TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With so many people using TikTok, you may want to find someone you know or identify a particular user without having their username. While it can be challenging, there are several methods you can use to locate a TikTok user without their username.
Use Their Profile Photo or Video
If you have a profile picture or video of the person you’re trying to find, you can do a reverse image search on TikTok to locate their account. Here’s how:
- Save or screenshot the photo/video you want to search.
- Open the TikTok app and tap the search bar at the top.
- Tap the camera icon to initiate a photo search.
- Select the photo/video from your camera roll or gallery.
- TikTok will search for any matching images and display profiles and videos containing that photo.
This search method works best with clear profile pictures or short video clips. Keep in mind that if the user has changed their profile photo, you may not find an exact match.
Search Their Display Name
Every TikTok user has a display name visible on their profile. If you know the name the person uses on their account, you can search for it directly:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the search bar.
- Type the user’s display name into the search field.
- Tap the account icon to only show profile results.
- Browse the profiles that appear and look for a match.
Display names are not unique, so multiple accounts may show up. Check profile details like follower count, bio info, and pinned videos to identify the correct user.
Use Their Phone Number or Email
If you have the phone number or email address linked to the person’s TikTok account, you may be able to find their profile:
- Tap the “Me” tab in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three-line menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Find friends.”
- Enter the phone number or email and tap search.
- Any associated TikTok profiles will be displayed.
This will only work if the user has their phone or email info connected to their TikTok account. The phone/email search is based on registered accounts, not searches of content.
Browse Their Friends or Followers
If you know someone who is either friends with the person on TikTok or follows their account, you may be able to find the profile through their social graph:
- Navigate to the friend/follower’s TikTok profile.
- Tap the “Following” tab to see who they follow.
- Tap the “Friends” tab to see their friends list.
- Browse the list of accounts and see if any match the profile you’re searching for.
This method can be time consuming, as some users can have thousands of friends/followers. But if you can identify any mutual connections, you may find what you’re looking for.
Search Their Linked Accounts
Some TikTok users connect their other social media accounts like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. You can leverage these connected accounts in your search:
- Find the user on the other social platform you know they’re on.
- Check their bio or profile for any links to a TikTok account.
- If no links, check their posted content for any visual matches to TikTok videos.
- Use those details to search for their TikTok profile.
Any links or recognizable videos can directly point you to the person’s TikTok account. This method is most effective when the usernames match across platforms.
Search Within TikTok Comments
If you interacted with the person in TikTok comments before, you may be able to rediscover their account through your comment history:
- Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu.
- Choose “Comments” to see your comment history.
- Locate any comments made on the user’s videos or to their replies.
- Tap their profile picture to access their account.
The comment history search works best if you distinctly remember interacting with the specific user before. It may be difficult if you have a lot of comment activity.
Use Related Hashtags
If you have seen the type of content the user posts, you can search related hashtags to potentially find their videos and account:
- Identify relevant hashtags associated with the content.
- Search each hashtag individually and browse the top/recent videos.
- Look for any videos visually matching those from the user.
- Tap into video captions/descriptions for a username mention.
For example, if you know they post dance videos, search tags like #dance, #dancing, etc. This can help expose you to their content to then find the account.
Use the Sounds in Their Videos
Recognizing the audio used in someone’s TikTok videos can also aid in tracking them down:
- Identify the song, audio clip, or sound effect from their video.
- Search the TikTok music library for that sound.
- Tap into the videos using that sound to locate any matching content.
- Look in captions, comments or descriptions for the username.
Distinct audio liked to a viral meme or sound trend can connect you to reposted versions of the original video and account.
Browse Recommended Profiles
TikTok’s algorithm recommends accounts to follow based on your interests and engagement. Leverage this by:
- Spend time engaging with content similar to what the person typically posts.
- Tap into TikTok’s recommendations for profiles to follow.
- See if the account appears within the recommended users.
The more you can signal to TikTok the types of videos you want to see, the better chance it will suggest the account you’re searching for.
Join Related TikTok Groups
TikTok has interest-based groups you can join to connect with like-minded users:
- Search relevant group names related to the person’s interests/niche.
- Join groups that align with the type of content the user posts.
- Browse group members and see if the profile you’re looking for is in the group.
For example, join dance groups to find dancers, fitness groups to find athletes, etc. Connecting within niche communities can expose you to the user.
Advertise in Your Network
If all else fails, spread the word to expand your search:
- Let your personal friends/networks know you are searching for the user.
- Ask them to share any details that can aid in the search.
- Monitor your networks for any leads that come up organically.
Crowdsourcing within your connections, both online and offline, can sometimes yield the details needed to track down the TikTok profile.
Consider Contacting TikTok Support
If you have serious concerns and require assistance locating a TikTok user, consider reaching out to TikTok’s support team:
- File a support request through the in-app support page or TikTok’s help center online.
- Provide detailed information on the reason for your search request.
- Include any relevant details like the user’s name, bio info, usernames on other platforms, etc.
- TikTok may request proof of identification/permission depending on the circumstances.
Keep in mind support options are limited for personal account searches, but it may be an option under serious circumstances if other methods fail.
Finding Private Accounts
If the person you’re searching for has a private TikTok account that only approved followers can access, it will be much harder to identify through searches. Some options include:
- Ask mutual connections if they have access and can identify the account.
- Monitor hashtags/sounds closely for any unlisted or briefly public videos.
- Use Linked method to see if they have information leading to profile on a non-private platform.
- Comment on their other social content asking them to share TikTok handle via DM.
Outside of hoping the user makes a mistake or asking connections for help, tracking down private accounts will be extremely challenging in most cases.
What To Do Once You Find the User
After using these methods to identify the TikTok profile you were searching for, here are some next steps to consider:
- Follow the account – Tap the Follow button to see their content in your feed.
- Like/comment – Engage with their new videos to stand out.
- DM – Send them a direct message to establish contact.
- Save the profile – Add to your saved collection to easily access the account later.
- Note the username – Record the exact username so you won’t lose track of it.
Having the username will make it much easier to directly access the profile later. Be sure to memorialize it somewhere so your effort tracking them down isn’t wasted.
Respect Privacy Boundaries
When trying to find someone online, be sure to respect their privacy boundaries. Avoid excessive contact attempts, sharing private info, or accessing private content in unauthorized ways. If someone wishes to remain anonymous or did not consent to being found, consider backing off your search efforts.
In Conclusion
Locating a specific TikTok user without their username can certainly be challenging. But fortunately, through a variety of sleuthing methods, identification is often possible. The best approach is combining strategies like reverse image search, browsing mutual friends/followers, monitoring related hashtags/sounds, and leveraging linked accounts. With persistence and the right techniques, you can eventually uncover the TikTok identity you are seeking.