Research
How to post on TikTok in 2026: video, photo and computer steps
How to post on TikTok in 2026: the exact taps for a video, a photo post and a text post, how to upload from a computer, the privacy setting that catches people out, and what to fix before you tap Post.
On this page
How to post on TikTok: open the app, tap the Add post (+) button, record a video or tap Upload to pick one from your phone, tap Next, add a description and choose who can view it, then tap Post. You can also post photos and text, or upload from a computer in your browser.
Last checked: 7 October 2026, against TikTok's Help Center. Buttons move between app versions, so update the app if yours looks different.
This guide is for your first post and for anyone who wants the exact taps. Once you know them, our guides on how to schedule TikTok posts and how to make a slideshow on TikTok cover the next steps.
How to post on TikTok, step by step
TikTok's help center lists three kinds of post: video, photo and text. The short version for each:
| Post type | The taps | Limit or note |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Add post (+), then Record or Upload, then Next, then Post | Choose a maximum length when you record. Upload your own video from your device |
| Photo | Add post (+), then Photo, then Upload, then Next, then Post | Up to 35 photos |
| Text | Add post (+), then Text, enter your words, then Post to feed or Your Story | Adjust size, style, alignment, font and colour |
| From a computer | Click Upload at the top, then Select video | The whole video uploads, so trim it in the app first |
Source: TikTok Help Center, making a post, checked 7 October 2026.
How to post a video on TikTok
- In the TikTok app, tap the Add post (+) button at the bottom.
- Choose a maximum length for your video. Or tap Upload to add a video from your device, then skip to step 4.
- Tap the Record button. When you finish, tap the Continue button at the bottom.
- Add a filter, sound, text, stickers or effects, or use the advanced editing tools.
- Tap Your Story to post to your Story, or tap Next to make more edits. You can add a description, hashtags, tags for people, a location and a link, and manage privacy settings.
- Tap Post to publish. You can also save the video privately on your profile to finish later.
Our data suggests two things to fix before step 6. In our study of 1,272 short videos, videos with the hook written on screen drew about 80% more views than the same account's other videos, and captions under 60 characters drew about 40% fewer. Our guide on how to get more views on TikTok has the full list.
How to post a photo on TikTok
- In the TikTok app, tap the Add post (+) button at the bottom.
- Tap Photo, then tap Upload to select photos from your device. You can add up to 35.
- Tap Next. Swipe to switch photos and edit them. You can add a filter, a sound, text or stickers, or crop a photo.
- Tap Your Story to share it to your Story, or tap Next again for more edits: Edit cover, a description, hashtags, tags for people, a location, a link and privacy settings.
- Tap Post to publish.
A photo post plays as a swipe slideshow. In our study of 1,018 TikTok slideshows, posts with 5 to 7 slides drew about 70% more views than the same account's other slideshows. How to make a slideshow on TikTok covers the rest.
How to post on TikTok on PC
You can post from a computer in your browser. TikTok's help center lists three steps:
- Go to TikTok in your browser and click Upload at the top.
- Click Select video to upload, or Select file.
- Choose the video you want to upload.
TikTok notes that when you upload a video in your browser, the entire video is uploaded. To change its length, upload it from the TikTok app instead. TikTok Studio, a separate creator tool, also lets you upload from a computer, and a post uploaded there appears in TikTok too.
How to post on TikTok for free
Posting on TikTok costs nothing. Every step above is free, and so is TikTok Studio's upload tool. What costs money is optional, such as TikTok's paid promotion.
If you want the posts made for you, Postdom's Free plan is $0 with no card. It covers 1 post a month on 2 accounts on any platform, with a Postdom watermark. See pricing for the paid plans.
Settings that catch people out
- Privacy carries over. TikTok says new posts keep the privacy setting of your last post. If you chose Only you last time, the next post is Only you too.
- Only public posts show on your profile. If a new post is missing, check its privacy setting. Private posts are behind the lock icon on your profile.
- A deleted post comes back for 30 days. TikTok keeps a deleted post for up to 30 days. Go to Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Activity center, then Recently deleted, and tap Restore.
Sources: TikTok Help Center, making a post and editing, posting, and deleting, checked 7 October 2026.
Why you can't post on TikTok
If an upload fails, TikTok's help center suggests these steps in order:
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Clear the app's video cache.
- Restart the app and your device.
- Make sure you are running the latest version of TikTok.
If the camera screen is black, open your device settings, tap TikTok and turn on both Camera and Mic. Then close any other camera apps and restart TikTok. If you can't find a post you just uploaded, check that it is public.
Post on TikTok every week with Postdom
Posting once is easy. Posting every week is the hard part. Postdom reads your website and makes slideshows and short-form videos in your brand. You approve, edit or skip each one, and nothing posts until you approve it.
Approved posts are scheduled by default at 9am and 7pm in your time zone, 2 a day per account, with nothing between 22:00 and 07:00. At your first Approve, Postdom asks where to post and you connect TikTok or Instagram. Videos go to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn, and slideshows go to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
If you only want to set a time for a video you have already made, see how to schedule TikTok posts. TikTok's own Schedule video help page lists the desktop scheduling limits.
What to avoid
- Posting with the wrong privacy setting. Check it every time, because it carries over from your last post.
- Ending on "let me know below". It went with about 40% fewer views in our data.
- A short caption. Captions under 60 characters drew about 40% fewer views.
- A slideshow with only 2 to 4 slides. It drew less than half the usual views in our slideshow data.
- Buying views to make a first post look busy. TikTok says spam, such as videos seeking to artificially increase traffic, may not be recommended.
Frequently asked questions
How do I post a video on TikTok for the first time?
Open the app, tap the Add post (+) button, tap Record or Upload, tap Next, add a description, and tap Post. Check the privacy setting on the same screen first.
How many photos can you post on TikTok?
Up to 35 in one photo post, according to TikTok's help center (checked 7 October 2026).
Can you post on TikTok from a computer?
Yes. Click Upload at the top of TikTok in your browser, then select your video. The whole video uploads, so trim it in the app first. TikTok Studio also supports uploads.
Why did my TikTok post not show on my profile?
Check its privacy setting. New posts keep the setting of your last post, and only public posts appear under the posts tab.
Can you schedule a TikTok instead of posting now?
TikTok's help center describes a scheduling feature with a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 10 days ahead, with its own account rules. Availability varies, so check your own screen. Our guide on how to schedule TikTok posts has the options.
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