You’ve been posting on TikTok since 2020. Back then, those lip-syncing videos and chaotic dance challenges felt like a great idea. Now? Not so much. Maybe you’re applying for a new job, or maybe you just realized that your "Cringe Era" shouldn't be public property anymore. Whatever the reason, you're staring at a profile with hundreds of clips and wondering how to private multiple videos on tiktok without spending six hours tapping your screen until your thumb falls off.
It's annoying. Truly.
TikTok is famous for its "stickiness," but it’s notoriously clunky when it comes to bulk management. While platforms like Instagram or Facebook have slowly introduced better "Archive" features, TikTok still feels like it wants you to keep everything public forever. But you can actually take control of your privacy settings if you know where to look and which workarounds actually function in 2026.
The Reality of Batch Editing on TikTok
Here is the cold, hard truth: TikTok does not have a "Select All" button for your privacy settings.
I know. It sucks.
Most people go into their profile thinking they can just long-press a video and start checking boxes like they’re deleting photos from an iPhone gallery. You can't. TikTok’s interface is designed to keep you inside the "Create" and "Consume" loops, not the "Organize" loop. Because of this, the official way to change video privacy is still technically a one-by-one process.
However, "one-by-one" doesn't have to mean "slow." If you’re trying to figure out how to private multiple videos on tiktok, you’re basically looking for the fastest workflow to minimize the friction.
Why You’d Even Want to Bulk Private
Privacy isn't just about hiding from your boss. Sometimes it’s about a "Grid Reset." Influencers do this constantly. When a creator changes their niche—say, moving from gaming to cooking—they often private old content to keep their brand aesthetic clean.
Then there's the safety aspect. TikTok’s algorithm is a beast. Old videos can suddenly go viral months or years later. If an old video contains a location you no longer live at or people you no longer associate with, that "delayed virality" can be a nightmare. Privating is better than deleting because you keep your stats. You keep the likes. You keep the data. If you ever want to bring that memory back, it’s still there, tucked away in your private folder.
The Fastest Manual Method (The "Three-Tap" Rhythm)
Since there isn't a magic button, you have to develop muscle memory. If you have 50 videos to hide, you can actually get it done in about five minutes if you don't get distracted by your own content.
First, go to your profile. Open the first video you want to hide. Look for the three dots (...) or the arrow icon on the bottom right. Tap that. You’ll see a row of options. Swipe through the bottom carousel until you find Privacy Settings. Tap that, then switch "Who can watch this video" to Only me.
Now, here is the trick. Don't go back to your main profile grid. Instead, swipe up or down to the next video while you're still in the full-screen view.
If you stay in the scroll mode, you can repeat the "Three Dots > Privacy > Only Me" pattern much faster than if you keep jumping back and forth to your profile page. It becomes a rhythm. Tap, tap, tap, swipe. Tap, tap, tap, swipe. It’s the closest thing to a "bulk" action the native app allows right now.
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Can You Use Third-Party Apps?
You’ll see a lot of "TikTok Manager" apps on the App Store or Play Store claiming they can bulk delete or bulk private your videos.
Be extremely careful.
Most of these apps require your TikTok login credentials. Giving a third-party, unverified app your password is a fast track to getting your account hacked or banned. TikTok’s Terms of Service are very strict about "automation." If their system detects a script or a third-party tool rapidly changing settings on your account, it might flag you as a bot.
Honestly? It's not worth the risk of losing your entire account just to save ten minutes of manual tapping. Stick to the manual method or the desktop workaround.
Using the Desktop Browser for Better Control
If you log into TikTok on a Chrome or Safari browser on your computer, the layout is slightly different. While it still doesn't offer a "Batch Private" tool, some users find it significantly faster to manage because you can open multiple tabs.
- Log in at TikTok.com.
- Go to your profile.
- Right-click several videos and "Open in New Tab."
- Go through each tab, hit the settings, and change the privacy.
It’s still manual, but for people who are faster with a mouse than a touchscreen, this is a viable way to handle how to private multiple videos on tiktok. Plus, it’s easier on your eyes than squinting at a phone screen for twenty minutes.
The "Account Reset" Alternative
What if you have 500 videos and you want them all gone?
If you are looking to private everything because you want a totally fresh start, you might consider making your entire account private.
Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Private Account.
This doesn't change the individual settings of the videos, but it does hide your entire feed from anyone who doesn't already follow you. It’s a "nuclear option" for privacy. If your goal is to hide your past from a new employer, this is the most effective move. However, if you want to keep growing your account and stay on the For You Page (FYP), this isn't the solution, because private accounts don't get pushed to the general public.
Managing the "Only Me" Folder
Once you’ve successfully privated your videos, they don't just vanish. They move to a specific tab on your profile marked with a lock icon.
Only you can see this tab.
It’s actually a pretty great way to archive your life. Think of it as a digital scrapbook that the rest of the world can't touch. If you ever decide that a specific video is actually "on brand" again, you can just go back into the privacy settings for that specific clip and switch it back to "Everyone."
Common Pitfalls and Technical Glitches
Sometimes, you’ll change a video to "Only Me" and it’ll still show up on your profile for a few minutes. Don't panic. This is usually just a caching issue.
TikTok's servers need a second to update. If you want to be sure, log out and look at your profile from a different account (or ask a friend to check). Usually, the video disappears instantly for the public even if your own app is still showing it in the main grid for a moment.
Another thing: if you have "Video Downloads" turned on in your settings, someone might have already saved your video to their phone. Privating a video only hides it on the platform; it doesn't "remote delete" it from someone's device if they’ve already hit the download button. This is why it’s usually better to private things sooner rather than later.
Actionable Steps for a Cleaner Profile
If you're ready to clean up your digital footprint, don't try to do it all at once if you have years of content. It’s overwhelming.
- Audit by Year: Spend 10 minutes tonight looking only at your videos from 2022. Private the ones that don't fit your current vibe.
- Check Your "Liked" Videos: While you're at it, remember that your "Liked" videos might be public too. Go to Privacy settings and make sure "Who can see your liked videos" is set to "Only me."
- Update Your Ad Settings: While you’re digging through privacy menus, check what data TikTok is sharing with advertisers. It’s a good time for a full security sweep.
The process of how to private multiple videos on tiktok is a bit of a manual grind, but it’s the most secure way to curate your online presence. No shortcuts, no sketchy apps—just a bit of dedicated time to make sure your profile reflects who you are today, not who you were four years ago.
Start with your most recent fifty videos. Those are the ones the algorithm is most likely to resurface. Once those are handled, work your way back through the archives. You'll feel a lot better once that lock icon is sitting on your old content.