A key feature of TikTok is its massive library of short videos that users can scroll through and watch for entertainment, information, or inspiration.
However, many users have experienced issues with TikTok’s search function not working properly.
When you attempt to search for videos on TikTok, you may get an error message saying “Couldn’t refresh feed” or “No results found.”
If TikTok’s search isn’t working for you, don’t worry – here are some tips on how to fix it and successfully find videos again.
Restart the TikTok App
One of the simplest solutions is to fully restart and reload the TikTok app. Completely closing out of the app and reopening it can help clear out any glitches that may be temporarily affecting the search function. Follow these steps:
- Close the TikTok app completely by swiping it away from your open apps list.
- On your phone’s home screen, tap and hold the TikTok app icon.
- Select “App Info” in the menu that pops up.
- In app info, choose “Force Stop.”
- Open the TikTok app again after about 20-30 seconds.
Restarting the app resets it and clears out any corrupted data or issues that could be interfering with search. Once you open TikTok again, try searching for a video again to see if this fixed the problem.
Update the TikTok App
Another common reason TikTok’s search feature may not be working is if you have an outdated version of the app installed.
TikTok releases frequent updates to fix bugs and improve features, so make sure you’re on the latest version.
On both iOS and Android devices, open the App Store or Google Play Store, search for TikTok, and check if there are any pending updates.
Install the latest update and then go back into the app. Updating to the newest version can resolve search issues caused by bugs in older versions.
Check Your Internet Connection
For TikTok’s search to work properly, you need a stable internet connection on your mobile device or computer.
Search relies on accessing TikTok’s servers to find and display video results, so any connectivity problems will cause issues.
If you’re on a WiFi network, try disconnecting and reconnecting to refresh the connection. You can also switch to mobile data if you’re having WiFi problems.
Make sure cellular data is enabled if trying to search TikTok while away from WiFi. Run a speed test to check if your network has sufficient bandwidth.
A weak internet connection is one of the most common reasons TikTok search isn’t working correctly.
After verifying you have a strong, fast connection, attempt to search again.
Clear TikTok’s Cache and Data
Over time, corrupted data and cache files can build up in TikTok and affect features like search. Clearing your cache and app data forces TikTok to start fresh, which may resolve underlying data issues.
On iOS:
- Go to your iPhone Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Select TikTok and tap “Offload App.” Confirm if prompted.
- After TikTok reinstalls, launch it. Your cache has been cleared.
On Android:
- Open phone Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps.
- Select TikTok, then choose Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear storage.
- Open TikTok again. Your TikTok cache and data have been wiped.
This forces TikTok to start fresh with a clean slate of data that won’t cause conflicts with search functionality.
Log Out and Back In
Sometimes search issues can be tied to your specific TikTok account, so logging out and back in can reset things. To fully log out:
- Tap the profile icon in the bottom right of TikTok.
- Select the three dot menu in the top right corner.
- Choose “Log out” to sign out of your TikTok account.
- Close and reopen TikTok, then log back into your account.
After logging back in, search should now be working again. Logging out resets your account which may resolve account-specific bugs.
Use a Different Keyword or Term
Sometimes the keywords you’re searching for on TikTok produce no results for reasons outside of your control. TikTok search works by scanning video titles, descriptions, sounds, and hashtags for matches to your search query.
If there simply aren’t many videos tagged with the words you searched, you’ll get poor results.
Try searching for your topic using different keywords or terms. For example, if “laugh” brings back no results, try searching for “funny” instead.
Play around with different keyword variations related to your desired videos. Searching differently can surface videos TikTok’s algorithm didn’t link to your original search.
Make Sure Your Region is Set Correctly
TikTok tailors search results based on factors like your set region or language. If your region is incorrectly set or changed unintentionally, the videos shown for your searches could be irrelevant or unusable.
Double-check that TikTok is targeting results for your correct region:
- Tap the profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap the three line menu button in the top right corner.
- Choose Settings and privacy > Region.
- Select your intended country or region.
Setting your region properly ensures you get local search results suited to your language and location.
Use TikTok Search on the Web
If TikTok’s app is giving you search problems, try using the TikTok search feature on the web instead.
Open TikTok on your browser and test out searching from there. Sometimes the web version will have fewer bugs and work more reliably than mobile.
You can also try searching on Google or another search engine. Search for keywords plus “TikTok” or “site:tiktok.com” to find relevant videos indexed outside of TikTok’s internal search.
Casting a wider net across the web may help surface more videos.
Enable Restricted Mode
As a short term workaround, turning on Restricted Mode in your TikTok settings may help content load properly so search functions again. Restricted Mode filters out mature content, which seems to resolve search issues in some cases.
To enable Restricted Mode:
- Go to your profile icon > Settings and privacy.
- Under Account, toggle on Restricted Mode.
Search on TikTok again to see if restricting content allowed videos to load and display. Make sure to disable Restricted Mode again afterwards to see all content.
Reset Advertiser ID on iOS
On iOS devices specifically, resetting your Advertising Identifier can apparently resolve persistent TikTok search problems for some users. Here is how to reset it:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising.
- Tap Reset Advertising Identifier.
Resetting this ID refreshes your device’s ad profile, which may fix account issues interfering with TikTok. Try searching again after resetting the ID to see if it worked.
Delete and Reinstall TikTok
If no other solutions do the trick, some recommend completely deleting and reinstalling TikTok as a last resort. This wipes the slate totally clean, forcing you to start 100% fresh when you download it again.
To delete on iOS:
- Hold down on the TikTok icon until the apps jiggle.
- Tap the X icon to delete.
- Redownload TikTok from the App Store.
To delete on Android:
- Open device Settings > Apps & notifications.
- Find and select TikTok, then choose Uninstall.
- Get TikTok again from the Google Play Store.
After reinstalling a 100% brand new version of TikTok, attempt to search again. Any bugs or data errors causing search problems should be eliminated.
Conclusion
With TikTok being so reliant on its algorithmic “For You” feed, the ability to manually search for videos is important.
Thankfully, most TikTok search problems can be easily fixed with a few troubleshooting steps.
Restarting the app, updating it, checking your connection, logging out and back in, and contacting TikTok support are all great ways to get search working again.
User-generated videos are the heart of TikTok. With these solutions, you can get TikTok’s search back up and running smoothly so you never miss a viral, funny, or informative video again!
