How to See How Many Views a Hashtag Has on TikTok

Finding a hashtag's view count on TikTok is surprisingly simple, and it’s one of the most powerful pieces of data you can have as a creator or marketer. This guide will walk you through exactly how to check any hashtag’s total views in seconds. More importantly, we'll cover how to use that information to develop a smarter hashtag strategy that actually helps your videos get discovered.

How to See Hashtag Views in the TikTok App

Let's get right to it. The great news is you don't need any third-party tools or complicated workarounds to find this information. TikTok puts hashtag view counts right in the open for anyone to see inside the app. Here’s how you find them, step-by-step:

1. Open the TikTok App: First things first, launch TikTok on your phone.
2. Tap the Search Icon: At the top right of your For You Page, you'll see a magnifying glass icon. Tap it to go to the search page. This area used to be called the 'Discover' page, and for some users, it still might look that way, but the function is the same.
3. Type in Your Hashtag: In the search bar at the top, type the hashtag you want to research, including the “#” symbol. For example, you might type #craftideas or #booktok. As you type, TikTok will automatically start suggesting relevant hashtags.
4. Look for the View Count: You’ll see a list of suggestions pop up below the search bar. Each suggested hashtag will have its total number of views displayed right next to it. For example, you might see #craftideas - 20.1B views.
5. Switch to the ‘Hashtags’ Tab for a Full List: After you finish typing your hashtag and hit search, the results screen will default to ‘Top’ videos. Look at the menu just below the search bar and tap on the Hashtags tab. This will give you a clean list of the hashtag you searched for and many related ones, each with its total view count clearly visible.

That’s it! In less than 30 seconds, you can see not just how many views your target hashtag has, but also the popularity of dozens of related tags. Now, the real question is: what do you do with that information?

Why Hashtag View Counts Are a Game Changer for Your Strategy

Knowing a hashtag's view count is more than just satisfying your curiosity. It’s a foundational piece of a strong TikTok strategy. When you understand what these numbers mean, you can make smarter decisions about your content, audience, and growth.

Understand What People Are Actually Watching

At its core, a high view count is a direct indicator of audience interest. A hashtag with billions of views, like #diyproject, signals a massive, active community interested in that topic. When you use that hashtag on a relevant video, you’re telling the TikTok algorithm, “Hey, my content belongs here. Show it to people who like DIY stuff!” It helps TikTok categorize your video and push it to a relevant audience, which is exactly what you want.

Conversely, a hashtag with a very low view count might indicate a niche topic that fewer people are searching for, or it could be an emerging trend that hasn't taken off yet.

Master the Art of Niche vs. Broad Targeting

Not all hashtags are created equal, and bigger isn’t always better. The view count helps you instantly differentiate between a broad hashtag and a niche one.

• Broad Hashtags (#fyp, #viral): These have tens of trillions of views. Using them is like shouting into a stadium - you have the potential to reach an enormous number of people, but the competition is incredibly fierce. Your content can easily get lost in the noise.
• Niche Hashtags (#smallbusinessowner, #potterytutorials): These hashtags have view counts in the millions or low billions. They are more specific and attract a more dedicated audience. Using them is like speaking to a focused group of people who are already interested in your topic. The potential reach is smaller, but the quality of that reach is often much higher, leading to better engagement and more followers who genuinely care about what you create.

A smart strategy uses a mix of both. The view count helps you quickly categorize tags and build a balanced hashtag set for each video.

Gauge Your Competition and Find Opportunities

Hashtag research is also a form of competitive analysis. By searching for a tag central to your niche, you can see how popular it is and who else is using it. When you tap on a hashtag, you can see the top-performing videos associated with it.

This is where you find amazing insights:

• What style of videos is doing well under this hashtag? Are they funny skits, detailed tutorials, or aesthetic montages?
• What sounds are people using?
• Are other creators in your space using this tag? If so, what are their most successful videos?

Analyzing this helps you understand the established "language" of that hashtag community and create content that will resonate instantly.

Building a Bulletproof Hashtag Strategy from Scratch

Okay, you know how to find the views and why they matter. Now, let’s build a repeatable process for choosing the right hashtags for every single video you post. The goal is to create a strategic mix that balances broad reach with targeted relevance.

The Three-Tiered Hashtag System

A professional approach to hashtagging involves using different "tiers" of hashtags on each post. This helps you reach different audience segments and gives your video the best possible chance of being discovered.

