How to open your TikTok data export
How do I open my TikTok data export?
The export is a ZIP containing JSON files. You can unzip it and open user_data.json in any text editor, but raw JSON is unreadable in bulk and contains only links, not playable videos. The practical route is to drop the ZIP straight into ScrollBack, which reads it in your browser and turns your saved and favorited entries into a tappable, oldest-first thumbnail grid.
Try it now — 5 videos freeStep by step
- Find the ZIP you downloadedOn iPhone it lands in Files → Downloads; on Android in your Downloads folder; on a computer, wherever your browser saves files.
- Decide whether you need to unzip itYou don't have to. If you're curious, a double-click on Mac or Windows expands it into a folder of JSON files. ScrollBack reads the ZIP directly either way.
- Locate the activity dataInside, look for the Activity section — Favorite Videos and Like List hold your saved and liked videos, each with a link and the timestamp of when you saved it.
- Open it in ScrollBack instead of a text editorDrag the ZIP (or the JSON) onto scroll-back.com in your browser. It parses on your device, matches each link to its thumbnail and builds a grid sorted oldest-first.
- Browse and playTap a thumbnail to play the video full screen, filter by month, or flip the sort order — all without re-importing the file.
Why the raw JSON is disappointing
Opening user_data.json shows thousands of lines of nested text. Your saved videos appear as bare URLs with a date attached — no titles, no thumbnails, no preview. Scrolling that in a text editor is strictly worse than scrolling TikTok itself.
The value of the file is the structure hiding inside it: every entry is timestamped, which is precisely the information TikTok's interface refuses to expose. It just needs something to render it.
What a viewer adds
- Thumbnails, so you recognise videos at a glance instead of decoding URLs.
- Sorting by save date, in either direction.
- A month filter to jump to a specific period.
- A full-screen player so you can actually watch the video you found.
Doing it safely
Your export contains your search history, watch history and possibly your messages. Anything that asks you to upload it to a server is asking for a lot of trust. ScrollBack does the parsing locally in the browser tab — the ZIP is never transmitted, and clearing the app's data on your device removes it entirely.
If the import doesn't work
- Check you requested JSON, not TXT — TXT has no usable structure.
- Check that Likes & Favorites was included in the request.
- Make sure the download finished; a truncated ZIP fails to open.
- Very large exports take a few seconds to parse — give the tab a moment before assuming it's stuck.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open the export on my phone?
Yes. Save the ZIP to Files (iPhone) or Downloads (Android) and pick it from the file chooser in ScrollBack — no computer needed.
Does the export contain the actual video files?
Not for videos other people posted — it contains links. Videos you posted yourself can be included if you request all data.
Is the ZIP password-protected?
No, TikTok delivers a standard ZIP that opens with any unarchiver.
Do it in two minutes
ScrollBack reads your TikTok export in your browser — nothing is uploaded — and shows every video you saved, oldest-first.
Open ScrollBack — it's freeRelated guides
How to download your TikTok data
The exact taps to request your TikTok data export in JSON, what each option means, how long it takes, and what's inside the ZIP when it arrives.
How to see your oldest saved TikToks
TikTok always shows saved videos newest-first with no sort button. Here's the working way to see your oldest saved TikToks first, in about two minutes, on any phone or computer.
How to see your saved TikToks on a computer
tiktok.com shows saved videos in a cramped list with no sorting. Here's how to browse your whole saved history on a big screen — sorted, filtered and playable.