TikTok’s search function allows you to find videos, sounds, hashtags, creators, and more. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of searching on TikTok.
Search for videos
The main TikTok search bar at the top of the app is for searching for videos. Here are some ways to use it effectively:
- Search keywords – Type any keyword or phrase to find related videos. For example: “dance trends”, “comedy skits”, “food recipes”.
- Search hashtags – Put a # before a keyword to specifically search for videos using that hashtag. For example: #fyp, #foodtiktok, #travel.
- Search sounds/music – Put “sound:” before a keyword to find videos using a specific sound or song. For example: sound: Swipe, sound: Industry Baby.
- Search creators – Put “@” before a username to search for that creator’s videos. For example: @charlidamelio, @khaby.lame.
- Search titles – Put quotes around a specific phrase to search for videos with that exact title. For example: “morning routine”, “small apartment tour”.
When you tap on a hashtag, sound, or creator from the search results, you can then browse their profile page to discover more related videos.
Use filters
Tap the filters icon while searching to narrow your results by:
- Duration – Select videos under 60 seconds, 3 minutes, 10 minutes, or LIVE.
- Upload date – Find newest, last 7 days, last month, or last year.
- Type – Filter by user videos, verified creators, hashtags, or sounds.
- Category – Browse videos in categories like comedy, animals, food, beauty, dance.
- Region – Search videos from a specific country.
Using filters helps you refine your search and dig deeper into niche topics.
Discover by sounds and hashtags
There are two tabs on TikTok specifically for browsing trending sounds and hashtags:
- Sounds – Tap the music note icon to discover trending songs and sounds being used in videos.
- Discover – Tap the hashtag icon to browse popular hashtags and niche trends.
Following trending sounds and hashtags is a great way to find viral videos and join in on meme trends. You can also get inspiration for songs or concepts to use in your own videos.
Use recommendations
TikTok’s “For You” feed shows video recommendations based on your interests and engagement. The more you like, share, and interact with certain types of videos, the better your recommendations will become.
Some ways to improve your recommendations:
- Like videos you enjoy so TikTok knows your tastes.
- Follow creators in niches you’re interested in.
- Tap “Not interested” on videos you don’t like.
- Search niche hashtags related to your interests.
Over time, your For You feed will be tailored with more personalized video suggestions to discover.
Search your profile and notifications
You can also search within your own TikTok account:
- Profile – Tap the magnifying glass on your profile to search your liked videos, followers list, and following list.
- Notifications – Search your notifications for specific users, videos, hashtags, or keywords.
This is an easy way to re-find videos or creators you’ve interacted with in the past.
Optimize your profile for search
To help viewers find your TikTok profile through search, optimize your bio and videos:
- Add relevant keywords about your niche or content type to your bio.
- Use niche hashtags in your videos so they appear in hashtag searches.
- Fill out your TikTok category and add links to other social profiles.
- Go live regularly – live videos tend to rank higher in search results.
Making your profile discoverable can help attract new viewers who are looking for your type of content.
Search on desktop
You can also search TikTok from a desktop browser at tiktok.com. This gives you a larger screen to browse, as well as some different filters:
- Sort by most likes, comments, or recent videos.
- Specify exact video view count ranges.
- Filter search results by verified accounts only.
Searching on desktop in addition to mobile gives you more tools to find what you’re looking for.
Find popular creators
Some ways to discover new creators to follow:
- Check out the trending, food, comedy, and other category tabs on the Discover page.
- Look at the sound and hashtag pages to see top videos and creators using them.
- Use search filters like verified accounts or most followers.
- See who is duetting or stitching popular videos.
- Browse the Following and For You feeds of creators you already like.
Finding creators relevant to your interests can keep your feed entertaining and introduce you to new styles of video content.
Advanced search tips
Some pro tips for power users:
- Use quotation marks to search for exact phrases: “cat fails”
- Exclude words with a hyphen: cat -fails
- Combine keywords with commas: funny, cats, dogs
- Search by numeric hashtags like #throwbackthursday or #foryoupage.
- Look up TikTok songs using lyrics: “I got no patience”
Take some time to play around with different keyword combinations and filters to see what kind of content you can uncover.
Troubleshooting search issues
If you’re having issues with search, try these tips:
- Double check your spelling and try less specific keywords.
- Close and reopen the app to refresh search indexing.
- Allow TikTok to access your location to improve region-based results.
- Check if video views are hidden, which removes them from some search results.
- Report any truly irrelevant results you think are bugs.
Searching on TikTok takes some practice, but is the key to unlocking the huge variety of videos on the platform. Start searching for your interests and have fun going down the TikTok rabbit hole!
