You've probably seen that little fire emoji popping up next to your friends' names on TikTok lately. It’s a bit of a throwback to the Snapchat era, honestly. People are obsessed with keeping these digital tallies alive. But the weird thing is, half the people I talk to can't even figure out how to turn on streaks on TikTok because the setting seems to play hide-and-seek.
TikTok didn’t just roll this out to everyone overnight. It’s been a staggered, somewhat messy rollout that has left a lot of users refreshing their app store in a panic. If you’re staring at a blank chat screen wondering where your fire icon went, don’t worry. You haven't been banned or blocked. Usually, it's just a matter of knowing which specific buttons to toggle or realizing that your app hasn't caught up to the latest server-side update yet.
What TikTok Streaks Actually Are (and Aren't)
Before we get into the "how-to," let’s be clear about what we’re dealing with here. A TikTok streak is a badge of honor—or a burden, depending on how you look at it—that appears when you and a friend message each other for at least three consecutive days.
It’s not just about sending a random emoji. You both have to be active. If you’re the only one sending "good morning" messages and they’re just leaving you on read, the streak won't start. It’s a two-way street. Once you hit that three-day mark, the flame appears. As the days go by, the number next to the flame climbs. It’s basic gamification. TikTok wants you in the app every day, and they know our brains love seeing numbers go up.
I’ve noticed some people get confused thinking these are like "Snapstreaks" where you have to send a photo. On TikTok, it's strictly about the DM (Direct Message) thread. You send a message, they reply, the clock resets for another 24 hours. Simple.
The Step-by-Step: How to Turn on Streaks on TikTok
Right now, TikTok handles streak notifications and visibility through the privacy settings. If you’re looking for a giant "ON" switch right in the middle of your profile, you won’t find it.
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First, open your TikTok app and head over to your Profile. Tap those three horizontal lines in the top right corner—the "hamburger" menu. From there, you’re going to hit Settings and Privacy. This is the hub for everything.
Once you’re in there, look for the Notifications tab. Inside Notifications, you’ll find a section specifically for In-app notifications. This is where the magic happens. Scroll down until you see "Streak settings." You need to make sure the toggle for "Streak display" is turned on. If this is off, you could be on a 100-day streak and never even know it because the icon is suppressed.
Wait, what if the option isn't there?
That’s the frustrating part. Because TikTok uses "A/B testing" and regional rollouts, some accounts—especially older ones or those in specific countries—might not see the "Streak settings" toggle yet. If you’ve updated your app to the latest version and it’s still missing, it’s a waiting game. TikTok's servers haven't flagged your account for the feature yet.
Why Your Streaks Might Be "Broken"
I see this all the time on Reddit and X. Someone says, "I've messaged my bestie for a week and the fire won't show up!"
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Check your privacy settings again. If either you or your friend has your Direct Messages set to "No one" or restricted heavily, the streak system sometimes glitches out. Also, both users have to have the streak feature enabled in their notification settings for the icon to reliably show up for both parties.
Another thing? The 24-hour window is strict. It’s not "once per calendar day." It’s a rolling 24-hour timer. If you messaged them at 8:00 AM yesterday and don't message them until 9:00 AM today, you might have technically missed the window depending on when their last reply landed. It's finicky.
The Psychology of the Flame
TikTok isn't doing this to be nice. They're doing it for retention.
Social media researchers like Natasha Dow Schüll have written extensively about "ludic loops"—the same kind of psychological hooks used in slot machines. When you see that number 49 turn into 50, your brain gets a tiny hit of dopamine. It’s a sense of accomplishment for doing... basically nothing.
But it works. It creates a "sunk cost" feeling. Once you have a 100-day streak, you feel obligated to keep it going. You don't want to be the one who "killed the streak." It’s a social contract.
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I’ve seen friendships get genuinely strained over a lost streak. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s real. If you’re someone who gets stressed out by digital obligations, honestly, my advice is to keep the feature turned off. You don't need another chore.
Does Posting Videos Help?
No.
I’ve seen rumors circulating that you have to share a certain number of TikTok videos to "unlock" streaks. That is complete nonsense. TikTok streaks are purely a communication metric. Posting a video to your feed or even sending a video via DM counts as a message, but you don't need to do it. A simple "Hi" works just as well.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’ve followed the steps on how to turn on streaks on TikTok and things still aren't working, let’s try some old-school tech support.
- Clear your Cache. Go to Settings > Free up space > Clear Cache. Sometimes the app's temporary files get bloated and features stop rendering correctly.
- The "Update" Trap. Just because your phone says "Open" in the App Store doesn't mean you have the latest build. Sometimes you have to manually refresh the updates page.
- Region Locking. TikTok is currently experimenting with different features in different markets. If you’re in a region where TikTok is under heavy regulatory scrutiny, they might be slower to roll out "addictive" features like streaks.
- Account Type. If you have a Business Account, sometimes these social features are delayed compared to Personal Accounts.
Actionable Steps to Master Your Streaks
To get your streaks up and running without the headache, follow this quick checklist:
- Verify Version: Ensure you are on the most recent TikTok update from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Toggle On: Go to Settings and Privacy > Notifications > In-app notifications > Toggle "Streak settings" to ON.
- Sync with Friends: Make sure the person you are messaging also has their streak settings turned on.
- Daily Check-in: Set a specific time of day to send your messages. This prevents the "rolling 24-hour" window from catching you off guard.
- Don't Panic: If the icon disappears, send a message immediately. Sometimes it's just a visual lag, and the streak is still alive in the backend.
Streaks are meant to be a fun way to stay connected, not a source of anxiety. If the fire icon isn't showing up after you've tried everything, just keep messaging. The feature will eventually hit your account as TikTok completes its global rollout. Focus on the conversation, not just the emoji.