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Frankly, TikTok is one of my favorite social media apps. While many of its features are widely recognized, there are quite a few that don’t get the attention they deserve. Here are a few underrated TikTok features that I believe will definitely enhance your experience!
1 Offline Videos
I spend more than three hours commuting every day. Given how busy I am with work and academic commitments, I rarely get the chance to binge-watch Netflix or mindlessly scroll through TikTok (my form of self-care). So, I make the most of my 3-hour bus ride by shamelessly watching TikToks, Netflix, and listening to music.
Downloading TikToks manually is not only time-consuming but also takes up a lot of storage space. Luckily, TikTok has a feature called Offline Videos that lets you watch Tiktok videos offline without Wi-Fi or mobile data.
To enable Offline Videos, tap the profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Then, tap the three-line icon in the top-right corner, and head to Settings and privacy. Scroll down a bit, and tap Offline videos under Cache & Cellular. You can now choose whether you’d like to download 50, 100, 150, or 200 videos, and then tap Download.
That’s all you need to do —TikTok will download videos from your For You page and refresh them when you’re back online. Whether you’re commuting like me or traveling soon, TikTok’s Offline Videos feature is a great way to kill time and stay stay up-to-date with the social world.
I’m Gen-Z — and one thing you’ve probably heard about us is that we struggle to focus. Like many people, having a video playing in the background really helps me concentrate.
Though I’m not proud of it, I’ve noticed that I strangely focus better when TikToks are playing in the background. But of course, how many times can you watch the same TikTok without scrolling down? The problem was that the moment I scrolled to the next video, I’d end up picking up my phone, and before I knew it, I’d be laughing at an Instagram Reel my friend sent me.
Here’s where TikTok’s auto-scroll mode comes in, which I’ve always felt like isn’t talked about enough. Like the name suggests, Auto Scroll eliminates the need of having to manually swipe to the next video and automatically transitions to the next TikTok once one ends, giving you a continuous stream of content.
Enabling Auto Scroll is simple. All you need to do is head to your For You page and start watching a video. Then hold down on the screen and select Auto scroll from the video controls that appear.
A message will then appear at the top, informing you that Auto Scroll is enabled.
3 Speeding Up Videos
Whether it’s watching a two-hour-long calculus lecture or a podcast, I’ve never been one to think that listening at 2x speed is ridiculous. Like I mentioned before, I tend to lose focus easily, so speeding up a video not only shortens the time but also tricks my brain into paying attention.
Since I’ve developed the habit of listening to everything at twice the speed — it’s hard for me to watch influencers go on and on about a product at a regular speed. I’d rather fast-forward to get to the good parts. While I don’t need to watch short TikToks at 2x speed, there’s no way I’m sitting through a 10-minute video at normal speed. So, I watch most TikToks at 2x.
You can change a TikTok’s playback speed by long-pressing the video and selecting Playback speed from the controls. But there’s also an easier way. All you need to do is tap and hold the left or right side of your screen while the video plays! It’s worth mentioning that this quick method only works if you want to watch a video in 2x speed — it won’t work for other speeds like 1.5x.
4 Picture-In-Picture Mode
As you’ve probably gathered, I’m a big fan of multitasking, and what’s better than watching funny TikToks while drafting an email? TikTok offers a built-in picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, which minimizes the app into a small floating window.
Similar to enabling Auto Scroll, you can enable picture-in-picture mode by heading to your For You page and long-pressing on a video. Simply select Picture-in-picture from the video controls that appear, and you should see Picture-In-Picture Turned On.
The best part? Picture-in-picture mode works with Auto Scroll as well, meaning I can use two of my favorite features simultaneously and take my multitasking to the next level!
5 Auto-Generated Captions
Whether I’m watching a movie on Netflix or a YouTube video, I simply can’t do so without closed captions. While a few TikTok creators do take the time out to add subtitles to their videos, the majority don’t.
Thankfully, TikTok has an auto captions feature that automatically generates subtitles for videos. Though it was introduced to support people who are hard of hearing, I think everyone would find it useful.
To use it, all you need to do is long-press a video, and select Captions from the video controls that appear. Then, toggle on the switch next to Show captions (auto-generated), and you’re all set!
6 Refreshing Your For You Feed
One of my favorite things about TikTok is its algorithm — it’s great at recommending content you will enjoy. While this means you’ll often find me spending hours scrolling on TikTok, it’s always great to come across relatable content.
Like every algorithm, TikTok sometimes gets it wrong and suggests content that doesn’t match your interests. While there are a few ways to reset your TikTok For You page, the most foolproof method is to refresh your feed entirely. This allows you to rebuild your content preferences from scratch.
You can reset your TikTok feed by tapping the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Then, tap the three horizontal lines and select Settings and privacy. Head to Content preferences under the Content & Display section, and tap on Refresh your For You feed. Tap Continue, and then Refresh.
Once you’ve done this, make sure not to fall into the same mistakes that ruin your TikTok recommendations.
7 Hiding Liked Videos
I have a weird sense of humor that not everyone gets, and I tend to like a lot of embarrassing TikToks. The last thing I want is to broadcast all my liked videos to my followers. Luckily, TikTok lets you hide your liked videos.
To do so, tap the profile button in the bottom-right corner. Then, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen, and select Settings and privacy. Head to Privacy, and tap Liked videos under Interactions. Finally, select Only you under the Who can watch your liked videos section.
Now, you can like all the content you want without worrying about receiving embarrassing messages from friends laughing at your sense of humor.
These are all features I’d definitely recommend enabling. They’ve made my TikTok experience much smoother, and I’m sure they’ll improve yours too!
