Guide
How to download your TikTok data
TikTok will hand you a copy of your account data, including the full list of who follows you and who you follow. It takes about a minute to request and a few days to arrive. This is the only route that works for a private account, and the only one with no size limit at all.
By UnfollowKit. Last updated September 13, 2026
JSON or TXT: pick JSON
TikTok offers two formats. JSON gives you one machine-readable file, user_data_tiktok.json, that a tool can read directly. TXT gives you a folder of separate text files, including Follower.txt and Following.txt, which are readable by a person but messier to compare. If you only want to know who does not follow you back, JSON is fewer steps.
- JSON: a single user_data_tiktok.json file. Drop it straight into the analyzer.
- TXT: separate files per section. Paste Follower.txt and Following.txt into the analyzer.
- Either format contains the same relationship lists.
What is inside the Activity section
The Activity part of the export is where your relationships live. The Follower List records the accounts that follow you, each with the date they followed. The Following List records the accounts you follow, each with the date you followed them. Those two dated lists are all a comparison needs: anyone in your following list who is missing from your follower list does not follow you back.
- Follower List: who follows you, with the date each one followed.
- Following List: who you follow, with the date you followed them.
- Also in Activity: likes, comments, search history, watch history, and shares.
Why an export beats a scan for some accounts
A public username scan reads the lists TikTok shows to the world, so it is instant but needs a public profile and a manageable account size. An export is your own data, handed to you by TikTok, so it works for a private account and for an account of any size. The trade is waiting a few days for the file.
- Private account: the export is the only option.
- Very large account: the export has no size ceiling.
- Need an answer right now, and public: use the scan.
One export is a snapshot, not a history
A single export tells you the state of your lists on the day TikTok built it. It cannot tell you who left, because a departed follower is simply absent. To see who unfollowed you, compare two exports from different dates, or have something check the account for you on a schedule and record each change as it happens.
Keep the file to yourself
The export is a detailed record of your account, including search and watch history. Do not upload it to a site that asks for the whole zip. The UnfollowKit analyzer reads the file inside your browser tab with the standard file API, records nothing but the two counts as an anonymous usage event, and forgets the file when you close the tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the TikTok data export take?+
TikTok prepares it in the background and notifies you when it is ready. In practice it usually arrives within a few days. The delay is on TikTok’s side; reading the file afterwards takes seconds.
Does the export include who unfollowed me?+
No. It shows who follows you at the moment TikTok built the file. Someone who unfollowed you is simply not in the list. Comparing two exports from different dates shows the difference.
Which file do I need from the zip?+
user_data_tiktok.json if you asked for JSON. If you asked for TXT, you need Follower.txt and Following.txt from the Activity folder.
Is it safe to open my export in a browser tool?+
It depends on the tool. Ask whether the file is uploaded. The UnfollowKit analyzer parses it in your own tab and sends nothing, so the file never leaves your device.
Can I request an export more than once?+
Yes. Requesting a fresh export later gives you a second snapshot, and comparing the two shows who arrived and who left in between.