Are you searching for how to fix TikTok search ban or shadow ban? This often occurs when your videos do not appear on the suggestion or search page. As a content creator, gaining visibility on TikTok is crucial for building your audience and brand.
However, many TikTok users have found their accounts and content hidden from search results – a phenomenon known as “search banning”. If you suspect your TikTok account is search banned, this guide will help you diagnose the issue and take the necessary steps to regain visibility.
In this Article:
What is TikTok Search Ban?
A TikTok search ban prevents your account and content from surfacing in search results and suggestions. When someone searches for your username, videos or hashtags, your content will not appear.
This is different from a shadowban where your existing followers may still see your content, but you have limited visibility to new users. With a search ban, discoverability is severely impacted across the board.
Signs Your TikTok Account is Search Banned
How can you confirm if your account is facing search banning? Here are some telltale signs:
- Your views, likes, and follower growth suddenly dropped despite posting consistently.
- Users are unable to find your account when searching for your exact username.
- Your hashtags are no longer triggering when people search for them.
- Your videos are not surfacing even when using very specific, unique keywords.
If one or more of these issues apply, there’s a good chance your account has been search banned by TikTok.
Common Reasons for TikTok Search Bans
While the TikTok algorithm is a black box, these are some of the potential reasons your account may have gotten search banned:
- Posting inappropriate or explicit content that violates TikTok’s community guidelines. This includes nudity, violence, hate speech etc.
- Spammy behavior such as repeatedly using banned hashtags, flooding comments, posting on unrelated videos etc.
- Artificially inflating engagement through bots, fake views services and engagement pods.
- Copyright violations from using others’ content without permission.
- Impersonation by posing as another individual, brand or entity.
- Targeted attacks where other users maliciously mass report your account.
How to Fix a TikTok Search Ban
If you believe your account has been search banned, here are some tips to help reverse it:
Delete Problematic Content
Go through your videos, captions, hashtags, and comments. Remove any that may have violated TikTok’s guidelines or seemed spammy. Delete nudity, hate speech, harmful challenges, etc. This cleans up your account.
Do Not Engage in Ban Evasion
Creating secondary accounts to evade a ban will get all your associated accounts banned. Do not attempt to open new accounts while search banned.
Refrain from Aggressive Follow/Unfollow
Avoid follow/unfollow sprees as it looks like spammy behavior. Ideally, your follower/following ratio should appear natural.
Lay Low on Posting
Posting less frequently can sometimes help “reset” your account. Take a break from posting for a few days or a week so the algorithm isn’t over-scrutinizing your account.
Engage Genuinely with Other Content
Spend time watching, liking, commenting, and sharing content from other creators. Avoid mass engagement on irrelevant videos as it appears bot-like.
Use Relevant Hashtags Sparingly
Use a few relevant hashtags instead of flooding your captions. Prioritize quality over quantity when hashtagging your content.
Contact TikTok Support
As a last resort, you can submit an appeal to TikTok Support explaining you have adhered to the community guidelines. However, response rates are typically low.
How Long Does a TikTok Search Ban Last?
There is no definite timeline. Some users have had their bans reversed in days while others had to wait weeks or months. Be patient and persist with your appeal efforts. Consistently creating high-quality content improves your case over time.
The duration also depends on the severity of violations. For example, posting sexually explicit content often warrants longer bans compared to spammy hashtags.
Can You Check TikTok Search Ban Status?
There is no official way to check your search ban status or progress. The only indication is if you start seeing your content surface in search and suggestions again. You will have to regularly test by searching for your own username, hashtags, and video titles.
Mistaking Low Engagement for a Search Ban
Before assuming you are search banned, rule out other reasons for poor reach such as:
- Bad content quality that people are not engaging with
- Using overly saturated tags where your content gets buried
- Switching to an unrelated niche that your audience is not interested in
- Burning out your audience with overly frequent posting
- Experiencing a drop in engagement as your account growth slows down after initial boost
Analyze your content performance and community feedback to identify whether a search ban or just mediocre content is to blame.
In Conclusion
TikTok search bans can be frustrating but with some discipline and patience, they can be overcome. Identify any term violations, improve content quality, and lay low for some time. Eventually, your content should start ranking normally again. Persist with your efforts and keep providing your audience value through your videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when you are search banned on TikTok?
Your account, videos and hashtags will no longer appear in TikTok’s search results and suggestions. This severely limits your discoverability and reach.
Can liking videos too fast get you search banned?
Aggressive bot-like behavior such as mass-liking or commenting on random posts can sometimes trigger search bans. Engage meaningfully instead of blindly spamming activity.
Is deleting and reuploading videos bad when search banned?
Frequently removing and reuploading the same videos appears spammy and manipulative. It’s best not to delete content while search banned.
How do I contact TikTok to remove a search ban?
You can appeal to TikTok via their support page at support.tiktok.com. Explain you have fixed any policy violations and request reinstatement from the search ban.
Can using a VPN help evade a search ban?
Using proxy services to evade bans is against guidelines and unethical. TikTok can still connect your accounts and extend bans as needed.
