Tiktok search not working

If you are having issues with the TikTok search feature not working properly, you are not alone. Many TikTok users have reported problems with search at one time or another. The good news is that there are several troubleshooting tips you can try to get TikTok search working again.

Why Is TikTok Search Not Working?

There are a few common reasons why TikTok search may not be working:

• Connectivity issues – If you have a poor internet connection, TikTok search may fail to load results. Try switching to a stronger WiFi or cellular data connection.
• Server problems at TikTok – Sometimes glitches happen on TikTok’s end that prevent search from functioning normally across the app. Usually these get resolved within a few hours.
• Banned search terms – TikTok does ban certain keywords and phrases from being searched. If you try searching a banned term, you’ll get no results.
• Search glitch – Occasional bugs pop up that affect the search feature. Trying force closing and reopening the app typically fixes them.
• Account issues – Very rarely, a problem with your personal TikTok account could cause search to not work properly. Logging out and back in can correct this.

How to Fix TikTok Search Not Working

If you’re running into issues with TikTok’s search feature, don’t panic. Here are some troubleshooting steps to try:

1. Check your internet connection – Search relies on having a stable internet connection. If your WiFi or cellular data is spotty, search results may fail to load. Try moving closer to your router or toggling Airplane mode off and on.
2. Restart the TikTok app – Close TikTok completely by swiping it away from your recent apps. Open TikTok again after a few seconds. This refreshes the app and reconnects to TikTok’s servers.
3. Update the TikTok app – Make sure you’re running the latest version of TikTok. Outdated versions are more prone to glitches. Update TikTok by going to your device’s app store.
4. Clear the TikTok app cache – Wipe out any corrupted temporary data that could be interfering with search. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, delete and reinstall the app.
5. Try different search terms – Some words or phrases may not produce results due to banned keywords set by TikTok. Try searching for content in different ways.
6. Use TikTok search on the web – Go to TikTok.com and try searching from there. If it works on web but not in-app, it’s likely an app-specific issue.
7. Log out and log back in – As a last resort, log out of your TikTok account completely and log back in after a few minutes. This will reset your account’s connection.

Why Is TikTok Search Not Showing My Video?

If you’ve posted a new TikTok video but it’s not appearing in search results, a few things could be going on:

• Video is too new – It takes some time for new videos to index in TikTok’s search system. Give it a few hours before worrying.
• Video has no views – TikTok doesn’t surface videos with 0 views in search. You need at least a view or two for discovery.
• Keywords don’t match – Double check that your caption, hashtags, and video content align with your target keyword.
• Shadowbanned keywords – TikTok restricts some hashtags. Using them won’t get your video seen.
• Banned content – Videos violating TikTok’s rules won’t rank in search. Make sure your content follows policy.
• Copyright issues – If your video uses copyrighted material without permission, TikTok can limit its reach.

Give your video time to get some initial traction, then confirm it meets all of TikTok’s guidelines for search indexing. Add high-value keywords people are searching for to make it discoverable.

Why Can’t I Find My Friends in TikTok Search?

There are a couple reasons you may not be able to locate friends in TikTok’s search tool:

• They changed their username – If your friend recently changed their @ handle, search won’t show their account under the old one.
• Their account is private – You can only search friends who have a public account. Private profiles won’t appear.
• Unfriended you – If they removed you as a friend, TikTok also removes the ability to search their account.
• Bad connection – With spotty internet, search results can fail to load correctly. Check your WiFi strength.
• They blocked you – If a friend blocked your account, you’ll no longer be able to search and find their profile.

If none of those explain it, try searching their exact @ handle again later. TikTok search indexing can sometimes be delayed. You can also ask your friend if they recently changed usernames or adjusted their account privacy settings.

Why Does TikTok Say “No Results Found”?

A “No Results Found” message when searching TikTok typically means:

• Misspelled keyword – Double check your spelling and try searching again.
• Non-existent term – The words you searched for may not have any videos associated with them.
• Banned keyword – Certain phrases are restricted by TikTok and won’t produce results.
• Narrow filters – If you have filters like accounts or hashtags turned on, remove them to broaden search.
• Personalized results – TikTok customizes your search results based on past activity. Log out to see generic results.
• Glitch – Sometimes a temporary glitch causes this message. Try again in a few minutes.

