TikTok works to restore US service after data centre power outage triggers widespread bugs

TikTok is continuing efforts to stabilise its service in the United States after a power outage at one of its data centres led to what the company described as a cascading systems failure. The disruption has resulted in a range of technical problems affecting users, creators and the app’s core recommendation system.

Many users have reported difficulties logging in to their accounts, uploading videos, and viewing accurate engagement figures. Others have noticed unusual behaviour in the “For You” feed, which usually delivers highly personalised content. The company has acknowledged the issues and said work is ongoing to restore full functionality.

The incident has drawn particular attention because it comes shortly after TikTok completed a deal to spin off its US operations into a separate entity controlled mainly by US investors. While TikTok has not linked the outage to the restructuring, the timing has fuelled speculation and concern among users.

Power outage disrupts TikTok services

TikTok confirmed that the problems began after a power outage at a US-based data centre that supports TikTok and other applications operated by the company. In a statement issued on Monday, the company said engineers were working to restore services in coordination with its data centre partner.

Despite initial recovery efforts, TikTok later clarified that the outage had triggered deeper technical issues. In an update shared several hours later, the company said the incident had led to a cascading systems failure, meaning that one problem had caused a chain reaction across multiple systems. As a result, users continued to experience slow load times, missing data and other errors.

The company acknowledged that these faults were affecting how information was displayed in the app. TikTok said it was prioritising stability and accuracy, while reassuring users that core data had not been lost. However, the lack of a clear timeline for a complete fix has left many users frustrated.

Creators report missing views, likes and earnings

Creators have been among those most affected by the outage, with many reporting that newly uploaded videos were showing zero views or likes. For some, in-app earnings also appeared to have disappeared, raising concerns about lost income and damaged performance metrics.

TikTok addressed these worries directly in its follow-up update. “Creators may temporarily see ‘0’ views or likes on videos, and your earnings may look like they’re missing,” the company wrote in a post on X. “This is a display error caused by server timeouts; your actual data and engagement are safe.”

An update on our work to restore and stabilize TikTok. pic.twitter.com/PZzsuFeZmj

— TikTok USDS Joint Venture (@tiktokusdsjv) January 26, 2026

While this explanation offered some reassurance, creators have continued to voice concerns about the impact on reach and momentum. On a platform where early engagement can strongly influence a video’s success, even temporary display errors can have lasting effects. Some creators said they had paused posting altogether until the issues were resolved.

The disruption has also highlighted how dependent many creators are on TikTok for income and visibility. With limited communication beyond brief statements, some have called for clearer updates and more transparency about how engagement and earnings will be corrected once systems are fully restored.

Algorithm concerns emerge amid US business restructuring

Beyond technical glitches, users have raised concerns about the app’s recommendation algorithm. Since Sunday, many have reported seeing a surge of generic or unrelated videos in their feeds, a sharp contrast to the app’s usual highly tailored recommendations. Others have said the same small set of videos appeared repeatedly.

TikTok’s statements did not directly address these reports, leaving questions about whether the algorithm issues are linked to the cascading system’s failure or to broader changes within the company. The recommendation system is central to TikTok’s appeal, and any sustained disruption risks undermining user trust and engagement.

The timing of the outage has heightened scrutiny. Just days earlier, TikTok finalised a deal to spin off its US business into a separate entity, often referred to as the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, with significant control held by US investors. Shortly after the deal was announced, users noticed prompts to review updated terms of service and privacy policies, which some viewed with suspicion.

Speculation has grown over whether the restructuring could involve changes to TikTok’s algorithm in the US, including plans to retrain or modify it. While TikTok has not confirmed any such plans, the recent technical problems have intensified debate about the future of the platform’s most influential feature.

For now, TikTok says its focus remains on restoring stable service and resolving outstanding bugs. As engineers work to address the cascading failure, users and creators alike are watching closely for signs that the app is returning to normal, both technically and algorithmically.