take appropriate action.
Schedule traffic and distribute it properly across networks.
The cookies used for these purposes include “ttwid” cookies (retained for 1 year) and “security_verification_ticket” cookies (retained for 1 month).
Qualifications & exceptions
The purposes are introduced “for example”, so the list is not closed.
The policy does not describe what “appropriate action” for a suspended account involves.
Not stated here
The Community Guidelines are a separate document not supplied here.
Analytics cookies track pages viewed and interactions; ttwid lasts up to 13 months, Google Analytics 24
Some cookies help TikTok understand how you use the Platform and its features, showing which pages you view and how you interact (the sentence ends there in the saved text). TikTok says it uses this information to measure and quickly fix errors, to test design ideas, to understand user activity and patterns, and to improve the Platform. The examples given are the first-party “ttwid” cookie, used for analytics and web optimisation and lasting at most 13 months, and Google Analytics, used to analyse Platform usage such as the number of page views and unique visitors, with a retention period of 24 months. The policy does not say here what information Google receives or how Google uses it.
Supporting quotations
Some cookies help us understand your use of the Platform and its features. They show which pages you view and how you interact
This information lets us measure and quickly fix any errors on the Platform to improve your experience. We also use the information obtained through these cookies to test design ideas. It helps us understand user activity and patterns. This, in turn, improves the Platform and its features.
Below are examples of the analytics cookies we use, their purposes and their retention periods.
The “ttwid” first-party cookie is for analytics and web optimisation. It lasts for a maximum of 13 months.
We also use Google Analytics to analyse Platform usage. This includes the number of page views and unique visitors. Google Analytics has a retention period of 24 months.
Qualifications & exceptions
The sentence describing what analytics cookies show ends at “how you interact” in the saved text; nothing more is stated there.
The cookies listed are examples.
Not stated here
Whether Google receives or uses Platform usage data for its own purposes is not stated in this policy.
Linking & Identification · Company practice
First- and third-party cookies personalise ads from your browsing, profile and off-app activity
The Platform uses first-party and third-party cookies for advertising. This includes personalising ads based on your browsing habits, your profile and your off-app activity, which the policy qualifies with “depending on your settings”. One example is the first-party “ttp” cookie, used to show you personalised ads from an advertiser if you have visited that advertiser’s website or app before; it has a retention period of 1 year. The settings that affect ad personalisation are described in the section on controlling cookies (Personalised Ads settings for logged-in account holders and device settings for mobile advertising identifiers).
Supporting quotations
Our Platform uses first-party and third-party cookies for advertising purposes. This includes personalising ads (depending on your settings) based on your browsing habits and profile and your off-app activity.
Examples of the advertising and measurement cookies include cookies:
To show you personalised ads from an advertiser if you have visited their website or app before. For example, we use the “ttp” first-party cookie for these purposes and it has a retention period of 1 year.
Qualifications & exceptions
Personalisation applies “depending on your settings”; this passage does not say which settings or what the default is.
Not stated here
How off-app activity reaches TikTok is not described in this passage.
The default ad-personalisation setting is not stated.
Linking & Identification · Company practice
Cookies are used to advertise TikTok on third-party platforms to past website visitors (e.g. fbp)
TikTok uses advertising cookies to serve ads about TikTok itself on third-party platforms. This includes remarketing TikTok to people who visited TikTok’s website and measuring the performance of TikTok’s own ad campaigns. The example given is the third-party “fbp” cookie, with a retention period of 3 months. The policy does not name the third-party platforms or say what information they receive.
Supporting quotations
To serve ads about TikTok on third-party platforms. This includes remarketing TikTok to people who visited our website and measuring our ad campaigns’ performance. For example, the “fbp” third-party cookie which has a retention period of 3 months.
Qualifications & exceptions
“fbp” is given as an example; other cookies may serve the same purpose.
Not stated here
The third-party platforms and the information they receive are not named in this policy.
Linking & Identification · Company practice
Ad measurement tracks actions after ads, like advertiser site visits or purchases, incl. via IDFA and GAID
TikTok also uses cookies to measure how ads perform on the Platform. This includes tracking what users do in response to ads, for example visits to an advertiser’s website or purchases. The third-party advertising identifiers “IDFA” and “GAID” are used both for ad measurement and for personalising ads. Because the policy’s definition of “cookies” includes mobile ad IDs, this covers app activity, not only browser cookies. The section on controlling cookies describes Apple and Android device settings for mobile advertising identifiers.
