A common frustration that people have when clicking on TikTok links is that TikTok will try to force you to open those links in its app instead of opening the TikTok links in your browser.
However, if you don’t have the TikTok app installed for whatever reason or only want to use TikTok’s web version, this can be incredibly frustrating. In this guide, I will show you how to open TikTok links without the app.
Why Open TikTok Links in an External Browser?
There are several reasons you may want to access TikTok in a browser. Perhaps your phone doesn’t have enough space for the TikTok app, so you don’t want to download TikTok. Perhaps you are not a heavy TikTok user and don’t feel the need to create an account, but friends still sometimes send you TikTok links, and you want to open those TikTok links in Chrome instead of downloading an app you don’t plan on using much.
Whatever your reason is, it can be frustrating when TikTok defaults to the app and tries to get you to download and use it.
How to Open TikTok Links on Android
To open TikTok links on an Android without the TikTok app, copy the link and then paste it into your browser. If you are clicking on the link in a browser, you can also long-press and select the option to open it in a new tab.
When you visit the link in a browser, there will be a pop-up asking you to open it in the app. Click the X or Not Now button to close that pop-up, and you can proceed to watch the video in your browser. You might have to close the pop-up twice, as TikTok really tries to force you to use the app.
How to Open TikTok Links on iPhone
Similarly, on an iPhone, you can watch a TikTok video on your iOS browser, whether that is Safari or any other browser, by copying and pasting the link into your browser. If you are already in Safari, long-press on it and select the option to open it in a new tab.
How to Open TikTok Links on a Desktop Computer
You can also open links on a desktop computer. In fact, on a desktop, TikTok works best in the browser rather than on the app. There is an app available for download from the Microsoft Store, though, if you prefer to use an app.
Can You Watch TikTok Videos Without the App?
Yes, and many people do. While watching TikTok without the app can sometimes feel annoying because TikTok tries to pressure you into using the app, you can still use TikTok in the web viewer. In fact, you can use TikTok without an account at all by just watching videos in the web version.
How to Stop TikTok Links From Automatically Opening in the App
On an Android, you can stop TikTok links from redirecting to the app and open TikTok in your browser only by adjusting your settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Opening Links.
Select TikTok and toggle off Open Supported Links. This will stop TikTok from opening links in the app, even when you click on a link from a WhatsApp message, and force them to open in the browser instead.
This isn’t possible on an iPhone. However, some people have also had success training iOS to open links in the browser using the Notes method. Copy and paste the TikTok link into Notes. Then, long-press on the link and select Open in Safari. This sometimes causes iOS to continue opening all TikTok links in Safari.
Common Reasons TikTok Links Won’t Open
If a TikTok link is not opening at all, it’s usually because the content was deleted or you are experiencing network problems. Ensure you have an active internet connection and try again. You can also try opening the link in another browser to double-check if your browser is the problem.
How to Fix TikTok Links That Are Not Working
If a TikTok link is not working, make sure that you have a stable internet connection. Update your browser and clear your cache. Consider trying a different browser or switch to the app (or TikTok Lite). Restart your device and try again. If it still doesn’t work, try another TikTok link to check if the problem is with TikTok in general or that specific link. The link may be broken, or the content may be deleted.
Privacy and Security Tips When Opening TikTok Links
Make sure to only click on TikTok links from trusted sources to avoid clicking on malicious links.
In addition, on TikTok, go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Suggest Your Account to Others and toggle off “People who open or send links to you.” This protects your privacy. Also, go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Post Views and turn post views off, so people can’t see you viewed their posts.
Conclusion
I hope this guide was helpful and you learned how to open TikTok links in your browser, whether you are on Android or iOS. Fortunately, TikTok offers web access for viewing videos, but the tricky part is not allowing it to force the app onto you, which it really tries to do.
