There are a few key reasons why someone may have issues searching for a specific TikTok account using the app’s search bar. The search function failing to find accounts is a common frustration many TikTok users experience. This inability to locate accounts can occur for various reasons, including privacy settings, inactive accounts, shadowbanning, algorithm issues, username changes, and more. This article will outline the main troubleshooting tips and potential causes when the TikTok search feature does not display an expected account.
Account Privacy Settings
One of the main reasons you may not be able to find someone’s TikTok account through search is if they have enabled privacy settings that prevent their account from appearing in search results. TikTok offers users several options to control the privacy of their accounts:
Private Accounts: Users can make their TikTok account completely private, which means only approved followers can view or interact with their content. Private accounts will not show up in searches or suggestions. (Source)
Suggestions Off: Even if an account is public, the user can turn off the “Allow Others to Suggest Your Account” setting. This will prevent their account from appearing as a recommendation or in search predictions. (Source)
Comments Off: Turning off comments will also remove the account from searches associated with comments and engagement.
Limited Profile Discovery: Users can limit account discovery to just “People You Follow” or entirely disable it. This prevents searches unless the searcher already follows the account.
So if someone has enabled privacy settings like a private account or limited discoverability, it can be impossible to locate their profile through search on TikTok or other platforms.
Search Term Used
The specific keywords used in the search query can significantly impact the accounts that show up in the results. For example, searching the full name like “John Smith” may not pull up an account that simply uses a username like @jsmithofficial. Similarly, if the account uses an alternate spelling of their name or different punctuation, searching for an exact match may not surface their profile.
As explained by Buffer, “TikTok’s search algorithm works by matching the words in your search term to words in video captions, sounds, and hashtags” (Source). So using keywords that closely match the words the account holder uses to tag their content can help return their profile. This may require guessing or trying different keyword variations related to the account name and username.
Additionally, TikTok gives more weight to accounts with higher engagement and posting consistency (Source). So an inactive account or one with low views may not appear high in search results, even when using very relevant query terms. Checking that the search keywords accurately reflect the target account’s branding and posted content can help troubleshoot search issues.
Account Status
One of the main reasons a TikTok account may not show up in search is if the account has been banned or suspended by TikTok for violating community guidelines or terms of service. According to TikTok’s Account Safety support page, if an account is banned, it will no longer be viewable on TikTok at all. This means it will not show up in search results either.
There are a few types of bans and suspensions on TikTok:
- Temporary suspension – account is suspended for a set period of time
- Permanent ban – account is permanently banned and unable to be recovered
- Device ban – specific device is banned from accessing TikTok
In all of these cases, the account will not be searchable during the time period it is banned or suspended. If the ban is temporary, the account may become searchable again once the suspension is lifted. However, if the account receives a permanent ban, it will be removed entirely and never show up in search results again.
If an account owner believes their ban was incorrect, they can submit an appeal to TikTok to potentially get the account reinstated. However, there is no guarantee a banned account will be recoverable.
Search Engine Issues
One of the main reasons someone may not be able to find a specific TikTok account is because of glitches or bugs with the TikTok search engine itself. There can be problems with the search not properly indexing accounts, which leads to certain usernames not showing up in results. Technical issues like this are usually temporary. For example, some users have reported that their search bar disappeared and stopped working entirely on the TikTok app and website at times (source). Usually closing and reopening the app, clearing cache and cookies, or waiting a period of time resolves search engine bugs. If the search is not working for a particular account across devices, it could signify an underlying issue.
Username Changes
One of the main reasons you may be unable to search for a TikTok account is if the user has recently changed their username. According to the TikTok Help Center article “Changing your username” (https://support.tiktok.com/en/getting-started/setting-up-your-profile/changing-your-username), users are allowed to change their username on TikTok. However, this can temporarily break search for that account.
When a TikTok user changes their username, it takes some time for search engines and platforms to update the change across their indexes. As noted in a Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/socialmedia/comments/ov2c5f/is_it_a_bad_idea_to_change_my_username/), it can take weeks for the username change to fully propagate through search engines. So if someone recently changed their username, you may not be able to find their account by searching for their old or new username temporarily.
The best way to find the account in this case is to try searching via the account’s associated email or phone number, or finding a recent video or mention of the account’s new username. Over time, as search engines update their indexes, you should be able to search and find the account by either the old or new username.
Shadowbanning
Shadowbanning is a moderation practice on TikTok where an account’s content is hidden from appearing in search results and recommendations without the user being notified. According to TikTok’s Help Center, shadowbanning aims to limit the reach of accounts that repeatedly violate community guidelines.
When an account is shadowbanned, searches for the username or video hashtags will not display that account’s content. The account and its videos are essentially hidden unless you have a direct link. This prevents the account from appearing in search even if you search for the exact username. Shadowbanning makes it very difficult for new viewers to find the account organically.
So if you cannot find a specific TikTok account by searching directly for the username, shadowbanning may be preventing that account from appearing in results. The only way to access a shadowbanned account is through a direct link shared by the account owner or an existing follower.
Algorithm Issues
TikTok’s algorithms play a major role in determining which accounts and content get surfaced in search results. The app uses complex personalization algorithms to customize each user’s “For You” feed and search results based on their individual interests and behavior on the platform.
According to TikTok, the main factors that influence search ranking and visibility include: user interactions, video information like captions, sounds, and hashtags, device and account settings, and more. Videos that get more engagement in terms of likes, comments, shares, etc. tend to rank higher in search.
The algorithms change constantly as TikTok optimizes its models. Major algorithm updates can suddenly increase or tank a video’s reach. Aspects like watch time, finishes, and clickthrough rate to profile are also important. Using relevant keywords in titles/descriptions boosts search visibility.
In sum, gaining “algorithmic favor” on TikTok requires understanding user behavior patterns and crafting engaging content optimized for the platform. Ranking high in search relies heavily on accumulated user signals like follows, engagement, and watch time. It’s a moving target as the app continually tweaks its AI models.
Other Factors
There are a few other potential factors that could prevent someone’s TikTok account from showing up in search results:
Location – TikTok tailors search results based on a user’s location. So if you are searching for an account in a different country, it may not show up. You can try using a VPN to change your location and search again.
Age – TikTok has different experiences for younger and older users. Accounts belonging to users under 16 years old may not be visible in search results for adult users.
Device – Search results can vary across iOS and Android devices. An account you search for on an iPhone may not appear when searching on an Android phone.
Glitches – Occasionally TikTok search just doesn’t work as expected. Server issues or bugs could temporarily prevent accounts from showing up. Trying again later often resolves this.
Bans – If an account has been banned from TikTok, either temporarily or permanently, it will not show up in search results.
As you can see, there are many potential factors that could explain why a specific TikTok account doesn’t appear in search results. Trying different troubleshooting steps like changing locations or devices can help resolve many cases.
Troubleshooting
If you are unable to find a TikTok account through search, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try to get the account to appear again:
Check the account’s privacy settings – Accounts can choose to make their profile and videos private, preventing them from appearing in search results. Have the account owner double check their privacy settings.
Try different keyword variations – Search doesn’t always work perfectly, so try searching the exact username, variations of the username, or even the account’s display name.
Double check spelling – Make sure you are spelling the username correctly. Capitalization matters when searching most social platforms.
Update the app – An outdated version of the TikTok app could cause search issues. Update to the latest version and try again.
Use the web version – Search functionality may work better through TikTok’s website rather than the mobile app.
Wait a bit and retry – Sometimes search indexing takes time to update. Try searching again in a few hours or the next day.
Contact TikTok support – If all else fails, reach out to TikTok support to see if they can resolve the search issue.
