How to Turn Off 'Find Similar' and Reset Search Suggestions on TikTok
To turn off "Find Similar" on TikTok, go to Profile, the menu, Settings and privacy, then Playback, and switch off Display object tags.
To turn off “Find Similar” on TikTok, go to Profile, the menu, Settings and privacy, then Playback, and switch off Display object tags. To reset the search suggestions and “You may like” list, clear your search history and refresh your For You feed under Settings and privacy, then Content preferences.
“Find Similar” is TikTok’s visual search: it scans what’s in a video and shows related videos or products when you pause. The suggestions under the search bar are a separate feature driven by your history and what’s trending. This guide covers both. Searching in general is covered in how to search on TikTok.
What Is “Find Similar” on TikTok?
“Find Similar” is a visual search feature that uses AI to identify objects in a video and suggest related trends, videos or items for sale. It appears as a button or bubble when you pause a video. TikTok has been rolling it out gradually, so not every account has it (Daily Dot).
How Do You Turn Off “Find Similar” on TikTok?
You turn off “Find Similar” by switching off object tags in your playback settings. Listed below are the 5 steps.
- Tap Profile, then the menu (three lines).
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Playback.
- Find Display object tags.
- Switch it off.
If you don’t see the setting, your account doesn’t have the feature yet. Update the app and check again later.
How Do Creators Stop “Find Similar” on Their Own Videos?
Creators can stop viewers using visual search on their posts by turning off the visual search and similar-product options in a post’s settings. This matters most for TikTok Shop sellers, because “Find Similar” can point viewers to other sellers’ products. Check the post’s settings before publishing, where the options appear for your account.
How Do You Reset TikTok Search Suggestions?
Search suggestions come from your search history, your viewing and what’s trending, so resetting them takes 3 steps. Listed below are the steps, from quickest to most thorough.
- Clear your search history: search icon, See more, Clear all; see how to clear your TikTok search history.
- Refresh the “You may like” list with the refresh option next to it, where it appears.
- Refresh your For You feed: Settings and privacy, then Content preferences, then Refresh your For You feed.
The trending searches list is the same for everyone in your region and can’t be switched off.
What’s the Difference Between Search History and “You May Like”?
Search history is what you searched; “You may like” is what TikTok guesses you’ll search next. The table shows how each one is controlled.
| List | Based on | How to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Recent searches | Your own searches | Clear them individually or all at once |
| You may like | Your activity and interests | Refresh it, clear history, refresh your feed |
| Trending searches | What’s popular in your region | Can’t be turned off |
| Find Similar | Objects in the video you paused | Display object tags in Playback settings |
How Do You Stop Seeing a Topic on TikTok?
To stop seeing a topic, press and hold videos about it and choose Not interested, and add its words to your content filters. Keyword filters hide videos with words you choose; the steps are in how to block hashtags, sounds and keywords on TikTok.
Questions people ask
Why does TikTok suggest searches I never made?
Suggestions include trending searches and guesses based on what you watch, not just your own history.
Can other people see my search suggestions?
No, your suggestions are personal; see can people see what you search on TikTok.
Does turning off object tags affect my own videos?
The playback setting controls what you see when watching; creators control visual search on their own posts separately.
Why did Find Similar come back?
App updates can reset or move settings; check Playback again after updating.