Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the TikTok “Unable To Authorize, Please Try Again” Error on Android
If you’re running into the “unable to authorize, please try again” message when trying to log into TikTok, you’re definitely not the only one. This kind of thing can happen for a bunch of reasons—app bugs, network hiccups, or even some weird account glitch. Usually, it’s fixable, but sometimes it’s a little frustrating trying different things. This guide walks through some common fixes that tend to resolve the issue without tearing your hair out. After trying these, the goal is to get you back into TikTok without the error hanging over your head.
How to Fix TikTok ‘Unable to Authorize’ Error on Android
Preliminary Checks: Make sure your connection is solid
Things can go sideways if your internet freaks out. That’s usually the first thing to verify. Swipe down from the top of your phone to check your connection—Wi-Fi or mobile data. Sometimes toggling Airplane Mode on and off for 10 seconds can refresh things. On some machines, this might fix flaky connections that are causing the login hiccup. If you’re on Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data or vice versa, just to see if that makes a difference. Otherwise, check your router or network for issues. Because of course, Android has to make it harder than necessary.
Clearing TikTok Cache and Data (Fix 1)
This one is a classic because cached files can get corrupted or just cause weird bugs. Clearing cache and data resets the app to a fresh state, often fixing weird login errors like “unable to authorize”. To do this:
- Head over to Settings on your phone.
- Scroll to Apps & Notifications or just Apps, then find TikTok in the list. If that’s too many, tap the menu with three dots and choose Show System Apps.
- In the TikTok app info, tap Storage & Cache.
- Tap Clear Cache, then also tap Clear Data. On some phones, you’ll see these as separate buttons; on others, you might have to do both manually.
- Confirm if prompted to delete data, and then open TikTok again. Keep in mind, this resets your app settings, so you might need to log in again and grant permissions.
On some setups, this fixes the error right away. On others, it might seem to do nothing at first—try rebooting your phone afterward. Weirdly, on some machines this can take a second or two to really kick in.
Reinstall the TikTok App (Fix 2)
If clearing cache and data didn’t help, reinstalling TikTok might do the trick. Maybe an update got corrupted, or some files just got gummed up. Here’s what to do:
- In your app drawer or homepage, press and hold the TikTok icon.
- Tap Uninstall and confirm. If you see a prompt about deleting data, go ahead and accept.
- Head over to the Google Play Store, search for TikTok.
- Download and install the latest version.
- Open TikTok again—sometimes a fresh install clears up odd login errors, especially after app updates or crashes.
This is often the step that gets everything working again. Make sure to re-log and re-approve permissions if necessary.
Reset Network Settings (Fix 3)
If you’re still facing issues, there could be some network hiccups causing the authorization failure. Resetting network settings is more extreme but often helpful. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to General Management or System, depending on your device.
- Tap on Reset.
- Look for options like Reset Mobile Network Settings or Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth.
- Tap it, then confirm. Your phone will forget saved passwords, Wi-Fi networks, and some settings—but it can clear lingering network issues that block TikTok login.
After the reset, reconnect to your Wi-Fi or mobile data, then try logging in again. Sometimes, a clean slate fixes weird authorization problems that aren’t related to the app itself.
Other Tips & Troubleshooting
- Check if TikTok is down or having outages. Sometimes it’s not you, but their servers acting up. Look at unofficial outage trackers or TikTok’s support channels.
- Update your device OS if it’s super outdated; old software can cause compatibility problems.
- Make sure you’re using the latest version of TikTok. Sometimes, older versions just stop working properly.
One thing I’ve noticed is that on some phones, just reinstalling and updating both OS and app can solve the problem. Or, if you’ve got a VPN, try disabling it—sometimes they clash with login servers.
Wrap-up
Most of the time, messing around with cache, reinstalling, or resetting network settings fixes the “unable to authorize” error. It’s kind of annoying that these errors pop up at all, but these steps cover the usual culprits. Keep in mind, clearing the app data resets your preferences, so be ready to re-log and re-allow permissions.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. If it gets one update working—mission accomplished.
Summary
- Check your internet connection before anything else
- Clear TikTok cache and data from App Info
- Reinstall the app if clearing cache doesn’t help
- Reset network settings if login issues persist
- Make sure your OS and TikTok app are up to date
- Check if TikTok servers are down