TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. Much of TikTok’s appeal comes from its massive library of short, entertaining videos. Sometimes when scrolling through TikTok, you may come across a funny, insightful, or otherwise great video that you want to share with friends or find again later. However, if you don’t follow the creator of that video, it can be tricky to locate it again on TikTok’s endless scroll of content.
Fortunately, there are a few different methods you can use to find a TikTok video again when you don’t have the username or account. Here are the top techniques for tracking down a TikTok video using just the video itself.
Use TikTok’s Search Function
The most straightforward way to find a TikTok video is by using TikTok’s built-in search function. Here’s how it works:
- Open the TikTok app on your device.
- Tap the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Type in some key descriptive words about the video you’re trying to find. For example, if it’s a comedy skit, you may search “funny skit” along with any memorable lines you recall from the video.
- Scroll through the search results to see if the video pops up. You can tap the Videos tab at the top to filter only video results.
- If you still can’t find the video after searching relevant keywords, try searching for unique audio used in the video like songs or sounds.
TikTok’s algorithm is quite good, so there’s a decent chance the video will appear if you can remember enough descriptive details to search. However, sometimes a video can still be difficult to surface this way given the massive volume of videos on TikTok.
Use Third-Party TikTok Finder Tools
In cases where TikTok’s native search just isn’t turning up the video you want, third-party TikTok finder tools can help track it down. There are a few browser-based tools and apps designed specifically for searching TikTok videos.
Here are some of the top options:
- Vibe – TikTok Video Search: This handy web tool allows you to search TikTok by keywords as well as filter by video category, video duration, number of likes, and more. It’s one of the most full-featured TikTok finder tools available.
- TiktokFinder: Works similarly to Vibe, letting you search by keywords, usernames, hashtags, and sounds. Requires installing a browser extension.
- TikTok Searcher: Another browser-based TikTok search engine that aggregates results straight from TikTok’s API. Fast and simple to use.
- Finder for TikTok: Mobile app option that provides advanced filtering and recommendations while searching TikTok videos on iPhone or Android.
The advantage these finder tools have over TikTok’s native search is that they continuously index or cache TikTok content from public profiles. So they can surface videos that may be buried deep in TikTok’s algorithm otherwise. They essentially let you search the full TikTok catalog rather than just what TikTok serves up in search results.
Use a TikTok Video Downloader
Here’s another tactic to consider when you just can’t seem to turn up a video manually – use a TikTok video downloader. This allows you to download and save TikTok videos directly to your device for offline access.
Here are some options:
- SnapTik: A website that lets you download TikTok videos in MP4 format just by entering the video URL.
- SSSTikTok: Another web-based tool for downloading and saving TikTok videos to your computer or phone.
- TikTok Downloader Helper: Browser extension that enables easy TikTok video downloads as you browse.
The benefit of using these tools is that once you’ve downloaded a TikTok video, you’ll always have a copy saved on your device to access later – no more hunting required. Just be aware that most TikTok download tools work best when grabbing videos from public TikTok profiles, not private ones.
Dig Through Your Liked Videos
If you previously liked or favorited the TikTok video you now want to find again, the easiest option is to dig through your Liked Videos collection.
Here’s how to access it:
- Open your TikTok profile by tapping the “Me” tab.
- Tap the bookmark icon in the right corner to open your Liked Videos collection.
- Scroll through your liked videos and see if the one you’re searching for is there.
Hopefully you’ll be able to spot the lost video in the compilation of all the TikToks you’ve liked. This is often the quickest way to recover a video if you remembered to like it previously. You can also tap the Bookmarks icon when viewing your Liked Videos to sort them into categories, which may help turn up the one you want.
Check Your TikTok Search History
If you’ve tried searching for a video already, your search history may provide a clue to finding it again later. Here’s how to retrace your steps:
- Tap the profile icon to access your TikTok account page.
- Tap Settings in the menu.
- Select Privacy and Safety.
- Tap View Search History.
- Review your recent search keywords for terms related to the lost video.
From there, you can tap any recent search terms that seem relevant to pull up the associated results again. With some luck, you may rediscover the video you were looking for. This method is also helpful if you remember any hashtags used in the video.
Use Social Media to Find the Video
Beyond tools designed specifically for TikTok, you can also leverage other social media platforms to help track down a lost TikTok video.
Here are some ways to use social media for TikTok video search:
- Search for key hashtags from the video on Instagram and Twitter to see if anyone re-shared it there.
- Join Facebook groups for popular TikTok topics and search within them for the video.
- Post about the video on your own social media accounts asking if anyone knows the source.
- Lookup popular TikTok hashtags and songs on YouTube to find compilations that may include the video.
The same great TikTok videos often get shared, reacted to, or compiled on other platforms too. So expanding your search beyond TikTok itself can increase your chances of tracking down a specific video again through cross-platform search.
Contact the Video Creator
If all else fails and you absolutely must find the original TikTok video again, there’s one final option – try contacting the creator directly.
Here’s how:
- Search for some distinct memorable elements of the video to try turning up the creator’s username.
- Once you know the username, visit their public TikTok profile.
- Tap the Share Profile option.
- Select the messaging platform you want to use to contact them like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc.
- Send them a polite message referencing the video and asking if they can reshare or point you to it.
While contacting TikTok creators directly takes more effort, it can be successful if they’re open to helping locate their video again. Just be reasonable in your request and understand they may not respond.
Final Tips for Finding TikTok Videos
Searching for a single TikTok among the platform’s endless feed can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Here are a few final tips to improve your chances:
- Act quickly if you want to find a video again later – like, comment, share, or use a downloader before it’s lost in the shuffle.
- Pay close attention to details like audio, text, captions, and hashtags that can aid search.
- Utilize both TikTok tools and third-party apps to cover all search bases.
- Browse compilations and hashtags outside TikTok on sites like YouTube and Twitter.
- If asking the creator, be polite and don’t overdo follow-up messages.
While it takes some persistence, the right combination of tools and techniques can usually turn up any lost TikTok video with enough good contextual clues. Just cast a wide net across search engines, social media, and the creator themselves until that hilarious, informative, or inspiring TikTok surfaces again.
