Searching for TikTok videos directly in your web browser is easy and straightforward. By using the TikTok website or utilizing Google search operators, you can find any public TikTok video without needing to install the app or have an account.
Searching on TikTok.com
The easiest way to search for TikTok videos is by using the TikTok website. TikTok.com contains the same content and features as the mobile app, but accessible right in your browser.
To search on TikTok.com:
- Go to TikTok.com in your web browser.
- Click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner to open the search bar.
- Type in your search term or hashtag and hit Enter.
This will display results based on your search query. You can scroll through and click on any video to watch it directly on the website.
TikTok.com allows you to:
- Watch any public videos
- Search for users, hashtags, songs, or sounds
- Filter search results (latest, people, hashtags, etc.)
- Interact with videos (like, share, comment)
So anything you can do on the TikTok app, you can also do on the TikTok website. The only limitation is that you cannot post videos or go live without registering an account.
Using Google Search
You can also find TikTok videos by searching on Google. This is helpful if you want to view TikTok content without visiting the TikTok website.
To search TikTok videos on Google:
- Go to Google.com
- Type your search term followed by “TikTok” (e.g. “kittens TikTok”)
- Hit Enter to see results
Google will display TikTok videos in the results along with other webpages and articles. You can identify TikTok videos easily from the video thumbnail which shows the TikTok logo.
Clicking on a video thumbnail will take you directly to that video on TikTok.com where you can watch it.
Advanced Google Search Operators
You can further refine your TikTok video search on Google using these advanced search operators:
- site:tiktok.com – Limits results to just TikTok.com
- intitle:tiktok – Finds pages with “tiktok” in title
- -inurl:(pinterest|instagram) – Omits results from Pinterest and Instagram
- “tiktok.com/@” – Searches for specific TikTok user profiles
Some examples:
- kittens site:tiktok.com – Find kitten videos just on TikTok
- dancing intitle:tiktok – Results with “tiktok” in title
- funny -inurl:(pinterest|instagram) – Funny videos excluding Pinterest and Instagram
- “tiktok.com/@charlidamelio” – Videos from @charlidamelio only
Using operators like these can help you craft the perfect TikTok video search on Google.
Finding Videos From Specific Users
If there is a particular TikTok user whose videos you want to watch, you can easily find their content.
On TikTok:
- Go to TikTok.com and click the Search bar
- Type @ followed by their username (e.g. @charlidamelio)
- Select the matching result to go to their profile
- Browse their posted videos
This will display all public videos shared on that user’s profile.
On Google:
- Search: “tiktok.com/@username” replacing username with theirs
- Click the profile link in search results
- Scroll through their videos
Typing a user’s full profile URL will surface their videos quickly on Google.
Finding Videos Based on Sounds/Music
TikTok allows videos to be created around specific sounds and music clips. You can track down the original videos that used a sound you like.
On TikTok:
- Tap the Search bar
- Search for a sound by lyrics or description
- Select the matching sound
- This will showcase all videos using that sound
On Google:
- Search for keywords describing the sound plus “TikTok”
- Scroll until you find a video with the sound
- Click through and tap the sound icon to see other videos
Discovering by sound may introduce you to new trends and memes within the TikTok community.
Downloading and Saving TikTok Videos
If you want to download a TikTok video to save or share, there are couple easy methods:
- Browser Extensions – Browser add-ons like TikTok Video Downloader for Chrome allow saving videos with one click.
- Online Converters – Websites like ssstik.io, tiktokdownloader.io let you paste in a TikTok link to download the video.
- Screen Recording – On desktop, you can use built-in screen recording tools to manually record videos.
Most solutions involve downloading the video directly from TikTok’s CDN servers, so quality is preserved.
Note that downloading others’ videos for personal use only is generally permitted, but redistributing or re-uploading videos may violate TikTok’s terms.
Finding Old/Deleted TikTok Videos
Locating old or deleted TikTok videos can be tricky, but is possible in some cases:
- Use Google search operators like date:, before:, related: to filter for past content.
- Check if the video was reposted by other users who downloaded it.
- See if it was archived on sites like TikTokArchives.com before being deleted.
- Some browser extensions can retrieve cached/deleted videos while they are still available on TikTok’s servers.
But there is no guaranteed way to recover deleted videos. TikTok permanent deletes videos after 30-90 days. So finding old videos still largely depends on users having re-uploaded them somewhere.
Searching Private/Friends-Only Videos
TikTok has two privacy settings that limit visibility of videos:
- Friends-Only – Limits viewers to only the user’s approved friends on TikTok.
- Private Account – Makes all videos only viewable to approved followers.
To view these private videos:
- You must have a TikTok account
- Send a follow request to the user or share your username to add as a friend
- Once accepted, you will be able to view private/friends-only videos
There is no way to search for or view these videos if you are not an approved friend or follower. Respecting users’ privacy settings is important.
Using Hashtags to Find Videos
Hashtags are an effective way to find videos about a specific topic on TikTok. Hashtag searching works the same as Instagram or Twitter:
- Find relevant hashtags around a topic, event, activity, etc.
- Search the hashtags on TikTok to view related videos
- Use multiple hashtags together to narrow results further
Some examples:
- #DanceTrends
- #LifeHacks #DIY
- #HKProtests #StandWithHongKong
TikTok compiles top videos for trending hashtags on the Explore tab. Checking what’s currently popular can lead you to viral content.
Finding Niche Content
Along with mainstream hashtags, TikTok has a vast range of niche communities.
Some examples of niche interests include:
- Nerd culture – #Cosplay #Anime #ComicCon
- Sports teams – #LakeShow #RisePHX
- Foodies – #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt #FoodTikTok
- Professions – #TeacherSoftiktok #Entrepreneur
Digging through targeted hashtags like these can uncover creators and content unique to your hobbies.
Using TikTok’s Search Recommendations
As you being typing search terms, TikTok displays suggestions:
- Users – Commonly searched creators
- Hashtags – Trending topics and hashtags
- Sounds – Popular music clips and original sounds
Tapping these can populate ideas for viral trends and top videos to check out.
TikTok’s recommendations improve the more you interact with the app. Over time, it will customize results to better match your interests and activity.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok videos can easily be searched for and accessed right from a web browser. The best options are using TikTok.com directly or Google with search operators.
You can search by keywords, sounds, specific users, hashtags, and utilize TikTok’s recommendations. More obscure videos can be found through niche communities or digging into content of the past.
So whether looking for top trends or hard-to-find clips, these tips will help you search TikTok effectively without the app.