Searching for a specific TikTok video you want to find again can be tricky given the massive amount of content on the platform. Here are some tips to help you easily locate that funny, informative or creative TikTok you want to watch again.
Use the Search Bar
The most straightforward way to find a TikTok video is to use the search bar at the top of the app or website. Type in keywords related to the video like the caption, audio, or any memorable details. Using unique or specific keywords instead of general terms will help narrow down the results.
For example, if you’re looking for a cooking video where someone made pancakes with cereal in the batter, search “pancakes cereal batter” instead of just “pancakes.” You can also include the TikToker’s username if you know it.
Search Within a Profile
If you don’t remember the details of the video but know whose profile it was on, go to their profile and use the search bar there. This will show results only from that user instead of the entire TikTok database.
Tap on the profile icon, enter the username if you know it or browse your Following list to find them. Then tap on the magnifying glass icon and enter keywords related to the video you’re trying to find.
Check Your Likes
If you liked or loved the TikTok when you first saw it, it will be saved to your Likes. Open the profile menu, tap on the heart icon, and browse your Likes to see if you can spot the video you’re looking for.
This is helpful if you don’t remember much about the video except that you liked it. Skim through your Likes while trying to jog your memory by looking for visual cues.
Look in Your View History
TikTok keeps track of all the videos you’ve watched in your View History. You can access it by tapping on the profile icon, then the clock icon at the top right.
This view history goes back around a week. Scan through to see if the video you want pops up – watching a few seconds of each can trigger your memory. If it’s been longer than a week your view history may not help.
Check Messages and Shared Links
If someone sent the TikTok directly to you in a message or shareable link, check your Direct messages and texts. TikToks sent in app will appear as previews that you can click on.
Links to specific videos sent through other apps like Messenger will open the video when clicked. Scan through old messages to see if you can find it.
Use Third Party Sites and Tools
There are various TikTok archiving sites and tools that index or allow searching of TikTok content beyond what the app itself permits. These can be helpful for finding old videos.
Sites like TikTok Search allow searching by user, hashtag, sound, lyrics and more. Media sites like KnowYourMeme and Reddit often link to viral TikToks. Google can also surface videos.
Some browser extensions like TikTok Downloader for Chrome allow saving TikTok videos for offline access. If you previously used such tools to save videos, check your downloads folder.
Contact the Creator
If all else fails, you can try directly asking the video creator if they remember the specific TikTok and can send you a link. This takes a bit more effort but can work for unique videos.
Go to their TikTok profile, tap the Share Profile button, and choose either Direct Message or Text to get their contact details. Politely ask about the video and provide any details you remember to jog their memory.
Some creators manage their TikTok presence professionally and may be able to lookup old videos for fans. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Adjust Your Search Habits
In the long run, adapting your browsing and watching habits can make finding old videos easier in the future:
- Like videos you really enjoy so they are saved to your Likes
- Follow creators you watch a lot so their videos are easy to find again
- Check out Your Library instead of just the For You feed to re-find videos
- Tap Share on videos to send to friends or get the link
- Use TikTok archiving tools to download favorites
TikTok’s algorithm quickly surfaces lots of new content, making it easy to lose track of videos. But using the right tools and search techniques can help you rediscover the funniest, most interesting TikToks you want to watch again and again.
Finding Deleted or Old TikTok Videos
It can be frustrating trying to locate a TikTok video that you swore you’ve seen before, only to realize the video is nowhere to be found. The content was likely removed or taken down by the creator.
While it’s not always possible to find deleted TikTok videos, here are a few tips on how to try and locate that ghost content you hope still exists somewhere.
Search for Backups and Reposts
Even if the original video was removed from TikTok, other users may have downloaded and re-uploaded it. Search using distinctive audio, captions or visual elements which may surface these copies.
Expand your search to other platforms too. Viral TikTok videos often get shared on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit and YouTube. Look for recent posts using key terms.
Check Archival Sites
There are various unofficial TikTok archives and databases that exist online, preserving videos for posterity. These include sites like TikTok Search, TokBoard, TikTok Archiver, and others.
Search these archival sites thoroughly as they contain a mix of saved videos including deleted ones. Use filters and advanced search options to narrow down the results.
Contact the Creator
If you believe the TikToker deleted the video themselves, consider nicely asking them if they still have access to it. They may be willing to send it directly to you or repost it if politely requested by a fan.
However, respect their decision if they prefer not to share a video they intentionally removed for privacy, legal issues, or other concerns.
Use Google and Web Archives
Do a deep web search on Google using a variety of keyword combinations related to the lost TikTok. Google indexes many deleted pages.
Also try searching archives of old web pages like Wayback Machine for any traces of the removed video.
Check Your History
Look through your TikTok likes, views, shares and downloads in case the now-deleted video still shows up there. Your profile history can serve as a fossil record of lost TikToks.
Browser history and downloads folders are also worth examining if you previously saved any version of the video.
Leverage Forensic Software
If you want to pull out all the stops, certain paid software programs exist that can scrape cached media remnants from devices and cloud storage. However this is likely overkill for most situations.
But forensic data tools do illustrate how fragments of “deleted” content linger digitally, keeping hope alive for rediscovering missing media.
While vanished TikToks are annoyingly difficult to dig up again, with some creative searching and the right tools, tracking down that must-see video can sometimes be possible. Just be prepared that, for better or worse, the internet never forgets, and your lost TikTok may resurface where you least expect it!
Finding Old or Obscure TikTok Videos
Beyond deleted videos, users often want to rediscover older TikTok content that got buried or never went viral. How can you resurface those hidden gems?
Use Specific Keywords and Tags
Exact keywords are essential when searching for non-mainstream videos. Generic terms yield too many results. Use distinctive tags, audio, effects, captions, usernames or objects that appeared in the video.
Filter by New Users
Obscure videos often come from lesser-known creators. Try searching via New to You or Accounts You Don’t Follow filters to spotlight emerging users.
Look for Niche Hashtags
Deep dive into niche interest hashtags related to the content you are seeking, like #ZeroWaste or #CodingTips. Adding niche tags to searches helps surface communities and topicsAlgorithm
Leverage Recommendations
Fall down the TikTok rabbit hole by engaging with videos similar to the one you’re after. Likes, comments, shares and dwell time affect the recommendation algorithm.
Change Your Location
Changing your location in the app settings exposes you to regional trends you’d normally never encounter.
Dig Through Reviews and Reactions
Look for users reacting to the old video in their own content. Watching reaction videos can expose you to lost gems.
Reviews of “Best TikToks of [year]” also compile and expose older videos worth rediscovering.
Check Obscure Archives and Wiki Sites
Sites like TikTok Cringe compiles odd viral moments. Know Your Meme deconstructs interconnected jokes. Niche hobby wikis also reference niche videos.
Diving down these rabbit holes exposes the deeper TikTok ecosystem beyond top videos.
Unearthing old and truly obscure TikTok gems requires specific, strategic searching. But discoveries await those willing to persist and get weird in the quest for hidden internet gold.
Conclusion
Searching for lost TikTok videos, whether deleted, buried or gone viral, can be a challenge but is possible with the right tools and techniques. Using descriptive keywords, tapping into niche communities, leveraging archives and fan content, and contacting creators directly gives you the best chance of unearthing that unforgettable video again.
TikTok’s massive scale means amazing content gets created every second – the key is just figuring out how to find it, even when the algorithm moves on. With creative thinking and persistent searching, any video can resurface to delight audiences, both old and new.
