TikTok automatically saves and shows search suggestions based on your previous searches on the platform. If you want to remove certain terms from your search history and suggestions, there are a few easy ways to delete TikTok search suggestions.
Clear Search History in TikTok Settings
The simplest way to delete your TikTok search history and suggestions is to clear it directly from the TikTok app settings. Here’s how:
- Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the profile icon on the bottom right.
- Go to Settings and privacy.
- Select Clear cache.
- Tap to clear your search history.
This will wipe your entire TikTok search history. All previous searches and suggestions will be deleted. Repeat this regularly to prevent any unwanted terms from showing up as suggestions.
Delete Specific Terms from Search Suggestions
If you only want to remove certain offensive, inappropriate or embarrassing terms from your search history, you can delete specific suggestions one by one:
- Open TikTok and tap the search bar.
- Begin typing a search term you want to delete.
- Tap the X icon next to the search term when it shows up as a suggestion.
- Confirm that you want to delete it.
This permanently deletes that particular keyword from your account’s search history. Repeat for any other terms you want gone from suggestions.
Turn Off Search History
For a more permanent solution, you can stop TikTok from saving your search history altogether by turning the setting off:
- Go to your TikTok profile.
- Tap the 3-line menu icon.
- Select Settings and privacy.
- Go to Safety & privacy.
- Toggle off Search history.
With search history disabled, TikTok will no longer store your searches or make suggestions based on them. However, this also means you lose out on some of the benefits of a personalized search experience.
Use TikTok’s Website to Delete Search History
TikTok’s website version also allows you to clear your search history conveniently:
- Go to TikTok.com and log into your account.
- Click on your profile picture.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Go to Privacy and safety.
- Click Clear search history.
This will remove all saved searches and purge terms from your suggestions. Do this on both mobile and web for best results.
Delete TikTok Account Entirely
Deleting your TikTok account altogether will also erase your search history and wipe any suggestions tied to the account. However, this is an extreme measure only if you want to remove your presence on TikTok.
To delete your account:
- Go to your TikTok profile.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Select Manage account.
- Choose Delete account.
- Confirm by entering password.
Once your account is deleted, your search history cannot be recovered. You’ll have to create a new account if you wish to use TikTok again.
Use a New TikTok Account
Another nuclear option is abandoning your current TikTok account altogether and starting fresh with a new one. This will completely reset your search history and suggestions.
To create a new TikTok account:
- Uninstall the TikTok app.
- Reinstall TikTok on your device.
- Open TikTok and select Create Account.
- Enter a new email and password.
- Build your new account’s profile.
With an entirely new account, you’ll have no old searches tied to your profile. But you’ll have to start building up followers from scratch again.
Use Third Party Apps to Delete History
Some third party apps claim to be able to erase your entire TikTok search history as well. Options include:
- Cleaner for TikTok – Clears cache, search history, and more.
- Search Cleaner for TikTok – Deletes embarrassing searches.
- TikTok History Eraser – Wipes your TikTok activity.
However, the effectiveness of such apps is questionable, and it’s safer to use TikTok’s built-in deletion options instead.
Avoid Embarrassing Searches in the First Place
The easiest way to prevent unwanted terms from showing up in your TikTok suggestions is to avoid searching for potentially embarrassing topics in the first place. Be mindful of what you look up while logged into your account.
Consider using an alternate “private” account just for more personal searches that you don’t want turning up as suggestions later.
You should also turn on screen lock or app lock on your device to prevent others from snooping on your account and searching up content you don’t want in your history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I want to delete my TikTok search history?
You may want to delete your TikTok search history to remove embarrassing, offensive, or inappropriate terms that show up as suggestions. Clearing your history gives you a fresh start.
How far back does TikTok save my search history?
TikTok stores several months’ worth of your past search terms. The exact limit is unclear, but clearing your history deletes everything stored by TikTok.
Can someone see my TikTok search history?
No, your TikTok search history and suggestions are private to your account. No one else can see them. Clearing it removes the history entirely.
Do deleted searches get removed from TikTok’s servers?
It’s unclear if TikTok permanently deletes your search terms from their servers when you remove terms. But clearing history makes terms no longer visible or stored locally on your account.
Can I delete someone else’s search history from my shared TikTok account?
Yes, if you share access to a TikTok account, clearing the search history from that account’s settings will delete searches made by anyone using it.