Want to find a hilarious, viral, or informative TikTok video that you just can’t seem to track down? Even without knowing the username of the video’s creator, there are several effective methods you can use to locate specific TikTok videos and audio clips. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to find a TikTok video when you don’t have the username.
Use Keywords in the TikTok Search Bar
The most straightforward way to find a TikTok video without a username is to use strategic keywords and phrases in the TikTok search bar. Here are some tips for maximizing your search:
- Try to remember unique words, phrases, audio, or lyrics from the video. Searching for these exact terms in quotes (e.g. “dancing in the moonlight tiktok”) will yield more targeted results.
- If you recall the subject or topic of the video, search broader keywords related to that topic like “reading tiktok” or “breadmaking tiktok.”
- Add descriptive filters like #stitch, #duet, or #pov to narrow results to certain video formats.
- If you know the song or audio clip from the video, search the song title, lyrics, or artist.
- Search hashtags used in the video like #fyp, #foyou, or niche hashtags related to hobbies and interests.
With the right combination of specific phrases and descriptive keywords, you can typically track down a video through the TikTok search bar. Test different queries and scroll through videos until you find the right one.
Browse Sounds and Audio Clips
TikTok’s expansive sound library is another great resource for finding a lost video when you remember the audio but not the creator. Here’s how to browse TikTok sounds:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the discover icon on the bottom toolbar.
- Select the “Sounds” tab at the top of the screen.
- Search for keywords related to the sound clip you remember.
- Tap on a sound to preview it. If it’s the right audio, scroll down to view videos using that sound.
- Browse through the videos until you spot the one you’re looking for.
Viral sounds are often used in hundreds of thousands of TikTok videos, so this method works best if the audio clip is somewhat unique. You can also search for sounds directly on the TikTok search page.
Browse Popular and Trending Videos
Trending topics and viral videos will often appear in TikTok’s curated feeds of popular content. Here are some sections to check if you’re searching for a video with a lot of engagement:
- For You Feed – Tap the home icon and scroll through your tailored home feed of recommendations.
- Following Feed – Tap the inbox icon and view recent posts from creators you follow.
- Discover Tab – Tap the discover icon and browse trending hashtags and sounds.
- Trending Tab – Select the trending tab on the discover page to view currently viral videos.
While you may have to scroll for a while, widely-shared TikTok videos often appear in these feeds. You can also watch compilations of top TikToks on YouTube.
Search Google Using Key Details
Google can be a powerful tool for tracking down a half-remembered TikTok video. Here are some tips for effective Google searches:
- Use unique phrases in quotes – “guy dancing with pizza costume”
- Add “TikTok” or “TikTok video” to the search
- Search any lyrics or audio clips you recall
- Use time filters to narrow results – “TikTok dog video last week”
- Click “Videos” under the search bar to only see video results
Scour the first few pages of Google results for the TikTok video, checking both general web links and video search results. You may find reposts on YouTube, Reddit, or news articles referencing the video.
Ask Friends, Family, and Social Contacts
Don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth – chances are, if you saw an entertaining or interesting TikTok video, someone you know may have also come across it. Some ways to tap into your social networks:
- Describe the video to friends and family or send them any keywords, audio, or details you remember.
- Post about the video on your own social media accounts asking if anyone knows the video.
- Join online forums and communities relevant to the video topic and ask members about it.
- Search groups and hashtags on Facebook that relate to the TikTok video topic.
With the collective knowledge of your contacts, you may be able to crowdsource the link to the lost TikTok video. Just be sure to provide lots of descriptive details to jog people’s memory.
Check Your TikTok Viewing History
If you have a TikTok account and were logged in when you originally viewed the video, you may be able to find it through your TikTok viewing history and engagement:
- Go to your profile and tap the three-line menu icon.
- Select “Viewing history” to see recently watched videos, sorted chronologically.
- Tap “Liked” to see all videos you’ve liked while logged in to your account.
- Check “Comments” to revisit videos you’ve commented on.
Even if you didn’t engage with the video in any way, your view history may help you rediscover forgotten videos from a certain timeframe. Just scroll back through time until something looks familiar.
Use Third-Party TikTok Archival Sites
Some third-party websites archive and aggregate popular TikTok videos over time, making them searchable even after they may have been deleted from TikTok itself. Examples include:
- SSSTIK – Large archive of TikTok videos.
- TikTokArch – Saves deleted and private video metadata.
- ToxTok – Allows deep searching within video captions.
These can be helpful resources when all else fails. Search these sites using keywords, captions, or details from the lost TikTok video.
Contact the Video Creator
If your search comes up empty elsewhere, you can try directly contacting the video creator if you have any identifying details:
- Post a comment on one of the creator’s other videos asking about the specific video.
- Look them up on other social platforms using their TikTok bio info.
- Tweet or DM them the details to see if they can resend the link.
successful. Even with limited info, some creators may be able to pinpoint their old videos based on your descriptions. It’s worth a shot!
Identifying a truly lost TikTok video can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack. But utilizing strategic searches, social outreach, and video archives, you’re very likely to track down most TikTok videos in the end. With the right combination of tools and detail-focused detective work, you’ll have that hilarious or memorable TikTok video back in your feeds in no time.
