If your TikTok search bar is acting strangely, there are a few potential reasons why. The most common causes include a bug or glitch in the app, an issue with your specific device, or inadvertent changes to your TikTok account’s settings. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix a weird TikTok search bar.
Clear the TikTok app cache and data
One of the first things to try when your TikTok search is weird is clearing the TikTok app’s cache and data. Over time, cached data and files can get corrupted or out of date, which can cause performance issues like a glitchy search bar.
To clear the cache and data on Android:
- Open your Android device’s Settings app.
- Select “Apps” or “Application Manager.”
- Find TikTok in the list and tap on it.
- Tap “Storage” or “Storage & Cache.”
- Tap “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data.”
On iOS:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select “General”>”iPhone Storage.”
- Find TikTok and tap on it.
- Tap “Offload App” to delete the TikTok app data.
After clearing the cache and data, re-open TikTok and check if your search works properly. If not, try the next troubleshooting steps.
Update or reinstall the TikTok app
Another common fix is to update the TikTok app to the latest version or uninstall and reinstall it. Bugs that affect the search bar are often patched in app updates. And a clean reinstall can wipe out any corrupted files.
On both iOS and Android, open the App Store or Play Store, search for TikTok, and install any available updates. If no updates are shown, uninstall TikTok and reinstall it fresh.
After updating or reinstalling the app, open TikTok again and test if search works normally now. An update or reinstall typically resolves app glitches.
Check your TikTok account settings
In some cases, your TikTok search bar may act oddly if certain account settings have been changed. Check these common settings related to search:
- Search history: Make sure search history is enabled in your account privacy settings. This allows the app to learn from your past searches.
- Recommended feeds: Disable this setting if you only want to see content from accounts you follow in Search results.
- Suggested users: Turn this off if you don’t want the search bar autofilling suggested accounts.
- Comment filter: Adjust this to filter out unwanted comments with certain keywords in Search.
Check each of these search-related settings in your TikTok account and tweak them as needed. Often a simple settings change resolves search bar problems.
Update your device software
An outdated version of your device’s operating system can also cause TikTok glitches. Make sure your iOS or Android OS is up to date:
- On iOS, open Settings > General > Software Update. Install any available OS updates.
- On Android, open Settings > System > System update. Install pending system updates.
Updated device software optimizes performance for apps like TikTok. Installing the latest OS update may fix search bar issues.
Restart your device
Before trying more advanced troubleshooting, do a simple device restart after any above steps. Restarting your phone or tablet can clear out memory leaks and other software quirks affecting TikTok.
Power off your device completely, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on. Then open TikTok and see if your search works properly after the restart.
Delete and reinstall TikTok
If simpler troubleshooting hasn’t helped, consider deleting and reinstalling the TikTok app. This completely removes any corrupted files or cached data from the app.
On iOS, delete TikTok by long-pressing its icon and tapping “Remove App.” Then reinstall it from the App Store.
On Android, open Settings > Apps > TikTok. Tap “Uninstall.” Then reinstall it from the Play Store.
Test search after doing a clean reinstall. Often this resolves persistent glitches or weird behavior in the app.
Contact TikTok support
If you still have issues with your TikTok search after trying all of the above, reach out to TikTok’s customer support for additional help.
In the TikTok app, go to your profile and tap the three-dot Menu > Settings and Privacy > Report a Problem. This will open an email pre-addressed to TikTok’s support team. Explain your search bar issue in detail.
You can also try contacting @TikTokSupport on Twitter or visit TikTok’s help center to submit a ticket: https://support.tiktok.com.
TikTok’s support team may be able to provide specialized troubleshooting tips or determine if there are any known bugs affecting search.
Reset your TikTok account
If all else fails, the nuclear option is to completely reset your TikTok account. This will wipe all settings, data, and info stored in your account.
In TikTok, tap Profile > Settings and Privacy > Manage Account > Delete Account. Then re-create your account with a new username and password.
Resetting your account should resolve even the trickiest search bar problems. Just be sure to back up any videos or data you want to keep before resetting.
With a bit of troubleshooting, you should be able to get your TikTok search bar working properly again. App glitches happen, but a few simple fixes usually get search functional once more.
