Seeing an “account not found” message on TikTok can be confusing and concerning for users. This error typically appears when trying to access a profile that no longer exists or is unavailable. There are several potential reasons why someone may get the “account not found” notification when trying to view a TikTok profile.
Deleted Account
When a TikTok account says “account not found”, it could mean the user chose to delete their account. According to TikTok’s help center, users can delete their account entirely in the app by going to their profile, tapping the menu icon, selecting “Settings and privacy”, then “Account”, and finally “Delete account”. Once an account is deleted, the username is removed and the profile and videos are no longer accessible, displaying “account not found”. TikTok states deleted accounts cannot be reactivated.
Banned Account
Sometimes the message “account not found” appears because TikTok has banned the account for violating the platform’s community guidelines. TikTok will ban accounts that consistently violate policies around illegal activities, violent/graphic content, hate speech, adult nudity etc.
If an account gets banned, the owner will receive a banner notification explaining the ban when trying to log in. According to TikTok’s support page, bans can range from temporary to permanent depending on the severity and frequency of violations. There is an appeals process for banned accounts to potentially get reinstated.
Private Account
One possibility is that the “account not found” message means the account’s owner has set their TikTok profile to private. According to TikTok’s support site, users can choose between having a public or private account. With a private account, only followers approved by the account owner can see the account’s videos.
As TikTok explains on their private account info page, “With a private account, only users you approve can follow you and view your videos. You can review and manage your account in your TikTok app settings.”
So if you encounter an “account not found” message when trying to view a TikTok profile, it likely means the user has switched their previously public account to private, restricting access to approved followers only.
Inactive Account
An account may show as “Account Not Found” if it has been inactive for an extended period of time. According to TikTok’s inactive account policy, “We consider an account inactive if it was not used to access TikTok for at least 180 days”. Whether an account is inactive is not publicly visible to other users.
An inactive account will be completely removed from TikTok after two years of inactivity. During the inactive period, the account is hidden and the username is released back into the available pool. This is why an inactive account may show as “Account Not Found” – the account is still there, just hidden from public view.
If you find an unavailable username that interests you, it’s possible it belonged to an inactive account that has now been removed. You can try claiming the inactive username after a certain period of inactivity. Just be aware inactive accounts may become active again if the original owner logs back in.
Username Changed
One common reason for seeing the “account not found” message is that the user has changed their username. On TikTok, users are allowed to change their username once every 30 days [1]. When a user changes their username, their old username becomes available for anyone else to claim.
So if you go to the profile of a user’s old username, you will see the “account not found” message because that username no longer exists. The account itself still exists under the user’s new username. This is simply because the username was changed.
If you know the person’s new username, you can still find their profile with that new handle. Or if you don’t know their new name, you may need to ask them directly what it is now in order to follow them again. Just keep in mind that seeing “account not found” for a username that used to work likely means that the user has recently changed their name.
Shadowbanned Account
A shadowbanned account on TikTok means the account has been blocked or partially blocked by TikTok’s algorithm. As a result, the account’s content and profile have reduced visibility across the platform (Source).
Shadowbanning is typically done automatically by TikTok’s algorithms and systems. It occurs when the algorithm detects suspicious activity, such as spam, botting, or policy violations. The account is then penalized by having its reach and distribution limited (Source).
A shadowbanned account may notice hugely reduced views, likes, comments, and traffic from the For You page and hashtags. The account itself is still visible and functional, but its content will have limited visibility. Shadowbanning acts as a warning system before an account is fully banned.
Glitched Account
Sometimes the “account not found” message appears due to a temporary glitch on TikTok. This doesn’t mean the account is deleted or banned, it’s simply a technical error showing the wrong message. The account usually becomes accessible again after some time. This type of glitch tends to resolve itself as TikTok’s engineers work on fixing bugs and errors. Some users have reported seeing the “account not found” message, but then being able to access the same account hours or days later. Technical issues like this are common on large social media platforms like TikTok where millions of users are accessing the app simultaneously. If you receive the “account not found” message for an account that you know exists, try again later as it’s likely just a temporary glitch.
For more information see: https://www.wikihow.com/Account-Not-Found-Tiktok
Hacked Account
One reason you may see the “account not found” message is if your TikTok account has been hacked or taken over by another user. This can happen if your account credentials have been compromised through phishing, malware, or if you reused the same username and password on another site that suffered a data breach. According to TikTok’s support article, if you believe your account has been hacked, you should report it to TikTok immediately. When an account is hacked, the hacker typically changes the username, password, email, and other account details to lock you out. From your perspective, it will seem like the account just vanished. TikTok may be able to recover your account if you provide proof of ownership, though the process can take time. It’s important to have a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication to better secure your account against hackers in the future.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several reasons why you may see the “account not found” message on TikTok when trying to access a user’s profile. The main possibilities are that the account has been deleted, banned, made private, become inactive, or had its username changed. Less common reasons could be that the account is shadowbanned, glitched, or hacked.
If you encounter this message for an account you follow or are interested in, first try searching for the username again carefully, as a minor spelling difference could be the reason. Check if the account has an alternate verified account listed in its bio that it may have switched to. Look up the username on Google to see if there are any announcements about what happened to the account.
If it appears the account has indeed been removed, there is unfortunately not much you can do. But you can try reaching out to the user on other social platforms to learn more. In the meantime, look for other TikTok creators with similar content that you can follow instead.
