Tutorial · curl
How to scrape TikTok profiles with curl (2026)
A curl walkthrough for GET /v1/tiktok/profiles/{handle}. Copy the snippet, run it, then read the JSON.
GET /v1/tiktok/profiles/{handle} · 1 credit per successful request.
In this tutorial
You'll pull a public TikTok profile and see the fields you get back.
Example job: refresh a creator roster from TikTok handles you already have.
Step 1
Get ready
Get a Social Fetch API key and a curl environment ready. New accounts include 100 free credits.
API key. Create a Social Fetch account and copy an API key. New accounts include 100 free credits.
curl setup. Any shell with curl. Export SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY before you run the sample.
When you're done, SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY is set in your shell.
Step 2
Make the request
Copy the curl snippet, set SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY, and call GET /v1/tiktok/profiles/{handle} with the x-api-key header. Example: /v1/tiktok/profiles/mkbhd.
You should see a JSON body on stdout. Use curl -sS so HTTP errors still print on stderr.
Step 3
Read the response
JSON with data (the profiles) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). Sample below is illustrative — field docs live on the endpoint page. Credits charge on completed lookups, not transport failures.
Check data.lookupStatus when present. Keep meta.requestId if a row looks wrong.
Watch out
HTTP 200 with lookupStatus private is not a full public card — limited fields may appear; don't upsert them as public. not_found means no match. Confirm the handle before spending credits on videos, followers, or Shop routes.
Step 4
You finished
Same path and credits in playground, docs, and production. Pick a next step below.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need an official TikTok developer account?
No. Social Fetch authenticates with your Social Fetch API key. You call GET /v1/tiktok/profiles/{handle} and we handle upstream access. You still need to follow each platform's terms for how you use public data.
What does the tiktok profiles endpoint return?
A JSON envelope with data (the profiles) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). Shape details and field docs live on the endpoint page and in the OpenAPI docs.
What does lookupStatus mean on a TikTok profile?
found means you got a public profile card and metrics. not_found means no public profile matched. private means the account is private — you may still see limited fields, but do not treat it as a full public card. Always branch on lookupStatus before writing rows.
Should I look up the TikTok profile before listing that handle's videos?
Yes when you need an explicit found / not_found / private outcome before interpreting an empty video list. Profile lookup is the identity card; GET /v1/tiktok/profiles/{handle}/videos is a separate operation for recent uploads.
How much does a successful request cost?
1 credit per successful request.
Is this okay for production?
Yes — same production API as everywhere else: typed errors, requestId on every response, credits charged only on completed lookups. New accounts get 100 free credits.
Any curl-specific tips for this request?
Yes. Pass the key with -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY", and wrap the full URL in double quotes so the shell does not split on & in query strings. Prefer curl -sS so HTTP errors still surface on stderr.
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