TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With its huge userbase, you may want to find someone you know on TikTok, whether it’s a friend, family member, celebrity, or someone else. However, if you don’t have their username or they don’t have a TikTok account, it can be tricky to find them.
The good news is there are still several ways to search for someone on TikTok even without knowing their username or if they have an account. Here are the top methods:
Search by Name
The easiest way to find someone on TikTok is to search for their name. Go to the discover page and tap the search bar at the top. Type in the full name of the person and hit search. This will pull up any users with that name in their profile.
Since names are not unique, this may show several accounts. Look through the results for photos, bios, usernames, and content to determine if any match the person you’re looking for. The more common the name, the more results you’ll have to sift through.
If you still can’t find the person, try variations of their name, like nicknames, middle names, maiden names, or username formats they may use. You can also filter by location or narrow it down with additional keywords.
Search Friends Lists
If you already have mutual friends with this person on TikTok, check their friends lists. Go to each friend’s profile and tap on “Friends” to browse their list of followers. See if the name of the person you’re searching for appears.
Even if they don’t follow each other back, your mutual friend’s list will still show users they follow. So browsing a few friends’ lists can help uncover the account you’re looking for if they have overlapping followers.
Use Phone or Email Contact Info
If you have the phone number or email address connected to the person’s TikTok account, you may be able to find their profile that way.
In your TikTok app, go to the “Me” tab and tap on “Find friends.” You can allow TikTok access to your contacts and it will match any contacts who also use TikTok.
You can also manually enter the phone number or email address to search. If the person has that info associated with their TikTok profile, it will show their account. This method works even if the phone or email is only linked to the account and not publicly visible.
Check Their Other Social Media
Often times, people use the same username across multiple social platforms. Check if you can find the person on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or elsewhere. Then use that same username to search for them on TikTok.
Even if their handles don’t match up exactly, their other social media bios may contain links or references to their TikTok account. The profile photo they use on other platforms could also help match up to a TikTok account.
You can also search their followers/following lists on other social networks to see if their TikTok account appears there.
Use Google Search Operators
Google search operators allow you to refine results and search specific sites, like TikTok. To search TikTok videos, use this query structure:
“site:tiktok.com @username”
Replace “username” with the person’s name or potential handles. This searches only videos posted on TikTok for that name or handle.
You can also use Google Images to search for their profile photo:
“site:tiktok.com image”
Drag and drop their photo or enter the image URL to pull up any matching images on TikTok profiles.
Browse Videos by Hashtags and Sounds
If you’ve seen this person in TikTok videos, try searching hashtags or sounds associated with those videos. Use relevant niche hashtags they may be involved with or sounds from any videos featuring them.
Look through both the top posts and most recent for those hashtags/sounds to see if you can spot the person you’re searching for. The timestamp on the video will also give you an idea if it’s recent enough to match up.
Use Verified Account Tags
If the person you’re searching for interacts with larger, verified accounts in their niche, look through those profiles for any tags. Verified accounts often tag smaller creators in their collaborative videos or when sharing user-generated content.
You can go through videos and bios of verified accounts that are relevant to your search to check for any tagged handles that match up with who you’re looking for.
Join Fan Groups and Forums
For finding creators, influencers, or public figures, join fan groups and online forums dedicated to them. Subreddits, Facebook groups, or forums like Reddit and Quora may have discussions that mention the person’s TikTok handle.
Super fans often know all of the social media accounts of their favorite celebrities, athletes, or influencers. So checking for mentions of TikTok in the fan communities surrounding the person can uncover their profile handle.
Use TikTok’s Suggested and Following Lists
TikTok’s algorithm provides suggested accounts to follow based on your existing follows, likes, and video interactions. So liking content similar to what the person you’re searching for would post can help surface their account.
TikTok’s “Following” tab also shows all the accounts your current follows have recently followed. Look through this list for any familiar or likely names.
Spending time liking and engaging with content on TikTok will also prompt the algorithm to display more relevant account recommendations, increasing the chance of finding the profile you want.
Ask Around for Help Finding Them
Don’t be afraid to ask around on TikTok and other networks to see if anyone can help identify the person’s account. Comment on relevant videos in their niche asking if anyone knows their handle.
You can also ask mutual connections if they follow this person on TikTok or have any info to help find their profile. Crowdsourcing the search efforts can help speed up the process.
As a last resort, you may be able to contact the person directly via another method like texting or emailing them to ask for their TikTok handle. But the other tactics in this guide should help you uncover it without reaching out directly.
Third-Party Tools and Extensions
There are third-party apps and browser extensions that claim to search TikTok profiles more effectively. However, be very cautious before using any third-party services, as many request access to your data or contain malware.
Your best option is using TikTok’s built-in search and discovery features, along with Google search operators. With patience and persistence, you should be able to find someone’s TikTok account through the methods mentioned in this article.
What If You Still Can’t Find Them?
If you still can’t find the person after trying all these tactics, there are a few possible reasons:
- They may not have a TikTok account
- They have a private account you can’t view
- They use a totally different handle not associated with their name
- They deleted their TikTok account
Don’t obsess over finding someone – if their account isn’t easy to find through searching, they may not want to be found. But using combinations of the methods outlined here will give you the best shot at identifying someone’s TikTok profile if they do have an account.
TikTok doesn’t have an easy directory search function, so you have to get a bit creative. But with smart searching, checking social networks, and help from friends, you should ultimately be able to track down that TikTok account. Best of luck in your searching!