Supporting quotations
We also use cookies to measure our ads’ performance on the Platform.
To measure the performance of ads on our Platform. This includes tracking user actions in response to ads. For example, this includes visits to an advertiser’s website or purchases. For example, the third-party advertising identifiers “IDFA” and “GAID” are used for ad measurement and personalising ads.
Qualifications & exceptions
Visits and purchases are examples of tracked actions; the list is not closed.
Not stated here
Where the tracked purchases take place (on the Platform or on advertisers’ sites) is not specified beyond the example.
Sharing & Disclosure · Context
Partners using cookies are named only in a separate Cookies Partners List linking to their own policies
Other businesses, which the policy calls Partners, set and use cookies on the Platform. The Partners section says some of them, including third-party platforms, advertisers and measuring partners, use cookies on the Platform for the purposes described in the Types of cookies section. The policy itself does not name them: it points to a separate Cookies Partners List, which lists the Partners using cookies on the Platform and links to their own privacy and cookie policies. That list and those policies were not supplied with this text, so who the Partners are and how they handle cookie data cannot be described here.
Supporting quotations
Some of our Partners, including third-party platforms, advertisers and measuring partners, use cookies on the Platform for the purposes listed above.
includes a list of our Partners using cookies on the Platform. It also has links to their own privacy and cookie policies.
Other businesses (“Partners”) also set and use cookies on the Platform.
Qualifications & exceptions
Partners’ own handling of cookie data is described in their own policies, not in this text.
Not stated here
The Cookies Partners List and the Partners’ own policies were not supplied.
Data Access & Collection · User right or choice
You can accept or refuse optional cookies at any time; essential cookies cannot be controlled
You can accept or refuse optional cookies, and you can manage your cookie settings at any time through the Platform Cookie settings. That choice does not reach essential cookies: TikTok says some of the cookies it uses are essential to operate the Platform, so you cannot control their use. The policy does not say which named cookies fall in each group or where on each app or website the cookie settings are found.
Supporting quotations
Some of the cookies that we use are essential to operate the Platform. As a result, you cannot control the use of such cookies.
You can accept or refuse optional cookies.
You can manage your cookie settings any time and accept or refuse optional cookies.
Qualifications & exceptions
The choice covers optional cookies only; essential cookies cannot be controlled.
Not stated here
Which named cookies are optional and which are essential is not stated.
Blocking or deleting cookies may lose your preferences; blocking all may stop features working properly
TikTok warns that blocking or deleting cookies may mean some of your Platform preferences are lost, and that blocking all cookies may also mean certain Platform functions will not work fully or properly. Both are stated as possibilities (“may”), not certain results, and the policy does not say which preferences or functions are affected.
Supporting quotations
Blocking or deleting cookies may mean that some of your Platform preferences will be lost. Blocking all cookies may also mean certain functionalities on the Platform will not operate fully or properly.
Qualifications & exceptions
Stated as “may”; the effects are possible, not certain.
Not stated here
Which preferences or functions are affected is not stated.
Logged-in account holders can manage how their information affects certain ads they see on the Platform
TikTok says you can control how it uses data from cookies to show you ads through the settings it then describes. If you have a TikTok account and are logged in, you can manage how your information affects certain ads you see on the Platform, through a page linked from the policy. The policy says you can do this by following instructions, but no instructions follow in the saved text; the next item is the app (device) settings. This control requires an account and being logged in, and it covers “certain ads”, not all ads.
Supporting quotations
You can control how we use data from cookies to show you ads by using the settings described below.
If you have a TikTok account and are logged in, you can [manage how your information affects certain ads you see on the Platform](https://www.tiktok.com/privacy/ads-and-your-data/en). You can do so by following the following instructions:
Qualifications & exceptions
Available only if you have a TikTok account and are logged in.
It covers how your information affects “certain ads” on the Platform, not all ads.
Not stated here
The instructions the policy refers to do not appear in the saved text.
The linked ads page was not supplied, so what the setting changes is not described here.
