TikTok: How to Turn Off Animated Thumbnails

Users can stop these moving images

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By default, when users browse the TikTok platform, they may see an animated thumbnail that represents each video. Users have the option to turn off animated thumbnails if they’d rather not see them.

Our guide will show you how to turn off animated thumbnails in the TikTok mobile application.

Note: These screenshots were captured in the TikTok app on iOS.

Step 1: On your TikTok profile, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen.

Screenshot of a TikTok user's profile with a red arrow pointing at the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen

Step 2: Tap “Settings & privacy” at the bottom of the screen.

Screenshot of TikTok's profile menu with a red arrow pointing at "Settings and privacy"

Step 3: Under the “Content & Display” section, tap “Display.”

Screenshot of TikTok's "Settings and privacy" menu with a red arrow pointing at "Display"

Step 4: Under the “Accessibility” section, tap the toggle to the right of “Animated thumbnail” to turn animated thumbnails off.

Screenshot of TikTok's "Display" menu with a red arrow pointing at the toggle to the right of "Animated thumbnail"

This guide was first published in April 2019 and was updated in February 2023.

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