How do I delete my TikTok account for good, and can I get it back if I change my mind?

TikTok gives you a 30-day grace period, which is the key thing to know. Go to Profile > menu (three lines) > Settings and privacy > Account > Deactivate or delete account, and follow the steps. Your account is deactivated immediately (hidden, videos gone from view) but not permanently deleted for 30 days. Log back in within that window and everything is restored, videos and all. After 30 days it's gone for good and unrecoverable. So if you're unsure, this is actually a safe one to try.

The 30-day window is a lifesaver. I 'deleted' mine, missed it, logged back in on day 12 and everything came back exactly as it was. You genuinely can't do that on most apps.

Download your data first if you want to keep your videos (Settings > Account > Download your data). Once the 30 days pass, TikTok can't get them back for you.

Deactivate is different from delete here, read the screen carefully. Deactivate just hides you temporarily, delete starts the 30-day countdown.