If you search for a TikTok user’s profile and get a “Account not found” error, it could mean a few different things. Here are some of the most common reasons you may see this error message and what it typically indicates:
The user blocked you
One of the most common reasons you’ll see the “Account not found” message is if that user has blocked you. When someone blocks you on TikTok, you can no longer view their profile or any of their content.
So if you search for a user you previously were able to view, and now get the account not found error, chances are very high they blocked you. You won’t get any notification that you’ve been blocked, the account just disappears from your view.
The user deactivated their account
Another possibility is the user decided to deactivate their TikTok account. When an account is deactivated, the username is removed from the system and the profile and content is no longer available to view.
People may deactivate their accounts temporarily if they need a break from TikTok or want to take a social media hiatus. Or sometimes accounts get deactivated permanently if the user no longer wants their content available on TikTok.
So if someone you follow seems to have “disappeared” from TikTok and you get the account not found error, it’s likely they took down their own account.
The account was banned by TikTok
TikTok does ban some accounts that violate their community guidelines and terms of service. If an account gets banned, it is removed from the platform and users can no longer find or access it.
Accounts may get banned for things like posting illegal or dangerous content, spamming others, or harassing other users. So if someone you know suddenly disappears from TikTok, their account may have been reported and banned.
The username was changed
It’s also possible the user simply changed their username. On TikTok you can change your username to something new at any time. When this happens, your old username will no longer work and will give the account not found error.
If you suspect someone just changed their username, try searching for their display name or looking through your own following/follower list to see if you can locate their new profile.
The account is temporarily glitched
In rare cases, you may get the account not found error due to some type of technical glitch. Sometimes if TikTok is having server issues, certain accounts may not load properly and appear to be deleted or deactivated.
If this happens, trying searching for the user again after some time has passed. Chances are the profile will become available again once any server problems clear up.
How to tell if you’re blocked by someone on TikTok
Since you don’t get notified if someone blocks you on TikTok, here are a few signs that can help confirm if you have been blocked:
- You can no longer view the user’s profile or videos
- You are removed as a follower from their account
- Your comments on their videos have been deleted
- Messaging the user says “failed to send”
- You can no longer Duet or Stitch any of their videos
Trying logging out of your account and searching for the profile you think blocked you. If you can view their profile logged out but not while logged in, that’s a very clear sign they blocked you specifically.
What to do if you’re blocked by someone on TikTok
If you determine another TikTok user has blocked you, here are some things you can do:
- Respect their decision – Getting blocked likely means they don’t want you interacting with them, so avoid trying to contact them through other means.
- Reflect on why it happened – Think about if you did anything that may have prompted the blocking, like harassment, spamming, etc.
- Ask politely to be unblocked – If appropriate, you can try asking the user or having a mutual friend reach out to request you be unblocked.
- Move on – Ultimately, there’s nothing you can really do if someone wants to block you, so it’s best to just accept it and carry on.
Repeatedly creating new accounts to get around a block or harass the user who blocked you will likely result in your accounts being banned by TikTok, so it’s best not to try circumventing someone’s block.
What happens when you block someone on TikTok
If you choose to block another TikTok user, here is what will happen:
- They will no longer be able to view your profile or any of your videos
- Any comments they’ve left on your videos will be deleted
- They will be automatically unfollowed from your account
- They will not be notified that you blocked them
Blocking someone prevents them from interacting with your content in any way. You can access a list of users you’ve blocked in your account settings. Blocking is permanent unless you choose to unblock the user.
How to unblock someone on TikTok
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, here is how to do it:
- Go to your profile and tap the three dot menu in the upper right
- Choose “Settings and privacy” then go to “Privacy”
- Tap “Blocked accounts”
- Find the user you want to unblock in the list and tap “Unblock” beside their name
This will remove the block so they can once again view your profile and content. You can go through this process to unblock people at any time.
Dealing with a blocked account on TikTok
Being blocked or having your own account blocked can be frustrating. But here are some tips to deal with it:
- Use blocking judiciously – Only block truly abusive/spam accounts.
- Don’t take it personally – People may block for many reasons unrelated to you.
- Make your appeals politely – If appropriate, ask nicely to be unblocked.
- Focus on your own content – Spend your energy on creating good videos.
- Give people second chances – Consider unblocking if behavior improves.
With patience and understanding, most blocking situations can be resolved. Focus on being a good TikTok community member.
In summary
The “account not found” error typically means you have been blocked, the user deactivated their account, or they changed their username. In rare cases it could be a glitch. Confirm you’ve been blocked based on not viewing content logged in. Respect someone’s decision to block you and don’t harass them. You can unblock people in your settings if you change your mind later. Deal with blocking maturely and focus on your own positive TikTok presence.
