On an iPhone, saving a TikTok without the watermark takes two parts: download the video in Safari, then move it from the Files app into Photos. The second part is the one that confuses people, because iOS doesn't put web downloads straight into your Camera Roll. Once you've done it once, it takes about ten seconds.
You don't need an App Store downloader for this. Everything below uses Safari, the Files app and DropTik, and it works the same on iPad.
Before you start
Check two things:
- Use Safari (or Chrome) directly. If you open DropTik from a link inside Instagram, Facebook, Messenger or TikTok itself, you're in that app's built-in browser, and many of them block downloads. Tap the three dots or the compass icon and choose Open in Safari first.
- Make sure the TikTok is public. Private and friends-only videos can't be downloaded by any legitimate tool.
Any iPhone running iOS 13 or later has the Safari download manager this guide relies on, so unless your phone is very old, you're set.
Step 1: Copy the TikTok link
Open the TikTok app and go to the video you want. Tap the Share arrow on the right side of the screen, then tap Copy link in the bottom row. Nothing visible happens, but the link is now on your clipboard.
If you're browsing tiktok.com in Safari instead of the app, you can copy the address from the address bar.
Step 2: Download the video in Safari
- Open Safari and go to droptik.app.
- Tap the Paste button inside the box. Safari may show a small Paste bubble first; tap it. You can also long-press the box and choose Paste.
- Tap Download and wait a few seconds.
- In the results, tap Download next to the version you want. Choose the HD option if it's there and you want the sharpest picture.
Safari may show a small prompt asking if you want to download the file. Tap Download. A download icon (a small arrow in a circle) appears in the address bar while the file saves.
Step 3: Move the video from Files to Photos
This is the step that makes the video show up in your Photos app.
- Tap the download icon in Safari's address bar and tap the video in the list. Or open the Files app and go to Downloads (under On My iPhone or iCloud Drive, depending on your settings).
- The video opens in a preview. Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing up).
- Scroll down and tap Save Video.
That's it. Open Photos and the TikTok is at the bottom of your library (and under Recently Saved on iOS 18), without the watermark.
Saving several at once: in the Files app, tap the three dots at the top, choose Select, tap each video, then tap Share and Save Videos. Handy if you used the bulk downloader to grab up to five TikToks in one go.
Where are my downloads? Changing Safari's download folder
By default, Safari saves to iCloud Drive > Downloads. That's fine if you have iCloud space, but if your iCloud storage is full, downloads can fail or take a long time to appear.
To save to your phone instead:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Safari (on newer iOS versions it's under Apps > Safari).
- Tap Downloads and choose On My iPhone.
Now everything you download from Safari goes to Files > On My iPhone > Downloads, which is faster and doesn't use iCloud.
Using Chrome on iPhone instead
Chrome works too, with one difference: when the download finishes, Chrome shows a bar at the bottom with Open in... or a download button. The file is stored in the Files app in a folder named Chrome (under On My iPhone). From there, tap the video, then Share, then Save Video, exactly as with Safari.
Saving just the sound or the photos
- Only want the music? Use the TikTok to MP3 tool. The MP3 lands in Files > Downloads. You can play it there or open it in GarageBand or iMovie. The Music app can't import MP3 files directly from Files, so it won't appear in your music library.
- Downloading a photo slideshow? Use the photo downloader. Single pictures are saved with Share then Save Image. If you download the ZIP, tap it once in Files and iOS unpacks it into a folder; select the pictures and save them all to Photos.
Problems and fixes on iPhone
Nothing happens when I tap Download
You're almost certainly in an in-app browser. Open the page in Safari and try again. If you're already in Safari, close the tab, open droptik.app in a fresh tab and repeat the steps.
The video isn't in Photos
Downloading only puts the file in the Files app. You still need to open it and tap Share, then Save Video. If the Save Video option is missing, make sure the file finished downloading; a half-downloaded file can't be saved.
"Unable to save" or the download stalls
Check your free space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Videos need room both in Files and in Photos while you copy them. If Safari is saving to iCloud Drive and your iCloud is full, switch the download location to On My iPhone as shown above.
The video has no sound
Check the original in the TikTok app. If TikTok muted it because of a music copyright claim, the download will be silent too. If it has sound in TikTok but not in Photos, check the volume and make sure the speaker icon on the video isn't crossed out.
The video looks blurry
Pick the HD option if one was listed. If there wasn't one, the creator's upload is the limit. Our TikTok to MP4 page explains what quality options you'll see.
A quick word on reusing videos
Saving a TikTok to watch later is one thing; reposting it is another. The video still belongs to whoever made it. If you want to share it, ask first and credit the creator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install an app to download TikToks on iPhone? No. Safari and the built-in Files app are enough.
Does this work on iPad? Yes, the steps are the same. On iPad, the download icon sits at the top right of Safari.
Will the video keep its quality when I move it to Photos? Yes. Saving from Files to Photos copies the file as it is.
Can I delete the copy in Files afterwards? Yes. Once the video is in Photos, you can delete it from Files > Downloads to free up space.