Duet Not Working in Tik Tok – What to Do

Duet is surely one of the features that make TikTok stand out from the rest of the similar video-sharing social networks. It allows you to create a short clip with a person you hold dear, a friend, or even a celebrity. And the final result is a funny side-by-side video of you lip-syncing to whatever tune or video you like.

However, this feature might not be working for some users or it doesn’t appear at all. There is no need to worry since you can get Duet up and running with a few simple software tweaks. The following sections will provide you with all the tips and tricks you’ll need to fix a faulty Duet.

How to Repair Duet in TikTok

TikTok duet errors include the option not showing up or a message ‘Duet is not allowed for this video.’ If you’re seeing either of these issues, we have compiled a list of things that will fix the errors.

App Update

Since Duet is a relatively new feature, it might not work or be available if you are running an older TikTok version. To check for updates, launch Google Play or App Store and tap on the Updates tab.

Browse for TikTok and hit the Update button, if the app appears under Updates. Once you install the latest software, re-launch the app, and try to make a duet.

You can also go to the search option and type in “TikTok.” If an update is available, the App Store or Google Play Store will give you the option.

In-App Duet Settings

For most users, this is where the problem with Duet lies. To be precise, TikTok has very specific privacy settings and Duet might be disabled or limited from the get-go.

To make the necessary changes, tap on the profile icon at the bottom right, and select three horizontal dots to access the More menu.

 

Tap on Privacy and Safety in the following window, navigate to “Who Can Duet with Me”, and make sure it’s on. There are three options, Everyone, Friends, and Off. If you want some additional safety you can put the settings to Friends.

Note: If the other party has Duet set to Off, you won’t be able to duet with that user. If it is set to Friends only, make sure you’re friends with them beforehand.

Good Old Restart

What happens if you’ve updated the app and got all the settings right but Duet still doesn’t work? In this case, it’s best to restart your smartphone to see if it helps.

A simple restart or soft reset resolves minor software issues and bugs that might be preventing you from making a duet. In addition, it also clears the app cache data that could be the culprit.

The restart/soft reset method depends on the device you are using. In general, you need to press the Power button and/or one of the volume rockers. For example, it’s Side button plus one of the volume rockers on newer iPhone models.

Clear App Cache

If all else fails, you might need to clear the app cache to make Duet work again. The method is a bit different on Android and iOS, check out the necessary actions below.

Android

Launch Settings and select Storage to access more menus. Tap on Other Apps to preview the list of all installed apps and navigate to TikTok. Once you access the TikTok window, hit the “Clear cache” button and you’re done. You should know that this doesn’t remove your login information and saved data.

iOS

Tap the Settings app, select General, then iPhone Storage. This gives you a list of the apps and the amount of data they use. Swipe down and tap on TikTok to access the settings window. Select the “Offload App” to remove all the cached data from the app.

This basically uninstalls TikTok but saves all the important data. Once you finish, head over to the App Store and reinstall the app. You can also do it from the same window immediately after the offload.

Important Notes

The previous steps apply to the latest iOS and Android software. Those who use Android Oreo need to access App Manager from Settings and proceed from there.

If you have saved videos as drafts clearing the cache or uninstalling them will delete the files. Be sure to save the video to your phone before performing either of these options.

Network Connection

TikTok requires a stable internet connection to work properly. If your TikTok duet option is stuck in loading, it’s likely your internet connection.

Most of the time turning your phone off and back on will iron out network issues unless there’s an outage. Whether you’re using iOS or Android, you’ll want to check that TikTop has access to cellular data in the settings.

If you’re using wifi, try turning wifi off and using cellular data if possible. Depending on your bandwidth, you may have issues creating a strong enough connection that TikTok duet won’t work properly.

No Audio in Duet

Several users have reported an issue in the past few months that their microphone isn’t showing so they are unable to create their TikTok duets. The consensus seems to be that users could use the “React” option rather than Duet.

This isn’t a perfect solution though, because the timing can be off and the feature isn’t the same as the Duet feature.

Another thing to check is your phone’s permissions. If you’re experiencing an issue with audio recording is it happening with regular videos or just the Duets? If it’s both then head to your phone’s settings and make sure TikTok has permission to access your mic and record audio.

The only proven trick that we’ve seen to Duet issues, aside from changing the privacy settings as mentioned above, is updating the app. Even if you’ve recently updated it, check again because new updates are released frequently.

How to Duet on TikTok

Hopefully, the tips and tricks helped you fix the Duet feature, and now is the time to create some cool looking side-by-side videos.

Step 1

Browse the TikTok main screen to find a video you’d like to duet with. Tap on the Share button on the right side of the screen and select the Duet option from the pop-up window.

Step 2

The screen splits in two and you can now record your video next to the one you’ve selected. The other one will play on auto while you record.

Step 3

Add some stickers and filters to make your recording stand out and chose a cover for it. When you finish, hit Post and it’s on air.

Always Duet in Perfect Pitch

Assuming you’ve fixed Duet, here are some tips on how to make it viral. Adding tags to your duet increases the chances for more likes and the same goes for sharing it on Instagram.

Feel free to comment and like other duets as well because it attracts more attention to your profile.