How To Do the Swipe Thing on TikTok

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Dec 19, 2023

TikTok Tips

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TikTok never disappoints when it comes to ingenious, creative features and tools. The platform continues to offer creators new and innovative ways to level up their content and augment their skills. The photo swipe trend is an excellent example of TikTok’s trailblazing ways. Keep reading to learn how to do the swipe thing on TikTok!

A photo of a woman editing photos on her laptop.

Swipe Before You Scroll

Instagram’s photo slideshow feature has always been popular among users. As TikTok is wont to do, it improved on the slideshow concept when it expanded its photo mode feature. TikTok’s photo-swiping functionality also incorporates the platform’s many interactive elements. You can add sound, text, stickers, and filters to your slideshow.

There’s another notable difference between Instagram and TikTok’s slideshow format. Instagram’s slideshow requires manual swiping, while TikTok allows you to choose between manual swiping or auto-play. So, how do you do the swipe thing on TikTok?

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How To Do the Photo Swipe Thing on TikTok

Are you ready to explore TikTok’s photo swipe features? Here’s how to do the photo swipe thing on TikTok!

  1. Launch TikTok and tap the Create button. 
  2. The camera is already on default photo mode, so just tap Upload to select your images. 
  3. Make sure you tick the “Select multiple” option. Select up to 35 photos, then tap Next. 
  4. Add sound, text, stickers, and filters. Take note that you can edit the photos in your slideshow individually. When you add sound, it automatically applies to the entire slideshow. When you add a slideshow filter, you can apply the same filter to all the pictures. 
  5. How do I do the swipe thing on TikTok? To enable the swiping function, select Photo at the bottom. If you choose Video, your slideshow will play automatically. Enabling the video function also allows you to edit your slideshow as you would a regular TikTok video.
  6. After editing, tap Next. 
  7. Select your cover image and write your description. Optimize your post with hashtags, @mentions, and other tags. 
  8. Edit your post settings. 
  9. Tap Post.

Again, you can choose the video mode for your slideshow to access the in-app video editing tools. In video mode, you can also do the following:

  • Use editing tools, such as split, rotate, effects, magic tools, and overlay.
  • Use photo/video templates. 
  • Add a prompt. 
  • Add voice effects.

For automatic editing, select the “Autocut” option at the bottom of the screen after selecting your images.

A woman browses through photos on her laptop to create a TikTok slideshow.

How To Do the Swipe Thing on TikTok and Other Photo Editing Tips

Driving engagement on TikTok requires, first and foremost, a scroll-stopping visual. Here are some tips to help you capture a striking image for the cover photo of your TikTok slideshow.

  • Use natural light. As much as possible, use natural light when taking photos. Find the perfect angle to get the most flattering lighting. Natural light is the easiest to work with during editing and allows for high-quality images. 
  • Play with TikTok’s filters and effects. TikTok’s vast array of editing tools can be overwhelming at first. You’ll definitely spend considerable time experimenting with various combinations of filters and effects until you find the ones that deliver your desired results. You’ll eventually identify specific enhancements that help you consistently create the mood and aesthetic you’re after. 
  • Explore other editing apps for TikTok. TikTok offers unique, advanced tools, but you should also explore third-party editing apps that can help you generate truly stunning visuals. There are lots of great apps out there that are free to use. If you’re looking for professional tools, you may have to shell out some cash—but the results will be worth the subscription fees. 
  • Find image styles you like and study them. You may also have to learn photography basics, such as how to manipulate elements like contrast, hue, and saturation. Watch tutorial videos. Stay up-to-date with TikTok photo editing trends. And take lots and lots of pictures to sharpen your creative eye and skills. 

A woman takes nature photos with her DSLR camera.

To Swipe or Not to Swipe? Make Your Audience Swipe!

Creating unique, standout content is a challenging task. “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all” is fast replacing the FOMO culture. Just like fashion trends eventually circle back to what’s hot in decades past, so do trends on TikTok. Many users browse TikTok videos simply out of habit. They hope to see something new, but they’re also expecting more of the same things. So, how do you convince your TikTok audience to stop scrolling through their feeds and swipe through your slideshow instead?

One formula that never fails involves proper audience targeting. Know what your target audience wants, and forget everybody else. Don’t attempt to cast your net too wide in an effort to go viral. Tapping into your niche audience’s interests, passions, and needs is the key to capturing their full attention and generating engagement. Always keep this in mind when you’re creating TikTok content.

Learning how to do the swipe thing on TikTok is another opportunity to improve your content creation game and engage your audience. With genuinely interested viewers, you can practically guarantee immediate follows and engagement. Make sure your content will always match with the right viewers by signing up for a High Social account. Boost your audience-targeting capability with High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok Tips