Device settings on Apple and Android let you limit tracking or opt out of ads personalisation
You can also use your device settings to control your mobile advertising identifiers. On Apple devices, for iOS versions older than iOS 14 you can turn on the “Limit Ad Tracking” setting; for iOS 14 or newer you can limit third-party tracking in your device settings. On Android devices you can turn on “Opt out of Ads Personalisation”. These are settings on your device, not TikTok settings; the policy presents them as a way to control your identifiers and does not say more about how TikTok responds to them.
Supporting quotations
You can also tailor your device settings to control your mobile advertising identifiers:
On Apple devices: For iOS versions older than iOS 14, you can turn on the “Limit Ad Tracking” setting in your device settings. For iOS 14 or newer, you can limit third-party tracking in your device settings.
On Android devices, you can turn on the “Opt out of Ads Personalisation” in your device.
Qualifications & exceptions
The Apple option depends on the iOS version (older than iOS 14, or iOS 14 or newer).
Not stated here
What TikTok does differently when these device settings are on is not described.
Most browsers let you view, block or delete cookies; the policy links help pages for five browsers
Most browsers let you choose your level of privacy settings and control cookies and local storage. The examples given are: see what cookies or other locally stored data you have and delete them one by one; block third-party cookies; block cookies from particular sites; block all cookies from being set; or delete all cookies and site data. The policy links to help pages for Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge and Firefox. These are browser features, not TikTok settings, and blocking or deleting cookies can cost you preferences and some functionality (see the related card).
Supporting quotations
Most browsers will also allow you to choose the level of privacy settings you want. You can control your cookies and local storage settings, like:
See what cookies or other locally stored data you have and delete them on an individual basis;
Block third-party cookies;
Block cookies from particular sites;
Block all cookies from being set; or
Delete all cookies/site data.
For more information on how to manage the most popular browsers, see below:
Google Chrome:
Safari:
Internet Explorer:
Edge:
Firefox:
Qualifications & exceptions
Described for “most browsers”; availability depends on your browser.
Not stated here
The linked browser help pages were not supplied.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Company commitment
TikTok may update the policy and will notify you of material changes through the Platform or other means
TikTok may update this Cookies Policy from time to time. It says it will notify you of any material changes through the Platform or other means. The policy does not define “material”, does not say how far in advance notice is given, and gives no notice commitment for non-material changes beyond the “Last updated” date, which it says shows the effective date of changes.
Supporting quotations
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes to this policy through the Platform or other means.
The “Last updated” date at the top of this Cookies Policy shows the effective date of such policy changes.
Qualifications & exceptions
The notice commitment covers “material” changes only.
Not stated here
What counts as a material change and how much notice is given are not stated.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Procedure
Questions about this policy or any privacy issues go to TikTok through its webform
If you have questions about this Cookies Policy, or any privacy issues, TikTok asks you to contact it through its webform, which the policy links. No other contact route (such as an address or email) is given in this text.
Supporting quotations
If you have questions about this Cookies Policy, or any privacy issues, contact us [through our webform](https://www.tiktok.com/legal/report/privacy).
Not stated here
The linked webform was not supplied.
Sharing & Disclosure · Context
International transfers of cookie data are covered in TikTok’s Privacy Policy and Partners’ own policies
This policy does not itself describe international transfers of cookie data. For TikTok’s cookie data processing it points to the Privacy Policy, which it says covers international data transfers, the safeguard mechanisms TikTok has implemented and the use of personal data with cookies. For Partners’ data transfers it points to the Partners’ own privacy and cookies policies, cross-referring to “point 3: How TikTok Partners use cookies”; the headings in the saved text are unnumbered, and the cited title matches the Partners section, whose Cookies Partners List links to those policies. None of these documents was supplied, so transfer destinations and safeguards are unknown here.
Supporting quotations
For details on TikTok’s cookie data processing, see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy). It covers international data transfers, safeguards mechanisms implemented and the use of personal data with cookies.
For more info on our Partners’ data transfers, see their privacy and cookies policies. (See point 3: How TikTok Partners use cookies, of this Cookies Policy).
It also has links to their own privacy and cookie policies.
Qualifications & exceptions
The cross-reference to “point 3” is matched to the Partners section by its quoted title; the saved headings carry no numbers.
Not stated here
TikTok’s Privacy Policy, the Cookies Partners List and the Partners’ policies were not supplied; transfer destinations and safeguards are unknown here.