The short answer is yes, you can search for TikTok users and view their profiles without having the TikTok app installed on your device. There are a few different methods you can use to find and view TikTok profiles through your mobile or desktop web browser.
Searching on TikTok.com
The most straightforward way to search for TikTok users without the app is by using the TikTok website. You can access TikTok on your desktop or mobile browser by going to www.tiktok.com.
Once you are on the TikTok website, you will see the familiar vertical video feed. At the top of the screen there is a search bar where you can search for users by their username, full name, or even hashtag or sounds they commonly use in their videos.
Simply type the username, name, hashtag, or sound into the search bar and press enter or click the search icon. This will pull up a list of matching TikTok accounts. You can tap on any account to be taken directly to that user’s profile page. From there you can scroll through and watch all of their posted videos.
The TikTok website functions very similarly to the mobile app, so you will get the full experience of a user’s profile and videos without needing the app on your device. The only limitation is that you cannot like, comment, or otherwise interact with videos unless you have an account and are logged in.
Searching on Google
You can also search for TikTok users using Google and other search engines. This may be easier if you only know part of the username or don’t know the exact spelling.
To search on Google, simply type the following into the search bar:
site:tiktok.com “username”
Replace “username” with the actual username of the TikTok account you are trying to find. The quotation marks ensure you are searching for that exact term. This will show results from TikTok profiles that match the username you searched for.
Clicking on a search result will take you directly to that user’s TikTok profile where you can watch their videos. This search method works for finding profiles you don’t know the exact username for.
Using Third-Party Websites and Apps
There are also various third-party websites and apps that allow you to search and browse TikTok content without an account. Some popular options include:
- TikTok Searcher – A website that allows searching TikTok by user, hashtag, or sound.
- TokSearch – A TikTok search engine website with advanced filters.
- Toxplore – An app for Android and iOS devices to search TikTok users and hashtags.
- Web Video Caster – Casts TikTok videos to smart TVs for browsing without mobile apps.
These third-party services pull information directly from TikTok’s platform to allow searching and viewing content while not requiring you to login or have an account.
They can provide an easy way to find new accounts to follow based on usernames, hashtags, sounds, or categories. Some even offer additional filters like most liked, most viewed, verified accounts, and more.
Finding TikTok Users on Other Social Platforms
If you know a TikTok user’s account on another social media platform like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, etc. you may be able to find their TikTok account that way.
Many popular TikTok creators will link to or promote their TikTok account from their other social profiles. You can try searching for a user name on another platform and checking their bio or posts to see if they mention their TikTok.
Some platforms like Instagram even allow you to link to other social accounts in your profile. So you may be able to discover a TikTok user’s account by checking the linked accounts in their Instagram bio for example.
If you know at least part of their name or username on TikTok, you can also search directly on TikTok using the methods above after discovering the account from another platform.
Using Hashtag and Challenges
Browsing popular hashtags and challenges is another great way to discover new TikTok users to follow without the app. Hashtags are searchable even without an account, and scrolling through related videos will expose you to a variety of different accounts posting content.
Some hashtags to search to find top users include:
- #fyp – Short for “For You Page”, this tag is used heavily by top content creators.
- #viral – Videos using this hashtag have gained popularity.
- #follow – Used by accounts looking to gain more followers.
You can also look through trending challenges like #FlipTheSwitch or #WipeItDown to see top contributors and find accounts to check out.
Discovering accounts through hashtags and challenges can help you find creators that match your interests, even if you don’t know their exact username.
Viewing TikTok Profiles Without an Account
While the above methods allow you to search for and discover TikTok accounts, viewing the full profiles requires having a TikTok account and being logged in. However, there are still some limited actions you can do without logging in:
- View and watch videos posted to a profile.
- See the total number of followers, following, hearts and videos posted.
- Preview shortened video captions.
Actions like commenting, liking videos, following users, and more require logging into an account. But you can still get a good preview of a profile and their content without the TikTok app or an account.
Creating a TikTok Account Without the App
If after searching for TikTok users you decide you want to engage more and follow accounts, you will need to create a TikTok account. The good news is this can also be done without downloading the TikTok app.
On a desktop or mobile browser, go to TikTok.com and look for the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner. Follow the prompts to create and setup a new account.
Once your account is created, you can login and gain access to all TikTok features including following other accounts, liking videos, commenting, and more.
Final Thoughts
TikTok has grown into one of the most popular social media platforms, with an estimated 1 billion monthly active users. The app makes it easy to consume short-form videos covering a wide range of topics.
While downloading the app is the most common way to access TikTok content, there are many methods to search, discover, and view TikTok user profiles directly from a mobile or desktop web browser without an account.
Using the TikTok website, Google search, third-party tools, finding cross-platform accounts, hashtag browsing, and more can help you search for and view top TikTok creators. This allows you to preview content without commitment, and gives non-users access to the platform.
While browsing is unlimited, to fully engage by following, liking, and commenting you will eventually need to create an account. But the ability to search TikTok profiles without the app provides a lot of visibility into the platform.