How to get rid of commercial sounds on TikTok


If you have been searching for how to get rid of commercial sounds on TikTok, you’re not alone. Many creators get frustrated when TikTok automatically labels their sounds as “commercial” or restricts them due to copyright rules. This often prevents you from using trending music, affects your video’s reach, and limits your editing options. Fortunately, there are several proven methods to remove the commercial sound tag, avoid restrictions, and regain full access to TikTok’s audio library on TikTok.

This guide explains why your sounds become commercial, how to fix the issue, and what you can do to avoid it in the future.

What Are Commercial Sounds on TikTok?

Commercial sounds are audio tracks available only for businesses and creators whose accounts are categorized as using content “for commercial purposes.” When your account falls under this category, TikTok limits your access to copyrighted songs to avoid licensing violations.

This is why you may see:

  • “This sound isn’t available for personal accounts.”
  • “This sound can’t be used for commercial content.”
  • Restricted music selection in the audio library.
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Why TikTok Labels Your Account as Commercial

TikTok classifies your account as commercial for several reasons:

  1. You switched to a Business or Creator account

Business accounts automatically lose access to copyrighted sounds.

  1. Your content appears like promotions

Videos involving products, services, or branding may trigger commercial classification.

  1. TikTok’s algorithm mistakenly flags your account

Even personal accounts sometimes get misclassified due to posting patterns.

  1. Regional copyright policies

Some countries have stricter sound licensing.

How to Get Rid of Commercial Sounds on TikTok

Here are the most effective solutions:

Method 1: Switch Back to a Personal Account (Most Effective)

The easiest fix is to switch your account type.

Steps:

  1. Go to Profile
  2. Tap the Menu (≡)
  3. Select Settings & Privacy
  4. Go to Account
  5. Tap Switch to Personal Account
  6. Confirm the switch

After switching, restart the app and check whether you can now access the full music library.

Method 2: Remove Any Signs of Business Activity

If your videos contain:

  • Prices
  • Product showcases
  • Brand mentions
  • Affiliate links

TikTok may mark your account as commercial.

What to do:

  • Stop including business-like captions in non-commercial videos
  • Remove or edit videos with strong promotional content
  • Avoid using words like “buy,” “order,” “shop,” “link,” etc. in casual content

This helps prevent the commercial filter from being triggered.

Method 3: Clear TikTok Cache & Restart the App

Sometimes the commercial sound restriction is caused by a glitch.

Steps:

  1. Profile → Menu → Settings & Privacy
  2. Scroll to Cache & Cellular Data
  3. Tap Clear Cache
  4. Close and reopen TikTok

This refreshes your sound library.

Method 4: Log Out and Log Back In

Logging out resets your account status on TikTok’s servers.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings & Privacy
  2. Scroll down and tap Log Out
  3. Log in again
  4. Check your audio library

This method works for many users who were wrongly flagged.

Method 5: Reinstall TikTok

If the issue persists:

  1. Uninstall the app
  2. Restart your phone
  3. Reinstall TikTok from the Play Store/App Store
  4. Log in fresh

This forces the app to download your correct account settings.

Method 6: Contact TikTok Support to Remove Commercial Classification

If you never intended business use, request TikTok to correct your account type.

Steps:

  1. Go to Settings & Privacy
  2. Tap Report a Problem
  3. Go to:
    • Account and profile → Editing profile → Other
  4. Write a message like:

“My account has been mistakenly restricted to commercial sounds. I am a personal user and not a business. Please restore access to all sounds.”

TikTok typically resolves this in a few days.

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