If you keep getting the “No results found” message when searching on TikTok, there are a few potential reasons why this might be happening.
Your Search Term is Too Narrow or Obscure
The most common reason you may get no results is that your search term is too narrow or obscure. TikTok has a massive amount of content, but there still may not be many or any videos using very specific keywords or phrases. Try broadening your search term or using more general related keywords. For example, if searching for “cats eating carrots” returns no results, try searching for just “cats” or “funny cats.” You can then scroll through those results and find videos that match what you’re looking for more specifically.
There Are No Videos Tagged With Your Search Term
TikTok’s search works by looking at keywords and phrases associated with videos, also known as hashtags. If nobody has tagged their videos with the words you searched, TikTok won’t have anything to display. You may need to try alternate words or phrases that are more commonly used as tags on the platform.
Your Search Term is Blocked or Restricted
TikTok blocks certain keywords and phrases from appearing in search results. This includes profanity, hate speech, violence, illegal drug terms, and other sensitive subjects not allowed on the platform. If your search contains inappropriate or risky keywords, TikTok will return no results to discourage that content from spreading further. Try rephrasing your search in a family-friendly way.
Your Account Settings Filter Search Results
TikTok allows you to enable Restricted Mode, which hides content only suitable for older audiences. It’s possible your account has Restricted Mode turned on, meaning your searches won’t show results tagged with mature keywords. You can disable Restricted Mode in your account settings to view a wider range of content.
Location Settings Filter Results
If you have your TikTok account set to only see local content, your searches may return limited results. This is because you’re searching a much smaller subset of videos that are geotagged near your location. Try changing your TikTok settings to see content from all locations rather than just nearby.
You’ve Been Shadowbanned
In rare cases, users who have violated TikTok’s community guidelines get shadowbanned. This means your account appears to function normally, but your posts have extremely limited visibility. Shadowbanning may also restrict your ability to find content. If you think you’ve been shadowbanned, switch to a different account and try searching again. Consistently getting no results only on your main account may indicate shadowban issues.
TikTok is Having Technical Issues
Like any app, TikTok can have intermittent technical glitches. Server outages, bugs, or maintenance downtime can sometimes disrupt search functionalities. If TikTok is down or experiencing widespread issues, search results may fail to load. Check TikTok’s server status to see if technical problems are affecting the app.
Your Internet Connection is Unstable
Search issues can happen if you have a poor internet connection. Videos may fail to load if your bandwidth is limited or latency is high. Try moving to an area with better WiFi coverage or cellular reception. Disconnect and reconnect to the internet to refresh your IP address. If other apps work fine, it likely isn’t your own connection, but rather a problem specifically with TikTok’s servers.
The Video Was Deleted
If you previously saw a video but now searches for it return nothing, the video may have been removed from TikTok. This could be because the creator deleted it, or it was taken down for violating content policies. Searches will no longer display videos that have been permanently deleted.
TikTok’s Index is Outdated
There is sometimes a lag between new videos being posted and TikTok’s search index being updated. If a video is very recent, it may not get picked up by search right away. Give it some time before re-searching. TikTok typically needs a few hours to populate videos into its index for discovery.
Clear Cookies and Cache
As a troubleshooting step, try clearing your browser cookies and app cache. Saved data can sometimes interfere with search functionalities. On your phone, open TikTok settings and select “Clear Cache.” Restart the app and test searching again. On desktop, clear your browser cookies and refresh the page. This resets TikTok search to a clean slate.
Double Check Your Spelling
It never hurts to double check that you didn’t make any typos in your search terms. Incorrectly spelled words will return zero results. Copy and paste difficult keywords if needed. If you’re searching a hashtag, make sure it’s formatted properly with no spaces or underscores.
Use TikTok Search Operators
TikTok has some basic search operators you can use to refine results and expand your search scope. Try adding phrases like “sound like” or “songs like” to find similar sounding content. You can also filter by username or hashtag using operators like “from:” and “hashtags:”. Learn more tips in this guide to TikTok search operators.
Trends Change Quickly
If you’re searching for something that was a recent viral trend on TikTok, it may have already passed and be showing no results now. Trends rise and fall very quickly as users move onto new memes. Don’t rely too much on trending search terms continuing to surface popular results.
Switch to a TikTok Creator Account
TikTok Creator accounts unlock more analytics and viewing data compared to personal accounts. Upgrading to a Pro account costs $49.99 per month, but gives you access to more precise search metrics. With a Creator account, you can filter video searches by view count, upload date, and geography to analyze performance.
Use Third-Party TikTok Search Tools
While TikTok’s built-in search is limited, third-parties have created advanced TikTok search engines. Tools like alltiktok.com and TikTokSearch.com index videos in real-time and provide more filter options. You may have better luck finding niche results through these supplemental search tools.
Contact TikTok Support
If all else fails, reach out to TikTok’s official support channels. You can tweet @TikTokSupport or submit feedback through the app. Provide details on your issue and any troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. TikTok may be able to restore your account’s search functionality or escalate technical problems.
With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has an enormous amount of videos and a powerful search algorithm. But glitches can still happen or results may come up empty for common reasons. Using the right keywords, trying more general terms, and double-checking settings are the best places to start. With some tweaking to your approach, you should be able to successfully find videos matching your interests.
