Ethan Brooks
How To Fix the “Something Went Wrong. Try Again Later” TikTok Error on Android
If TikTok keeps throwing that annoying “Something went wrong. Try again later” message, you’re not alone. It’s one of those errors that can pop up seemingly out of nowhere, and honestly, it’s kind of a pain because it just stops you from scrolling or posting. Usually, it’s caused by some weird cache mess, outdated app version, or permissions getting munged up — stuff you can fix without too much hassle if you know what to try. The goal here is to get TikTok back to working normally so you can watch, upload, and scroll without interruptions.
How to Fix TikTok’s “Something Went Wrong” Error on Android
Clear TikTok Cache and Data
This step is kind of a staple in troubleshooting app issues, and for TikTok, it’s usually effective. Clearing cache deletes those temporary files that might’ve gotten corrupted somehow — kind of like cleaning out junk files piling up over time. Clearing data resets the app to its fresh state, so it’s a bit drastic, but often necessary. Just be aware that clearing data logs you out and resets preferences, so you might have to log back in and rework some little settings afterward.
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > See all apps.
- Scroll down to find TikTok and tap it.
- Select Storage & Cache.
- Tap Clear Cache. Check if that fixes the issue first.
- If not, tap Clear Storage / Data. Confirm. This resets the app and often fixes those pesky internal errors.
Note: Clearing data resets everything — no saved login info, no preferences. You’ll need to log in again. But on some machines, this clears weird glitches that don’t go away otherwise.
Check and Fix App Permissions
Sometimes, files or permissions snap out of whack after clearing data. TikTok needs permissions, especially for camera, microphone, storage, and really all those settings, to run properly. If permissions aren’t granted, it might throw errors.
- Back into Settings > Apps & Notifications > TikTok.
- Tap on Permissions.
- Make sure all relevant permissions are toggled on — especially storage, camera, and microphone.
It’s kind of weird, but on some setups, permissions get reset when you clear data. Just a quick check, and TikTok should be good to go on that front.
Update TikTok to the Latest Version
Outdated apps are like, the worst. They miss out on bug fixes and new features, or sometimes those bugs stay lurking. So, jumping to the latest version can fix bugs causing the error.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for TikTok.
- If you see an Update button, tap it. If it just shows ‘Open,’ you’re already up to date.
Keeping it fresh often sidesteps plugin glitches or cache issues that cause errors.
Reinstall TikTok
If updating didn’t cut it, a complete reinstall might do the trick. Sometimes, apps just get corrupted beyond what cache clears can fix. Reinstalling replaces all files clean and fresh, which often resolves stubborn bugs.
- Press and hold the TikTok icon, then tap Uninstall.
- Confirm, then go back to the Google Play Store.
- Search for TikTok and hit Install again.
After reinstall, open TikTok and see if the error is gone. Because of course, sometimes old install files hang around and cause trouble, so fresh install is a good move.
Other things to try if this still isn’t fixed
- Internet connection: Make sure Wi-Fi or mobile data is stable. Sometimes, shaky internet just causes these “try again later” errors.
- Device storage: Check your storage space. When your device runs out of space, apps tend to misbehave — TikTok included.
- Restart device: Sometimes, just powering off and on clears out weird little glitches that don’t want to die otherwise.
Following all these steps should get TikTok acting normal again. If it still refuses to cooperate, maybe tap TikTok support or wait for an update. Usually, these errors are temporary or fixable with a bit of patience. Not sure why it works, but on some devices, I’ve seen simply updating or reinstalling do the trick — go figure.
Summary
- Clear cache and data from TikTok in Settings.
- Double-check app permissions.
- Update TikTok on the Play Store.
- Reinstall the TikTok app if necessary.
- Make sure your internet is stable and device storage isn’t full.
Wrap-up
Hopefully, these steps help someone avoid endless frustration. Not always intuitive, but most of the time, clearing cache or reinstalling makes the error vanish. Just keep in mind that TikTok sometimes has backend hiccups, so a bit of patience never hurts. Good luck getting back to watching or posting content without issues. Fingers crossed this helps!