Are you getting a “This post is age-protected” error while trying to watch a video on TikTok? That’s a common message that many users get. In this guide, we’ll show you two different ways to get around that message so you can watch videos error-free.

Why TikTok Says "This Post Is Age-Protected"

There are a couple of reasons TikTok says “This post is age-protected” for a video. The most common reason is that the video you’re trying to watch is not suitable for your age. You may be trying to watch a video made for people aged 18 years or over, and you may be under this age.

Another reason you may get the above TikTok error is that you’ve enabled the app’s Restricted Mode feature. This feature restricts access to certain videos on the platform. This may be why you can’t watch your video.

How to Fix TikTok's Age-Protected Post Error

How you resolve TikTok’s “This post is age-protected” error depends on what has caused the issue. You have to fix the item that’s causing the problem, and you’ll have access to your video.

Here are a couple of solutions you can use.

Turn Off TikTok's Restricted Mode

One reason you can’t watch your video on TikTok is that you or someone else has enabled the app’s "Restricted Mode" feature. This feature restricts your access to certain videos, and that may be the reason you don’t have access to your video.

To get around that, simply turn off the Restricted Mode feature in your TikTok app. Note that disabling this mode requires entering the passcode that you created when you set up the feature. If you don’t remember your passcode, you’ll have to reset it using your phone number or email address.

To start the process, launch TikTok on your iPhone or Android phone. In the app’s bottom bar, tap "Profile."

On the following page, in the top-right corner, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) and choose "Settings and Privacy."

Scroll a bit down and select "Content Preferences."

Tap the "Restricted Mode" option.

Choose "Turn Off" to disable the mode.

Enter the passcode you used when you set up the feature, twice. TikTok will then disable the mode.

Once you’ve done that, try to access your video and see if it plays.

Correct Your Age in Your TikTok Profile

If you get a “This post is age-protected” error even after disabling Restricted Mode, the age in your TikTok profile may be under 18. In this case, if you made a mistake entering your birthdate while creating your account, ask TikTok to change the age in your account. There's no way to change your age yourself, so we made a guide to requesting an age fix from TikTok. Once TikTok has done that, you won’t see the above error anymore, and you’ll have access to your video.

Still Getting an Age-Protected Error on TikTok? Here's What to Do

If your error isn’t resolved using the above methods, your TikTok app may have a problem. In this case, you can apply various fixes to try and resolve your problem.

One fix to use is to log out and back into your account in the app. This refreshes your login session in the app, possibly fixing your issue. Another fix to apply is to clear TikTok’s app cache, which, again, helps fix some of the app problems.

If none of those methods work, uninstall and reinstall TikTok on your iPhone or Android phone. You’ll lose your video drafts doing this (though you can back up your TikTok drafts first), but your app problem will likely be fixed. This is because reinstalling the app deletes all the existing app files, some of which may be faulty.

And that’s how you get around an age-protected error message in TikTok on your iPhone or Android phone. Happy watching your favorite videos!