If a search term you know has videos is returning no results, there likely is a technical hiccup with the TikTok app itself. Closing the app and restarting your device typically resolves temporary glitches.

Why Are My TikTok Videos Not Showing Up in Hashtag Searches?

When your TikTok videos don’t appear in hashtag searches, here are some possible reasons:

• Shadowbanned hashtag – TikTok restricts some oversaturated hashtags. Using them won’t boost visibility.
• Too many hashtags – More than 5 hashtags starts hiding videos from hashtag searches.
• Irrelevant hashtags – Don’t use hashtags unrelated to your content. This signals to TikTok you’re spamming.
• Small niche hashtag – If it’s an obscure hashtag with low volume, your video may get buried.
• Copyright hashtag – Some hashtags are restricted if associated with copyrighted brands.
• Banned content – Videos violating TikTok guidelines won’t rank in hashtags.
• Glitch – Temporary issues can sometimes affect hashtag search visibility.

Carefully choose the most relevant top 5 highest-traffic hashtags to tag your video with. Avoid banned tags, unrelated tags, and too many tags. Give your video time to enter hashtag search results since it can take hours to index.

Why Is My TikTok Account Not Showing Up in Search?

If someone searches your exact TikTok username but your account doesn’t appear, a couple things could be going on:

• Recently changed username – It takes a few hours for TikTok’s system to re-index your new handle.
• Account set to private – Only public accounts show up in TikTok’s search results.
• Got shadowbanned – Violating rules can cause your account to be partially hidden.
• New account – Brand new profiles take some time before they populate in search.
• Banned account – Explicitly banned accounts won’t show up in any search.
• Technical lag – Glitches can temporarily delay accounts showing in search.

Double check your account settings and give it some time to update in TikTok’s search index. If you believe your account was shadowbanned or suspended, appeal to TikTok support for assistance.

Why Are My Old TikTok Videos Not Showing Up in Search?

If your old TikTok videos are not appearing in search results anymore, there are several possible explanations:

• Keyword relevance – Old videos may rank lower if keywords are no longer popular.
• Algorithm adjustments – Changes to TikTok’s algorithm can impact search rankings.
• Muted audio – TikTok won’t recommend videos with licensed music muted.
• Deleted hashtags – Removing old hashtags makes videos harder to find.
• Video edits – Altering captions and hashtags also affects search rankings.
• Quality issues – Low quality or boring videos naturally rank lower over time.
• Violated guidelines – TikTok restricts old videos that broke rules after posting.

Focus on creating new engaging content optimized with popular keywords your audience is searching for. Goes back and revitalizing old videos by updating captions, hashtags, and visuals can also help.

TikTok Search Tips and Tricks

Here are some pro tips for mastering search on TikTok:

• Use double quotes to search for an exact phrase, like “dance tutorial”.
• Add hashtags to a search term to filter videos by tag, like #food recipe.
• Only use up to 5 relevant hashtags to maximize discoverability.
• Target keywords and phrases trending in your niche for greater visibility.
• Improve old videos by updating captions with new trending hashtags.
• Avoid banned terms like giveaways. They won’t show up in searches.
• Use search to identify top-performing sounds and songs to make Duets with.
• Search your branded hashtag to evaluate UGC and engagement.
• Analyze competitor branded hashtags for video ideas in your niche.

Mastering TikTok search gives you an advantage for getting videos discovered. Optimize your content for how users search. Research trending keywords and hashtags in your niche for inspiration.

Troubleshooting TikTok Search Issues

Follow this step-by-step guide if you’re still having trouble getting TikTok search to work properly:

1. Force close and restart the TikTok app.
2. Update to the latest version of TikTok.
3. Check for any TikTok app updates needing to be installed.
4. Switch from WiFi to cellular data or vice versa.
5. Disable VPNs or ad blockers running on your device.
6. Clear cached data and cookies for the TikTok app.
7. Reset your advertising ID under privacy settings.
8. Delete and reinstall the TikTok app.
9. Log out then log back into your TikTok account.
10. Try searching on TikTok via the web instead of in-app.

In most cases, TikTok search issues are temporary glitches that clear up on their own fairly quickly. But if you continue having problems, report the issues to TikTok’s support team for troubleshooting assistance.