There are a few reasons why you may not be able to find someone on TikTok when searching for their username:
- The user has set their account to private, so only approved followers can view their content.
- The user has been banned from TikTok or deleted their account.
- The user’s account has been “shadowbanned”, meaning their content has been hidden from searches and recommendations by TikTok.
- You may be experiencing technical issues with your device or the TikTok app that is preventing searches from working properly.
- You may have multiple TikTok accounts and are searching from the wrong one.
- The user has blocked you from viewing their profile and content.
- Issues with TikTok’s search algorithm that fail to show new or low-engagement accounts.
- The user has changed their @ username recently so you are searching for their old handle.
We’ll explore each of these possibilities in more detail throughout this article to understand why you can’t find someone on TikTok and what you can do about it.
TikTok Privacy Settings
TikTok allows users to make their account private or public through the privacy settings.1 With a private account, users can restrict their profile visibility and approve who can see their content. With a public profile, anyone can view your videos, likes, and follower/following lists without approval.2
TikTok has specific privacy and safety settings for minor users under 18 as well. These accounts are private by default and have additional restrictions on visibility and interactions.3 Overall, TikTok’s privacy settings allow users control over their profile visibility. Making an account private is the main way users can restrict access and findability on TikTok.
Account Banning or Deletion
One possibility for not being able to find someone on TikTok is that their account may have been banned or deleted by TikTok. According to TikTok’s Account Safety page, accounts that consistently violate community guidelines will be banned. Banned accounts receive a notification banner when attempting to access TikTok.
TikTok may also permanently ban accounts for severe or repeat violations, according to their Content Violations and Bans page. Reasons for permanent bans include illegal activities, hate speech, violent extremism, child safety violations, and more. If an account you are searching for has been banned by TikTok, you will not be able to find or access it.
The other possibility is that the user has chosen to delete their own account. If a user deletes their TikTok account, their username will no longer appear in search results. There is no way to find a deleted account.
Shadowbanning
Shadowbanning is when TikTok intentionally limits the reach and visibility of a user’s content without their knowledge. TikTok does this by restricting posts from surfacing on the “For You” page and hashtags where they would normally appear. As a result, engagement and views on shadowbanned accounts drop significantly.
TikTok is vague about what types of behavior can lead to shadowbanning, but it’s believed to be used against accounts that violate community guidelines or terms of service. Common reasons include spamming, posting inappropriate or dangerous content, buying fake views or followers, and using copyrighted material without permission. According to Later.com, shadowbans can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before being lifted [1].
You may be shadowbanned on TikTok if you notice a sudden unexplained drop in views, likes, and comments. Your videos won’t show up under related hashtags or appear on other users’ For You pages. TikTok provides no notification, so checking your analytics for significant engagement drops is the only way to identify a potential shadowban. There are some third-party sites that claim to check if your account is shadowbanned, but TikTok has disputed their accuracy.
To get unshadowbanned, it’s recommended to lay low and not post any rule-breaking content that could extend the ban. You can also appeal to TikTok through their support options. But since causes of shadowbans are unclear, there is no guaranteed method to lift them.
Device or App Issues
Sometimes the issue with finding someone on TikTok is due to a bug or glitch with the device being used or the TikTok app itself. There are a few troubleshooting steps that can be taken to try and resolve these types of issues:
Restarting the TikTok app or the device can help clear out any temporary glitches that may be preventing searches from working properly. Simply close the app entirely, turn the device off and then back on, then re-launch TikTok. This refreshes the app and memory and often fixes minor software hiccups.
Making sure the TikTok app is updated to the latest version is also important. Bugs that affect the search function are often patched in app updates, so installing the most recent update can get things working again. You can check for app updates in the App Store on iOS or Google Play Store on Android.
Clearing the app cache and data for TikTok can also help in troubleshooting search problems. This clears out any corrupted temporary data that may be disrupting functionality. On iOS, this can be done through the Settings app. On Android, it’s in the Apps section of Settings. This won’t delete any personal data but can get the app working properly again.
