I have automatic downloads switched off, and as far as I remember, I have never had TikTok installed on my phone. But today I noticed that it installed itself. I removed it from the phone, but I'm wondering how an app can install itself. Thanks.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
TikTok installed itself
- Thread starter msvadi
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Simply put it cant without automatic downloads turned on.
If you had never downloaded the app before and automatic download turned off, what you described is not possible.
when you open your account in the App Store and tap on Purchased you will see all apps in chronological order of installation. The date of installation is given under the app name in the list. Maybe knowing when it was installed, will help to hypothesize what happened.
I’ve never installed TikTok. I also don’t have auto download turned on. Yet, the app is now installed on my phone. Just happened within the past 20 mins. Wtf?!
Do you have any other iOS devices using the same AppleID? If so, has it been installed on them as well? Are there any other people using your device?
Jalilbreaked device? What OS version you using? Phone that's managed, such as a workphone?
Last edited:
iPad. Haven’t checked. I’ll check later today. No other people use my devices, and nobody in my home would use TikTok.
Not jailbroken - just ever. iOS 17.0.3. Personal phone.
Also check if your Mac if you are using the same Apple ID.
Check app store as @Slartibart mentioned above. Check what devices you have connected to your apple ID, anythingf unusual? 2FA activated on your appleID?
Still interesting to find out why it happened. Apps can't be installed just out of the blue like that on a vanilla personal iPhone without user interaction.
Yeah, nothing on any of my devices. Like I said, I would NEVER install TikTok. I fundamentally oppose its existence. That’s why I was so shocked!
Yes. Like I said earlier, nothing. Only that I deleted it, and if I want to re-download. And it’s not listed in any device.
I find it hard to believe its not in the list of 'purchased' apps. Much less it auto installing on top of that. Doesnt add up.
Do you sleepwalk?
Do you sleepwalk?
i genuinely dont understand your answer here. How can it show you nothing, but tell you that you deleted it?
its either in your purchased list or its not.
There is also the possibility that someone using the device installed the app or the OP had a couple of drinks and installed the app. Very difficult to imaging an Apple iOS device spontaneously installing an app.
Been lurking on this thread, and honestly, I get the impression OP did not understand the instruction to check the Purchased list.
OP, you want to go into the App Store, then tap on the picture of you in the upper right corner, then tap Purchased, then My Purchases. See where/when TikTok shows up in that list.
Sorry. My reply was confusing. What I mean is that I’ve never downloaded it, nobody else has ever handled my phone, it wasn’t there before until it was. I saw it because it popped up on my last screen to the right where there are only two app icons. And I used one of those that morning. Then later, Tik Tok appeared right next to it.
I know you guys don’t believe it, and I understand you don’t know me. All I can say is that I would NEVER install TikTok (I won’t even follow links to videos my friends send me because I refuse to use it, web OR app). So I don’t know if it piggybacked on another app or something, because I’d have to approve a new download. I’m baffled.
eta: So there’s no confusion, I’m NOT the OP. I’m another user experiencing the same. I found this thread while googling “TikTok app install without downloading “ or something to that effect.