TikTok does not have a built-in search feature to look up other users’ profiles directly. This is by design to protect user privacy and prevent harassment. However, there are some workarounds to find people on TikTok if you know their exact username or have a link to their profile.
TikTok’s Stance on Searching for Users
Unlike other social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter that allow you to search for anyone’s public profile, TikTok deliberately does not offer a search bar to look up users. Their reasoning is to prevent unwanted attention or bullying that could arise from being able to easily search and find someone.
TikTok wants to create a positive environment where people feel comfortable posting videos without worrying about random users seeking them out. The app focuses on content discovery through its algorithm rather than profile searches.
TikTok states in their Community Guidelines that “searching for profiles without consent” goes against their policy. So the lack of a search feature is intentional to discourage stalking or harassment.
How to Find Someone on TikTok Without a Search Bar
While there’s no direct way to search TikTok profiles, you have a few options to find someone if you have specific information like their exact username or a link to their page:
Use Their Exact @ Username
If you know the exact @ username of the TikTok account you’re looking for, you can directly navigate to their profile.
Simply type the full username including the @ symbol into the TikTok app URL bar. For example: @charliesaccount. Then visit that URL to go directly to their TikTok page.
This only works if you have their exact, full username. Even minor typos or variations won’t work. So you need to know the precise spelling and characters.
Click a Direct Profile Link
If you have a direct link to someone’s TikTok profile, you can click or tap on that link from any app or web browser to access their page.
For example, if a friend texts you a link to their TikTok profile, you can follow that link to view their page and videos even without knowing their username.
Direct profile links are the surest way to find a specific person’s account without a search function.
View Likes or Comments
You can see a limited list of accounts who have liked or commented on a specific TikTok video. Tap on the likes or comments icon on any video post, and a list of usernames will appear.
You can then click those usernames to view the profiles of users who have interacted with that video. However, this only works for finding accounts who have actively engaged with a certain post.
Use the Discover Page
TikTok’s Discover page shows popular creators and celebrities. You may be able to find certain users there if they have a large enough following.
Tap the discover icon on the bottom toolbar in the app. Then browse popular profiles or use categories and hashtags to find creators.
This can be hit or miss, but is helpful for locating very prominent accounts on the platform.
Follow Your Contacts
If you sync your contacts from your phone to TikTok, it will show you any users who are in your contacts list. This allows you to easily find and follow friends and connections who are already on TikTok.
Go to your profile page, tap the three-line menu, choose “Contacts” and enable syncing. Then TikTok will show you any friends or colleagues who use TikTok based on your phone contacts.
Use TikTok’s Suggested Users List
TikTok provides a list of suggested accounts to follow based on the content you view in your Following feed. Over time, this can help surface users you may know or share connections with.
Keep an eye on the Suggested Users list on your main Following feed. If people you know start appearing there, you can then follow them or visit their profile.
Why TikTok Won’t Add Profile Searching
TikTok has made it clear they have no plans to ever implement a search bar or other tools to look up random users. They want to prevent the toxic environment that can arise on platforms that allow essentially stalking or harassing strangers.
Unlike massive networks like Instagram and Facebook, TikTok retains more of a niche, video-first community vibe. Enabling broad account searching could erode that environment over time.
There are also safety concerns, especially for younger users. Removing anonymity by making anyone easily discoverable could put teens and children at risk if they gain unwanted attention from strangers.
TikTok would rather connect people through shared interests and content instead of direct user searches. So it’s unlikely they will change this policy even as the app continues growing.
Third-Party Websites That Claim to Search TikTok Users
Some external websites claim to offer a TikTok search tool to find users by name or other info. However, no third-party sites have any special access to search TikTok’s user database.
These sites simply scrape and compile bits of public info from across TikTok. They do not have actual search capabilities beyond what’s already available on TikTok itself.
Any third-party sites advertising TikTok searching should be avoided, as they likely violate TikTok’s terms of use and provide low-quality, inaccurate results.
Is There a Workaround for TikTok Search?
There is no true workaround that replicates a native search bar for finding random TikTok users. Because of their firm stance on enabling user discovery only through content, not profiles.
Your best options are using an exact username or link to a known profile. Or leveraging TikTok’s own account suggestions based on your follows and engagement with videos.
While third-party searching tools may claim to find people, they offer poor results and go against the app’s rules. TikTok has remained consistent that adding direct search capabilities would violate their privacy-focused approach.
In Summary
TikTok intentionally does not allow users to search for random profiles as part of their strategy to cultivate a safe, harassment-free environment. But you can find specific people through direct username visits or profile links. Or organically discover users through TikTok’s own suggestions.
Profile searching capabilities are unlikely to ever be implemented. So finding users will require having extra background info like exact usernames rather than broad searches by name or location.