Here’s how it works. For each video, aim to include:

• 1-2 Broad Hashtags: These are your gigantic, high-level tags with views in the tens or hundreds of billions (or even trillions). Think #fyp, #foryou, or a very general topical tag like #comedy or #cooking. These are for maximum algorithmic exposure.
• 2-3 Niche, Content-Specific Hashtags: This is the most important category. These tags describe exactly what is happening in your video. They have a healthy view count (from hundreds of thousands to a few billion) but are specific enough to attract a qualified audience. If you posted a video about making sourdough bread, these would be tags like #sourdoughstarter, #breadmaking, and #bakingtiktok.
• 1-2 Hyper-Niche or Community Tags: These are the most targeted hashtags with much lower view counts (usually in the thousands). They could be location-based (#chicagofoodie), specific to a subculture (#darkacademia), part of a small challenge, or even a branded hashtag you're trying to grow (#[yourbrandname]). These build a strong connection with a highly engaged micro-community.

Example in Action: An Independent Bookstore

Let's say you're a local bookstore posting a video showing off a new fantasy book series delivery.

• Broad: #booktok (215B+ views)
• Niche: #fantasybooks (7.8B views), #bookrecommendations (27.5B views), #indiebookstore (590M views)
• Hyper-Niche: #seattlebookstore (360k+ views), #[YourBookstoreName]

This layered approach gives your video hooks in multiple pools of viewers, from the massive ocean of #booktok to the tight-knit community of Seattle-based book lovers.

How to Never Run Out of Great Hashtag Ideas

Coming up with this mix for every video can feel daunting, but TikTok gives you all the tools you need.

1. Start with Your Core Topic: Type a primary keyword for your video (e.g., "skincare") into the search bar, switch to the Hashtags tab, and just start scrolling. You’ll instantly see a list of relevant tags and their popularity, helping you sort them into your tiers.
2. Spy on Top Performers: Find 3-5 creators in your niche who are consistently getting good views. Go to their profiles, look at their most successful videos, and analyze the hashtags they use. Don't copy them verbatim every time, but use their choices as inspiration and a guide to what resonates in your community.
3. Think Like Your Audience: Put yourself in the shoes of someone you want to reach. What terms would they search for if they were looking for a video like yours? If you're a personal trainer, they might be searching for #beginnerworkout or #fitnessathome. Brainstorm these descriptive, "search-friendly" hashtags.

Going Deeper: It’s Not Just About the View Count

The total view count is an excellent starting point, but expert social media managers look at more than just the number.

Check If a Hashtag is Actually Trending

A huge view count doesn't necessarily mean a hashtag is hot right now. Massive tags like #food have accumulated billions of views over many years. While still useful, they are different from a trending hashtag tied to a sound, challenge, or current event that is exploding in popularity overnight.

To see what's currently trending, check your For You Page. If you see multiple videos using the same unconventional hashtag or sound, that’s a real-time trend. Participating in these early can give your content a huge, time-sensitive boost.

Analyze the Vibe of the Top Posts

This is a step most people skip. Once you find a promising niche hashtag, tap on it. Spend a few minutes scrolling through the top videos. Ask yourself:

• What is the overall tone of these videos? Are they serious and educational, or are they funny and meme-focused?
• What are the production styles? Are they highly polished, or raw and authentic?
• Is your video a good fit for this collection?

Sometimes you’ll find that a hashtag that seems perfect on the surface is actually home to content very different from your own. Using the tag anyway can lead to users quickly scrolling past your video, telling the algorithm that your content isn’t a good match for that audience.

Final Thoughts

Checking how many views a hashtag has on TikTok is the easy part, the real skill is in turning that simple data point into a powerful content strategy. By building a strategic mix of broad, niche, and community-specific tags for every piece of content you create, you will give the TikTok algorithm clear signals about who needs to see your work, helping you break through the noise and connect with a dedicated audience.

Once you've done your research and mapped out that outstanding hashtag strategy, having a simple way to organize your content calendar is essential. At Postbase, we built our planning tools specifically for the realities of modern social media, with a visual calendar that lets you see everything at a glance. You can upload your short-form videos once, customize the caption and hashtags for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts, and then schedule it everywhere, confident that your brilliant strategy will reach the right people at the right time.