No. You cannot realistically get herpes from a toilet seat. Herpes spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected area, most often during intimate sexual contact. Sitting on a toilet seat does not provide the conditions the virus needs to infect someone.
The herpes virus does not survive well outside the human body. It needs warmth, moisture, and direct contact with skin or mucous membranes to spread. Hard, dry surfaces like toilet seats are a very hostile environment, and the virus becomes inactive quickly once it leaves the body.
For transmission to even be theoretically possible, a very unlikely chain of events would have to happen. This would include fresh virus from an active lesion being deposited on the seat and immediate contact with broken skin or mucous tissue. In real-world settings, this does not occur in a way that leads to infection.
Herpes is most commonly passed through vaginal, oral, or anal contact, even when no visible sores are present. Using normal hygiene practices, such as wiping seats if visibly soiled and washing hands after bathroom use, is sufficient for everyday protection. If there are ongoing concerns about herpes exposure or symptoms like sores, tingling, or burning, a primary care provider or sexual health specialist can provide testing and guidance.