Yes, you can search for users on TikTok. TikTok has a built-in search feature that allows you to find other users by their username, name, or hashtag. Here are some tips for searching for someone on TikTok:
Search by Username
The easiest way to find someone on TikTok is to search for their exact username. Usernames are unique on TikTok, so searching for a specific username will show you that user’s profile if they have one.
To search by username:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the search icon at the bottom (it looks like a magnifying glass)
- Type the exact username of the person you want to find into the search bar
- Tap the username that appears in the dropdown list of search results
This will take you directly to that user’s profile page if they have a TikTok account with that username.
Search by Name
You can also search for someone by their name or nickname on TikTok. This is helpful if you don’t know the person’s exact username.
To search by name:
- Open the TikTok search page
- Type the person’s first and last name or nickname into the search bar
- Review the list of accounts that show up and look for the person you’re searching for
Keep in mind that searching by name may bring up multiple accounts. You’ll have to look through the search results and profiles to find the specific person you’re looking for.
Search Within Comments
You can find people who have commented on a specific TikTok video. This is helpful if you want to see if a certain person has interacted with a video.
To see who has commented:
- Tap on any TikTok video to open it
- Scroll down and tap “View all” to expand the comments
- Tap on a comment to open the comment thread
- Scan through the list of commenters to see if the person you’re looking for has commented
You can also tap on a commenter’s username to go directly to their profile.
Search by Hashtag
Searching for hashtags that a person frequently uses in their videos can help you find their account.
To try finding someone via hashtags:
- Think of niche hashtags they may use in their content (like #lakersbasketball or #beautyblogger)
- Search those hashtags on TikTok
- Look through the top videos and accounts using those tags to see if you can find the person
The more niche the hashtag, the higher chance the videos will be from the person you’re looking for.
Tips for Easier Searching
Here are some tips to improve your chances of finding someone on TikTok:
- Search the exact username if you know it – this is the quickest way to find someone
- Check any other social media profiles the person has to see if they list their TikTok username there
- Search common misspellings of the person’s name
- Look for niche hashtags and interests the person is into
- Browse the followers/following lists of accounts you know they engage with
- Use TikTok’s account suggestion feature which shows similar accounts to ones you follow
Find Private Accounts
If a TikTok account is set to private, you won’t be able to view the profile or videos unless you are approved to follow them. But here are some ways to search for private accounts:
- Search by username – you’ll see “User not found” if the account is private
- Look for the account being tagged in other TikToks
- Check if they have a public account on another social platform that lists their TikTok
- Ask a mutual connection if they can check if the account exists and relay a follow request
While you can’t directly access a private account, these methods can help you determine if someone does have a private TikTok profile.
Find Deleted Accounts
If someone deleted their TikTok account, searching for them won’t bring up a profile. But here are some ways to check if an account was deleted:
- Search by username – it will say “Couldn’t find this account”
- Check web archives for snippets of the account if it was popular
- See if the account is still tagged or mentioned in other TikToks
- Ask mutual connections if they know anything about the account being deleted
There will be no trace of a TikTok account if it has been permanently deleted. But the above methods can help you investigate whether an account you’re searching for was deleted.
Using Third-Party Tools
There are some third-party tools and browser extensions that claim to enhance searching on TikTok.
Some features these tools offer include:
- Searching private/deleted accounts
- Advanced filters like location, follower count, etc.
- Seeing someone’s liked videos
- Anonymous searching
However, be cautious when using third-party apps as some request access to your data or personal information. Make sure to research the tool and only use reputable services that other users recommend.
Respecting Privacy
When searching for someone on TikTok, keep in mind that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to privacy. Avoid lurking on accounts, contacting people repeatedly, or using sketchy tactics to find private profiles.
Remember to:
- Respect when someone makes an account private or deletes it
- Don’t harass or stalk people who don’t want to be found
- Be transparent if you need to contact someone through mutual connections
Searching on TikTok should be done casually, not obsessively. Consider why you need to find someone and if they would appreciate the effort.
Troubleshooting Missing Accounts
If you can’t find someone on TikTok that you know had an account, here are some possible reasons:
- They changed their username – search old usernames or hashtags
- They made their account private
- They deleted or deactivated their account
- They were banned from TikTok for violations
- They only had a draft account and never officially posted
Checking other social media profiles and asking around can help reveal what happened to a missing TikTok account.
When You Can’t Find Someone
If you still can’t find someone after trying all the search methods, they may just not have a TikTok account. Other possibilities include:
- They use TikTok under a secret account they haven’t revealed
- They had an account but aren’t active anymore
- They prefer other social media platforms over TikTok
- They don’t want to be found and stay anonymous online
At a certain point your search efforts may start to border on invasive. If someone wants to be undiscoverable on TikTok, it’s best to respect their privacy and stop searching.
Is It Possible to Be Completely Anonymous?
While TikTok allows pseudonymous usernames, it still connects some user data together behind the scenes. So it’s difficult to stay completely anonymous.
Here are some ways TikTok links accounts:
- Device identifiers
- IP addresses
- Phone numbers used for verification
- Linked social media accounts
- Facial recognition on uploaded videos
Advanced users could try avoiding linking accounts, using VPNs, and other privacy measures. But for most people, maintaining total anonymity on an app like TikTok is challenging.
The easiest way for a typical user to stay pseudo-anonymous is to:
- Not link any other social media profiles
- Not show any identifiable info on videos
- Use a generic username without real names or nicknames
But even casual use of TikTok likely leaves some digital footprint that determined searchers could connect back to you.
Reporting Impersonation Accounts
If you find an account impersonating you or someone else on TikTok, you can report it for impersonation.
To report an impersonating account:
- From the profile, tap the three dots in the top right
- Select “Report”
- Choose “This account is pretending to be someone else”
- Submit any additional details about the impersonation
TikTok will investigate and remove accounts found to be impersonating someone else. This helps cut down on fake accounts on the platform.
Conclusion
Searching for someone on TikTok is fairly straightforward using the app’s built-in tools. You can find friends, family members, celebrities, influences, or any other users by username, name, comments, hashtags, or contacts in your phone. But always practice safe searching habits and respect people’s privacy. With over 1 billion active users, TikTok has made finding and connecting with others easier than ever!