TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. With its short-form videos, TikTok makes it easy for users to create and share content. But if you want to find a specific person on TikTok, searching by phone number can be tricky.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about searching TikTok profiles using a phone number. We’ll explain why searching by phone number is limited, alternatives for finding profiles, and tips for discovering accounts when you only have a phone number to go on.
Why Is Searching TikTok by Phone Number Limited?
Unlike other social networks, TikTok currently does not allow users to search for profiles using phone numbers. This is mainly due to privacy and security concerns. Phone numbers are considered private personal information, and TikTok wants to protect its users’ data.
Allowing phone number searches could enable stalking, harassment, and doxxing. It would also go against TikTok’s terms of service, which state that users should not collect or share private information without consent.
Additionally, searching by phone number could be impractical with such a large userbase. Millions of people could share the same phone number, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific profile.
For these reasons, TikTok has chosen to disable phone number lookup functionality. However, there are still a few workarounds you can use to try finding someone’s profile when all you have is their phone number.
Using the Phone Number to Guess the Username
Since you can’t directly search for a phone number, your first step is guessing the username based on the number. Here are some ways the phone number could connect to the username:
- Many users include their phone number digits in their username. For example, if the number is 123-456-7890, search for users like @1234567890, @123_456_7890, or @123.456.7890.
- Try variations such as only using the last 4 digits: @7890. Or add periods: @123.456.7890.
- Some usernames contain the phone number area code. Search @123 if that’s the case.
- If you know the person’s name, look for usernames that combine their name and phone digits, like @John7890.
Manually trying different versions of the phone number as the username is time-consuming but sometimes successful. You’ll have to get creative with formatting and be patient testing different options.
Using the TikTok Search Bar
Even though TikTok doesn’t have phone number search, its general search tool may help uncover profiles. Here are tips for searching by phone number using the search bar:
- Search for all the username variations described above.
- If you know the person’s name, search for “[Full Name] TikTok” – their account could appear in results.
- Search for any usernames you know they use on other social networks. Many people reuse names across platforms.
- Search for their name plus school, employer, city, or interests. Their account may show up organically.
TikTok’s search algorithm prioritizes popular accounts, so this works best if the person has an established presence on the platform. But even for lesser-known users, the search bar can surface profiles associated with the phone number or name.
Using Third-Party Apps or Websites
Some third-party TikTok tools claim to allow searching by phone number. However, most of these have major limitations:
- Data accuracy issues – The phone/username databases are user-submitted so often out-of-date or incorrect.
- Limited search capabilities – You may only be able to do a small number of searches before getting blocked.
- Scraping concerns – Some sites scrape TikTok data against Terms of Service, risking legal issues.
Two third-party options that seem more legitimate are TokFly and TokSearch. However, both have received user complaints about inaccurate or outdated data. These tools may be worth trying, but don’t expect foolproof results.
Contacting the Person Directly
If you have no luck finding the profile online, another option is to contact the person directly. Here are some ways to try getting their username from them:
- Call or text the phone number asking if they have a TikTok and what their username is.
- Ask mutual friends if they know the person’s TikTok username.
- Reach out on their known social media profiles asking for their TikTok name.
- Use old-fashioned social skills at school, work, or elsewhere to simply ask in-person.
Getting the username directly from the source is the most straightforward way to solve the mystery. Just keep in mind this route isn’t possible if you don’t actually know that person.
Searching by Hashtag, Sounds, or Videos
If the phone number owner has a very distinct presence on TikTok, you may be able to recognize their content and account even without knowing their username.
Scan hashtags and sounds related to their interests and location to potentially spot them. For example, search #SeattleMusicScene if they’re a musician in Seattle.
You can also browse trending sounds in their city or niche and look through the videos using them. And try searching phrases from a video caption you know they posted.
This method requires you to already be very familiar with their TikTok presence and content style. But if you can distinctly recognize their videos, this technique can sometimes lead you to the account.
Using TikTok’s Suggested or Followed Accounts
Every TikTok profile page shows “Suggested Accounts” and “Following” lists. You may be able to find someone’s profile by going through these sections on the pages of their friends or followers.
For example, if you know the phone number owner is friends with @Becky123 on TikTok, browse @Becky123’s “Following” list. See if you recognize the account you’re searching for.
Their profile may also show up in the “Suggested” section, since TikTok recommends accounts that your friends follow. This can work even if you only know the target user’s name, interests, location, etc.
Checking the social graphs of connections can uncover the account when all else fails. Just make sure not to violate TikTok’s guidelines prohibiting stalking and harassment.
Joining TikTok Groups and Chats
If you have no starting point with the phone number, a last resort is asking for help in TikTok communities. Some options include:
- Local TikTok groups – Search Facebook for “[city name] TikTok” groups to crowdsource in your area.
- Niche hashtags – Ask for help under tags related to the person’s interests, like #TeacherTikTok.
- TikTok chat servers – Join Discord or Telegram servers for TikTok users and pose your query there.
Explaining the situation and asking politely for help finding the account owner can mobilize other users. But there’s no guarantee of responses, and bombarding groups with requests is poor etiquette.
Respecting Privacy Boundaries
While searching for a TikTok user with limited information can be tempting, consider if crossing privacy boundaries is justified. Ask yourself:
- Do I definitively know this phone number belongs to the person I’m searching for?
- Do I have their consent to access private accounts using their number?
- Could searching cause them distress or embarrassment if misused?
If you don’t know the number owner, can’t get their permission, or could use the information unethically, searching is probably inappropriate. Always respect people’s privacy and consent preferences when attempting to find personal accounts.
Is Searching by Phone Number Against TikTok’s Rules?
TikTok’s Terms of Service prohibit misusing personal information and enabling harassment. So you could get banned if you:
- Share someone’s private phone/contact info without authorization
- Use phone numbers maliciously, like sending threats
- Scrape TikTok data to collect user phone numbers
However, responsibly searching and asking others for help finding an account generally doesn’t violate guidelines. Just avoid breaching privacy or harassing others when trying to ID a profile using only a phone number.
In Conclusion
Searching TikTok with just a phone number is tricky but possible in some cases. Your best approaches are guessing username variations, leveraging TikTok’s own search, asking friends for help, and understanding how the person uses the app.
Avoid anything that feels invasive or malicious. While you may not find the profile, searching respectfully is better than compromising someone’s privacy or comfort.
With creativity and persistence, you can sometimes ID a TikTok account with limited information. But also know when to stop digging if boundaries are unclear. With over 1 billion users, TikTok still maintains some anonymity if the person desires it.
