TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With so many videos being posted every second, it can be difficult to find a specific TikTok video if you don’t have the username of the person who posted it or know the sound that was used.
Luckily, there are a few different ways to track down a TikTok video even if you only remember small details about it. Here are the top methods for finding a TikTok video when you don’t know the username or sound.
Search for Keywords in the Video
The best way to find a TikTok video is to search for unique keywords that you remember being said in the video or shown in text overlays. For example, if you recall the video mentioned a specific city, featured a funny animal moment, or had a memorable quote, search for those keywords on TikTok.
Go to the discover page in the TikTok app or website and type the keywords into the search bar. You may need to try a few different keyword variations before landing on the right video.
Focus on keywords or short phrases rather than full sentences. Searching for the most unique part of the quote or a distinctive word will yield better results.
Look Through Sounds and Hashtags
Most TikTok videos use a sound or popular song. Even if you don’t know the exact sound name, searching for lyrics can help track it down. Go to the discover sounds page and type a few lyrics you remember hearing in the video. You may find the exact sound used.
You can then click on that sound to view a feed of all videos using it. Scroll through to see if you spot the TikTok video you’re searching for.
Similarly, most videos include hashtags in their captions. Think of any hashtags you may recall seeing on the video, such as #fyp, #funny, or niche hashtags like #BookTok. Searching these can surface videos on that topic.
Trace Any Duets or Stitches
If you remember the original video you’re searching for was part of a duet or inspired many stitches (other users duplicating the video), this can help in tracking it down.
Search for some of the unique keywords, sounds, or hashtags of the duet or stitch versions you saw. Once you find one of those copies, you can click the share button on it to be taken to the original video that was duetted or stitched.
You can also search “duet” or “stitch” along with any keywords to specifically see if those formats exist.
Browse User Profiles Who May Have Posted It
If you don’t recall the exact username but have a sense of the type of person or account that posted the video, browse profiles that fit the description.
For example, if it was a cooking video you saw, check the profiles of top food bloggers or chefs on TikTok. If it was a comedy skit, explore profiles of popular comedy creators. While time-consuming, scrolling back through their previous videos may turn up what you’re looking for.
Use Third-Party Websites
There are third-party websites that index TikTok content and allow searching video captions. These can be helpful for tracking down a video using keywords if you’re struggling to find it directly on TikTok.
Some popular TikTok video finder sites include TokBoard, Tikdx, and TikTok Searcher. Paste in text from the video caption or keywords to search the databases on these platforms.
Check Your Watch History
If you were logged into your TikTok account when you originally saw the video, it may be lurking in your watch history. Open TikTok, go to your profile, and tap the menu icon. Choose “Watch history” to scroll through your recent watched videos.
Unfortunately watch history is limited to around 60 of the most recent videos, so anything further back will be tough to find with this method. But for a video you saw recently, check here first.
Ask Friends or the Creator
If all else fails, reach out to friends to see if they recall and can locate the TikTok video you’re searching for. Get in touch directly with the creator of the video if you happen to know them or follow them elsewhere online.
Many creators are responsive and helpful about digging up their old videos if they get a request. TikTok also has direct messaging, so you can attempt to message the account directly if you stumbled upon their profile in your search efforts.
What to Do If You Find the Video But It’s Deleted
In some cases, you may be able to find the video based on keywords, stitches, or audio, but the original video itself is marked as deleted. Unfortunately, this likely means the creator removed the video from their profile.
Your only options are to hope that the creator reuploads the video in the future, or see if someone restitched it while it was originally posted so you can still view the content.
Videos also sometimes get deleted due to violations of community guidelines. In these cases, the video will be permanently removed and not resurface on TikTok.
Tips for Easier TikTok Video Discovery
Use these tips to make it easier to find TikTok videos again in the future:
- Like or favorite videos you enjoy so they appear in your Liked videos collection
- Follow creators you watch often so you can easily find their profile later
- Tap the share icon to copy the URL or video link
- Screen record funny or useful videos to rediscover later
Finding a lost TikTok video can seem impossible, but using the right keywords, sounds, hashtags, and tools can help uncover any video with enough persistence. Follow these strategies to track down that brilliant baking tip, hilarious comedy sketch, or viral meme you just have to see one more time.
