How to Repost on TikTok and Credit Creators the Right Way
By the TikDop team ·
You see a video you love and you want other people to see it too. Simple, right? On TikTok there are actually several ways to do that, and they're not all equal. Some keep the creator front and centre. Others quietly strip their name off the video, which is how a lot of creators end up watching their own work go viral on someone else's account.
Here's a rundown of the options, and how to share in a way that's fair to the person who made the thing.
Option 1: The repost button
TikTok's built-in Repost option is the cleanest way to pass a video on. You'll usually find it in the share menu (the arrow icon). When you repost:
- the original video stays exactly as it was, with the creator's name on it,
- it can be shown to your followers in their feed,
- it appears in your Reposts tab if you've left that visible,
- all the views, likes and comments still go to the original video.
It's the TikTok equivalent of a retweet. The creator gets the credit and the numbers. You get to recommend something. Everybody wins.
To undo a repost, open the video again and tap the share menu — there's an option to remove the repost.
We go into more detail about what reposts are and who can see them in what are TikTok reposts.
Option 2: Sharing the link
Copying the link and sending it to a friend or posting it on another platform also keeps the creator in the picture. Whoever clicks it lands on the original video. This is the best way to share outside TikTok, because it sends people to the source.
Option 3: Duet and Stitch
If you want to add something of your own — a reaction, a reply, a joke, a "here's how I did it" — use Duet or Stitch.
- Duet puts your video side by side with the original.
- Stitch plays a short clip of the original, then cuts to you.
Both automatically credit the original creator in the caption and link back to their video. They're designed for exactly this kind of conversation. Creators can switch them off, so if the option isn't there, that's their decision.
Option 4: Downloading and re-uploading
This is the one that causes problems. Downloading someone's video and posting it again on your own account — even with a "credit to the owner" line — takes the views, the followers and often the money away from the person who made it.
There are situations where re-uploading is reasonable:
- the creator has given you permission,
- you're making a compilation for commentary, review or education and you add real value (and you're still careful about copyright),
- it's your own video and you're moving it between accounts.
If you do re-upload with permission, credit properly:
- Tag the creator with @username in the caption — not just "credit: TikTok".
- Mention them on screen if the video will be shared further, since captions often get lost.
- Don't crop out their watermark or username.
- Link to their profile if you're posting on another platform.
"No copyright intended" doesn't actually do anything legally. Asking first does.
What about downloading for yourself?
Saving a video to watch offline, keep a recipe, or study an edit is a different thing from re-posting it. Most people see that as fair personal use. The line gets crossed when you publish it as if it's yours. Our video downloader is meant for the first kind of use, and we ask everyone to respect creators when sharing.
How to ask for permission
It's easier than people think. A short DM or comment usually does it:
"Hi! I loved your video about X. Would you mind if I shared it on my Instagram page? I'll tag you and link your TikTok."
Most creators are happy when people ask, because it means they'll get credit. If someone says no, that's their call. If you're a business and want to use a video in an ad, expect to pay for that — it's work.
If someone reposted your video without credit
It happens to most creators sooner or later. A few steps:
- Message them politely first. Sometimes people genuinely don't know better and will add credit or remove it.
- Report it. TikTok has a reporting option for intellectual property. You'll need to show the video is yours — the original upload date usually helps.
- On other platforms, use their copyright reporting tools.
- Prevent it next time. Add your username on screen in a corner of the video, and consider turning off downloads in your privacy settings.
The simple rule
If you want to share someone's video, use the tools that keep their name on it: repost, share link, duet or stitch. If you want to put it on your own account, ask first and credit clearly. Creators put real time into what they make, and the whole platform works better when that's respected.