If the issues persist after trying the above steps, it’s a good idea to contact TikTok customer support. Describing the specific search problem in detail will help them troubleshoot potential bugs or glitches on their end.
Sources:
Can’t Use Search Bar For Videos. Any way to fix?
byu/QuanumNova inTiktokhelp
Account Switching
One common reason you may not be able to find someone on TikTok is because they have multiple accounts that they switch between. TikTok allows users to have both a personal account and a creator/business account. Users can easily switch between these accounts in the app.
To switch accounts in the TikTok app, first go to your profile page and tap on the menu button in the top right corner. Then select “Switch account” and choose the account you want to switch to. You can add multiple accounts and toggle between them. This allows creators to separate their personal and professional content.
So if you are looking for a certain user and can’t find them, it’s possible they have switched to their alternate account. Try searching their username on both their personal and creator accounts. According to Mashable, TikTok plans to add more account management features soon, including allowing users to switch between accounts directly from the sidebar.
User Blocking
One of the most common reasons you can’t find someone on TikTok is that they have blocked you, preventing you from viewing their account. When you block someone on TikTok, it removes their ability to view your profile, videos, comments, lives, etc. Likewise, you won’t be able to interact with a user you’ve blocked in any way or see their content in your For You feed. According to TikTok’s help center, to block someone you need to:
- Go to the person’s profile
- Tap the 3 dot icon in the top right
- Tap Block and follow the steps in the app
Blocking is reciprocal, so if User A blocks User B, User B will also be automatically blocked from viewing User A’s account. The only way to regain access is if the blocking user decides to unblock you. Blocking someone on TikTok completely removes that user’s presence from your view, preventing you from finding or interacting with them at all unless the block is reversed.
Sources:
https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/followers-and-following/blocking-the-users
How to Block Someone on TikTok in 2024: A Step-By-Step Guide
Search Algorithm Issues
TikTok’s search algorithm can sometimes prevent users from locating other accounts, even if they exist. According to an article on Buffer, TikTok’s search algorithm is focused on showing users the most relevant content based on their interests and interactions [1]. This means if someone hasn’t interacted with a user’s content before, they may not show up in search results. Additionally, the New York Times explains how TikTok’s algorithm is trained to understand user’s interests and preferences very quickly, often within just a few hours of use [2].
As a result, the search algorithm may not surface certain accounts, even if a user is searching for them directly by username. The algorithm instead prioritizes showing accounts and content it believes will be most engaging to each specific user. This can make it very difficult to locate accounts you aren’t already interacting with regularly. Some troubleshooting tips include checking for typos or alternate username spellings, asking the user to engage with your content first before attempting to search, or reaching out to the user directly to get their username correct.
Username Changes
One common reason you may not be able to find someone on TikTok is because they have changed their username. According to TikTok’s help center, users can change their username once every 30 days. This means that if someone you follow has changed their username, you may no longer be able to find their profile using their old handle.
TikTok does not redirect from old usernames to new ones, so if someone changes their @ name, their old handle essentially becomes available for anyone else to take. The only way you can find them again is if you happen to come across a video or other content from their new profile. Otherwise, there is no easy way to locate them unless you know their new username.
Username changes on TikTok can make it incredibly difficult to find friends, family members, or creators you previously followed if you do not know their new handle. So if you notice someone’s videos disappearing from your Following feed, it likely means they have changed their username and you will need to search for their new account to continue seeing their content.
Conclusion
To quickly sum up, if you are having trouble finding someone on TikTok, here are some potential reasons and solutions:
– The user has changed their privacy settings to limit visibility.
– The account may have been banned or deleted by TikTok.
– The account could be shadowbanned, making it difficult to find in searches.
– There may be device or app issues like glitches, outdated software, etc.
– The user may have multiple accounts and switched to a different one.
– You were blocked by the user, preventing you from viewing their profile.
– The search algorithm may be malfunctioning or emphasizing different results.
– The user changed their username, so search for their new handle or try alternative search methods.
With some persistence and troubleshooting of these potential issues, you should be able to track down the TikTok user profile you are searching for. Try broadening your search terms, double checking spellings, using advanced search filters, and being patient as searches index new content.
