Yes, there are a few different ways you can try to find a specific TikTok video that you’re looking for. The easiest option is to use TikTok’s built-in search function. However, depending on the details you remember about the video, you may need to try some alternative searching methods.
Searching on TikTok
The most straightforward way to find a specific TikTok is to use the search bar at the top of the TikTok app or website. Here are some tips for searching effectively:
- Use keywords – Try searching for keywords or phrases that were in the video’s caption, sounds, or hashtags.
- Search by username – If you know the username of the person who posted the video, search for their handle.
- Use filters – Filter your search by duration, upload date, views, etc if you remember any of those details.
- Browse by sounds – Search for sounds used in the video to find other TikToks using the same music.
TikTok’s search algorithm prioritizes more recent and popular videos. So you may need to scroll down quite a bit to find older or less viral TikToks. Using multiple filters and keywords can help narrow it down.
Check video history and likes
If you have a TikTok account, check your video viewing history and liked videos. TikTok stores these for you:
- Video history – Open your profile, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing > Video History to see your recent watches.
- Liked videos – Go to your profile and tap the “Liked” tab to browse your liked videos.
Of course, this only works if you watched or liked the TikTok when you first saw it. But it’s an easy way to rediscover videos you enjoyed.
Use Google search operators
Google provides some useful search operators that can help dig up specific TikToks:
- site:tiktok.com – Search only within TikTok’s website.
- “intext:” – Find keywords that appeared in video captions.
- “intitle:” – Match text in the video titles.
For example: site:tiktok.com “intext:cooking tips” intitle:kitchen
This will look for TikToks on their site with “cooking tips” in the caption and “kitchen” in the title. Refining your search terms like this can surface more obscure videos.
Use Google Images reverse search
If you only remember what a video looked like, try using reverse image search:
- Grab a screenshot of the TikTok video.
- Go to Google Images and click the camera icon.
- Upload your screenshot to search for matching images.
- You may find the video or the original source image.
Reverse image search matches your screenshot visually, so it doesn’t rely on text captions or metadata. Useful for identifying videos with no distinct audio or words.
Check social media links
Many TikTok creators link to their other social profiles like Instagram in their bios. You may be able to find the video reposted on another platform.
Check sites like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for an account with the same username. Sometimes TikTok videos get shared across multiple networks.
Ask in online communities
If your previous searches fail, seek help from other internet users:
- Ask on Reddit – Post in r/TikTok or r/HelpMeFind requesting help.
- Check TikTok forums – Like Reddit and Quora, people may help track down a lost TikTok.
- Contact the creator – If you know their Instagram or Twitter, you can DM them asking about the video.
Fans and enthusiasts on forums enjoy the challenge of finding obscure online content. And creators are often happy to reshare their popular TikToks which can gain more views.
Use TikTok archival sites
There are unofficial TikTok archive sites that index and compile TikTok videos. These can sometimes turn up videos that you can’t find on TikTok directly:
- TikTokArchiv – Large archive of TikTok videos.
- YTBB – Reposts TikTok videos to YouTube.
- Tokboard – Saves trending TikTok sounds and memes.
Browse through their databases or use their search features. Some obscure videos may have been archived by these sites before being deleted.
Use the Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine from Archive.org caches historical snapshots of websites, including TikTok profiles. You may be able to surface a deleted TikTok video by looking up the user’s profile in the archives.
To try it:
- Go to Archive.org
- Input the TikTok profile URL (e.g. https://www.tiktok.com/@username)
- Click on date stamps to see cached versions of their profile from different dates
- Use the site search to look for video titles or captions
This method is hit-or-miss, but can recover TikToks that got removed from the platform but were live long enough to get archived.
Use video downloader tools
If you originally found the video through TikTok’s For You feed, it may have gotten lost in the continual stream of fresh content. Video downloader tools can help you save TikToks so they don’t disappear:
- Snaptik – Download and repost videos from TikTok.
- 4K TikTok Downloader – Download TikTok videos to your computer.
- IGTools TikTok Downloader – Download as MP4 to save and share.
Downloading also lets you search through your own library of videos. But always get a creator’s permission before reposting their content elsewhere.
Contact TikTok support
If all else fails, you can try reaching out to TikTok’s official support team. They likely won’t be able to simply point you to a deleted or hidden video.
But if you provide details on the content, they may be able to confirm if it was removed for violating their terms, and potentially reconsider reinstating it. No guarantees, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
You can submit a request through TikTok’s Help Center or tweet @TikTokSupport for assistance recovering a lost video.
Don’t Give Up!
TikTok is still a relatively new platform, so videos can sometimes slip through the cracks. But there are many creative ways to dig up TikTok content if you put some detective work in.
Searching directly within TikTok using filters and operators should be your first stop. But leveraging other sites like Reddit, Google, and archival tools can also help surface that one specific TikTok you just have to find again.
If one method doesn’t produce results, don’t hesitate to try another approach. With persistence and a little luck, you can probably track down even the most elusive TikTok.
