If you can’t search on TikTok, it may be due to your connection, the app or a temporary issue with TikTok. First, search for a broad term such as ‘pasta’ and check whether videos load. Do other searches work? Then check your original search term. The video or profile you’re looking for may also no longer be available.
Below, you’ll read what you can try in each situation.
Why isn’t search working on TikTok?
Does your search keep loading, or do you see a search page but no results? That difference helps you decide what to check first. TikTok explains that you can use the search function to find content. If that doesn’t work, you can use these tests to look for the cause.
| What do you notice? | What can you do first? |
|---|---|
| Search keeps loading and videos don’t load either. | Test your connection with another app or website. |
| Videos play, but no search works. | Close TikTok completely and reopen the app. |
| One search term returns nothing, but other terms work. | Check the spelling and try a shorter search term. |
| You can’t find the search function. | Reopen the app and check whether an update is available. |
These tests can help you move forward, but they don’t confirm the cause. A failed search by itself does not mean that TikTok has restricted your account.
How can you get TikTok search working again?
Try the following steps in this order. After each step, test the same search term. This will show you whether that step changed anything.
- Check your internet connection. Open a website that you have not loaded yet. Does it not work either? Then try a different network. For example, switch from Wi Fi to mobile data if your data plan allows it.
- Close TikTok completely. Simply going to your phone’s home screen isn’t enough. Close TikTok from the overview of open apps, then reopen the app.
- Check whether an update is available. Search for TikTok in your phone’s app store. Install any available update and test again. Is there no update? Continue to the next step.
- Restart your phone. Then open TikTok and try the same search term again.
- Test TikTok in a browser. Open TikTok in a browser and see whether you can search there. Try the same term if that option is available. Does search work there? Then the app on your phone is a logical place to investigate further.
Menus and options may differ. If you don’t see a mentioned option, skip that step.
Don’t immediately clear all app data or uninstall TikTok as your first step. You could lose data stored only on your phone, such as drafts. First check what you want to keep and whether you can log in again.
What can you do if TikTok shows no search results?
Does searching for a broad term work? Then use fewer words in your original search.
Suppose you’re looking for a cooking video you saw yesterday. Start with ‘pasta’ instead of ‘pasta with tomato from the oven in a blue dish’. Then add one recognizable word.
- Check the spelling. For a username, also check periods, numbers and underscores, such as _ .
- Start with the topic. Only then add more details to your search term.
- Check your search filter, if you can see one. A filter limits which results you receive. Check whether you’re only seeing a particular type of content.
- Try a shared link. Do you still have a link to the video or profile? Check whether it opens.
If you can’t find one video, the search function doesn’t necessarily have a problem. For example, the video may no longer be available. Without more information, you can’t determine why.
Are you looking for one of your own videos that also doesn’t appear on your profile? Read what you can check if your TikTok video doesn’t appear on your profile. That’s a different problem from a search page that won’t load.
When is the search problem with TikTok itself?
A problem with TikTok itself is more likely if search doesn’t work on multiple devices and through different networks. For example, ask someone to try the same simple search term. You don’t need to share login details for this.
Does search work for that person? That still doesn’t mean the issue is with your account. The difference could also be in your phone, the app or your connection. Note which tests do and don’t work for you.
Do comments fail to load too? In the guide to missing TikTok comments you’ll find an explanation of that separate problem. Report it if multiple features don’t work. That’s useful information, but not yet proof of a widespread outage.
Does searching continue to fail? Try again later or report it through the help options you can find in TikTok. Include the following:
- Your phone model and the version of TikTok, if you can find them.
- What you see: a blank screen, an error message or a search that keeps loading.
- Which search terms you tried and when the problem began.
- Whether searching works through another network or in a browser.
You can add a screenshot. First make any personal information on it unreadable.
Are other features not working either? Read what you can try if you can’t save a TikTok video or why you can’t make a 10 minute video on TikTok. Once your account is working as intended, you can explore our TikTok services to compare packages for followers and likes for your public profile or content.
