Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

How to watch TikTok without the app

By
TikTok being viewed through a mobile web browser.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Love it or hate it, TikTok is hard to avoid in 2024. From cat videos, news roundups, gameplay videos, and more, you can find just about anything on the popular video app.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • A mobile device or computer with internet access

Even if you don’t use TikTok daily or don't want the app on your phone, you may still want to watch TikTok videos on a mobile device or computer. Thankfully, as long as you have an internet connection, you can. If you want to watch TikTok videos without using the TikTok app, here's how to do it.

TikTok being viewed through a mobile web browser.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

How to watch TikTok on your phone without the app

Perhaps the easiest way to access TikTok without the Android or iPhone app is on your mobile device through a web browser.

No matter the web browser, you should be able to access TikTok through your mobile device such as a Google Pixel 8a or iPhone 15 Plus.

Step 1: Open the mobile browser on your device and visit TikTok at www.tiktok.com.

Step 2: A pop-up message will ask whether you want to “Open TikTok” or “Not Now.” Tap Not Now to view TikTok without an account.

Screenshot showing how to move around TikTok through a mobile web browser.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends
Related

Step 3: The mobile version of the site is designed for touch interaction and offers a similar experience to the app. To access videos from the main feed, simply drag your finger from the bottom of the screen to the top. Additionally, you can explore TikTok videos by topic on the Discover tab, such as Travel, Nature, and Animals. You can also tap on the profile of the person who created the video to see more of their content.

How to watch TikTok videos on other apps

You can also experience TikTok videos through other apps, including X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

Step 1: On X, you can find TikTok videos on your feed whenever someone reposts content from one social network to another. You can also click on the Media tab for more videos.

Step 2: Creators on YouTube often upload TikTok videos as either YouTube Shorts or regular YouTube videos, and you can also search for TikTok videos through YouTube.

Step 3: On Instagram, TikTok content creators often repost TikTok videos as Reels or regular Instagram posts. These reposts can be found on your feed or by searching.

Step 4: Finally, on certain Facebook pages, you can browse TikTok videos by tapping on the Video tab. They will also show up on your feed whenever any of your friends embed them.

By viewing TikTok content on other social networks, you can like and comment on posts, which is not possible on TikTok without logging in.

Topics
Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Editors’ Recommendations

I’ve used every major budgeting app, and these are my favorites for financial independence
My favorite budgeting apps.

The journey to financial independence (FI) is paved with mindful spending, diligent saving, and strategic investing. And in today's digital age, a robust budgeting app is a powerful ally in this quest. Over the years, I've navigated the interfaces, crunched the numbers, and tested the features of nearly every major budgeting app out there, all in pursuit of optimizing my own FI journey. And yes, at times, it has been a struggle. While each platform offers its own unique strengths, a few have consistently risen to the top as invaluable tools for those striving for financial freedom.

It's important to understand that the "best" app is subjective and depends heavily on individual needs and preferences. However, based on my extensive experience, certain apps stand out for their comprehensive features, user-friendliness, and ability to empower users to take control of their finances with the specific goal of FI in mind.

Read more
How to use Loss of Pulse Detection on the Pixel Watch 3
Google Pixel Watch with a recycled loop strap.

Google came late to the smartwatch game and had a rocky start with its first Pixel Watch in late 2022. However, the company more than redeemed itself with the Pixel Watch 2, a worthy successor that proved Google was ready to be a contender against more established players like Apple and Samsung. Then, it hit it right out of the park with the Pixel Watch 3, earning top place among the best smartwatches.

Not only does the Pixel Watch 3 deliver exceptional battery life, excellent hardware, and a reasonable price tag, but it also packs in best-in-class health features, including a big one that even Apple and Samsung have yet to match: Loss of Pulse Detection.

Read more
WhatsApp gets an anti-leak chat feature you should enable right now
Advanced Chat Privacy feature in WhatsApp.

WhatsApp chats are more than just for fun banter with friends and family. They’ve been heavily used during pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, medical rescue in conflict zones, environmental justice, and political activism. Leaks, however, often put members of a group chat at serious risk. 

To tackle the digital perils, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that will prevent any member from exporting the chat records and taking them elsewhere. The feature in question is called Advanced Chat Privacy, and it applies to group chats as well as one-on-one conversations. 

Read more