If you are unable to search for videos on TikTok, there are a few potential reasons why this may be happening. The most likely causes are that either the search feature is temporarily unavailable or disabled, your account is restricted from using search, you are searching incorrectly, or you are located in a region where video search is not supported.
Search is temporarily unavailable
One of the most common reasons why you may not be able to search on TikTok is that the feature is temporarily down for maintenance or due to a technical issue. TikTok regularly performs maintenance and updates which can cause search and other features to be unavailable for periods of time. This is usually resolved within a few hours or days at most.
If search is down for everyone globally, TikTok will usually post an announcement on their Twitter account @TikTokComms acknowledging the issue and keeping users updated. So it’s worth checking there to see if any maintenance is planned or if they have reported any outages.
Your account is restricted from searching
In some cases, TikTok may restrict individual accounts from being able to use the search feature. This can occur if your account has been flagged for violating TikTok’s terms of service or community guidelines.
Common reasons your account may get restricted include:
- Posting inappropriate or dangerous content
- Spamming or repetitively posting the same content
- Using bots or automation software to artificially boost engagement
- Violating copyright or intellectual property rules
- Harassing other users or spreading misinformation
If your account has been restricted, you will typically receive an in-app notification explaining the violation. Restrictions are usually temporary, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The notification should explain how long the restriction will last.
To get your full account access restored, you will need to remove any offending content and lay low during the restriction period. Do not try to circumvent the restrictions by creating a new account, as TikTok will likely just ban both accounts.
Searching incorrectly
One of the simplest reasons you may get no results when searching TikTok is that you aren’t searching correctly for what you want to find.
Here are some tips for searching properly on TikTok:
- Make sure you are tapping the search bar at the top of the Explore tab, not just the main magnifying glass icon.
- Spell keywords, usernames, or hashtags correctly and in full.
- Try more general keywords if your initial search is too narrow.
- Use relevant hashtags and usernames as search terms.
- Make sure Safe Search is disabled if looking for restricted content.
Additionally, TikTok’s search algorithm prioritizes trending and recent content. So you may not see results for older or more obscure videos. Trying search terms based on current trends can surface more options.
Search unavailable in your region
Depending on what country you are located in, video search functionality may be limited or unavailable. As of 2022, TikTok has fully rolled out video search globally to most regions, but there are still a few places where support is limited:
- China – Only allows searching by user, not by keywords or hashtags.
- Germany and Spain – Keyword video search not available due to legal restrictions.
- Other minor restrictions in Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
So if you are located in one of these regions, this is likely why TikTok video search is not working properly for you. The only workaround is to either travel to another country or use a VPN service to mask your location.
Troubleshooting tips
If TikTok search still isn’t working, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
- Force close and reopen the TikTok app
- Update to the latest version of the TikTok app
- Check for any TikTok announcements of issues
- Disable Safe Search in case it is filtering too much
- Change keywords or spell them differently
- Use a stronger internet connection or switch wifi/data
- Restart your phone
- Try searching on both the mobile app and desktop site
You can also check third-party sites like Downdetector to see if others are having issues with TikTok. If the problem persists for more than a few hours, you’ll need to wait for TikTok to resolve any outage.
Contact TikTok support
If you still can’t get TikTok search working after trying the above troubleshooting, your best bet is to contact TikTok support directly:
- In-app – Go to your profile > Settings and Support > Report a Problem
- Twitter – Tweet to @TikTokSupport for help
- Email – Send details to [email protected]
- Website – Request support at support.tiktok.com
TikTok support can look into your specific account, determine if any restrictions have been applied, check for known technical issues, and help troubleshoot further.
Consider switching to alternative apps
If TikTok is permanently unavailable in your country or search remains unreliable, you may want to check out alternative video apps with better search features, such as:
- YouTube
- Instagram Reels
- Snapchat Spotlight
- Byte
- Triller
While no platform has quite matched TikTok’s level of viral video discovery, these apps do offer the ability to search for videos by keyword and hashtag.
Wait for TikTok search to be restored
In most cases where TikTok search is down, your only option is to wait until functionality is restored by TikTok. As one of the core features of the app, search issues are usually prioritized and resolved within a few hours to days at most.
Check the TikTok status page and @TikTokComms Twitter for updates on any outages. You can also try searching every few hours to see if it starts working again, as service can be intermittently restored before 100% recovery.
With TikTok’s popularity continuing to grow, any downtime for key features like search is typically kept to a minimum. Stay patient and keep checking back until you can use video search again.
In summary, if you are unable to search videos on TikTok, it is likely due to a temporary technical issue, restrictions on your account, improperly searching, or limitations based on your region. Following TikTok support for updates, troubleshooting your settings and connection, or using alternative platforms are the best ways to deal with the issue.
