7 Ways to Search Facebook Without an Account
Katherine Young
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We have all, at some point, wanted to find a Facebook account of someone or a business but found ourselves locked out by the platform’s insistence on creating an account. This can be quite frustrating, which is why I spent over a week shortlisting methods and tools– testing them firsthand to find ways to search Facebook without an account. It is crucial to use well-researched tools and techniques so that you get your desired result. Using a random site or an app might lead to unrelated results, data breaches, viruses, false positives, etc.
Spokeo is a top-rated tool for searching Facebook profiles without needing to create an account. By aggregating public data, it lets you find users by name, email, phone number, or other identifiers.
However, you should practice caution even while using reputed tools and try your best not to breach privacy or share your findings publicly. This article consists of transparent description and the steps for best outcome. I have also included the challenges that you might face, along with ways to tackle them. I suggest you go through each and every method carefully to get your desired result.
Methods to View Facebook Profiles Without an Account
Here are the best methods that I came across while looking for ways to search Facebook without an account:
Method 1: Using People Search Sites
I have shortlisted two best people search sites to help you find a Facebook profile without an account. These sites can reveal numerous background details.
1) Spokeo
Spokeo is a people search site that allows you to look up full names, email addresses, phone numbers, user names, and locations. It can also dig up related images of a person to help verify their identity. I used it to look up a catering business owner’s social media presence and background as we were hiring them for my brother’s wedding.
Search By Username: Yes
Email Lookup: Yes
Real Time Result Updates: Yes
Free Trial: 7 Days Trial for $0.95
I found numerous related social network profiles, including Facebook. It also offered associated images and other valuable details, which helped us finalize their service. However, for some other searches, I came across inactive profiles and outdated information. When this happens, I cross-verify using alternatives like Google and Social Catfish.
Here’s how I used Spokeo to look for the catering service owner’s Facebook account:
Step 1) Visit https://www.spokeo.com/, enter the full name, and hit Search Now or hit Enter.
Step 2) Once you find the person, tap on See Results to get basic details. Then click on View More or Unlock Profile to get the detailed report.
7-Days Trial for $0.95
2) Social Catfish
Social Catfish helps verify online personalities and allows you to find the Facebook account associated with an individual. I tested it out on a relative to check if it really works. You can use any of its search options, such as full name, email, username, image, and phone number. I tried it with all the options and found the right result every time I looked up their details, except for the phone number. It brought up an outdated Facebook account and email addresses. However, this happened because my friend had used another number for her new official Facebook profile.
At times, the search results could be too broad, offering numerous people with the same name. In such cases, try other search parameters. You can also add search filters when prompted, such as age group, city, relationship status, etc. I also compare images, locations, etc., to narrow down my search results.
Here’s a demonstration of how I used Social Catfish to find a Facebook account:
Step 1) First, go to https://socialcatfish.com/, select the search option, and enter the details. I have selected Name option and given the full name along with the country of the individual.
Step 2) Next, answer the prompted questions to narrow down the search. This will bring up multiple results with basic details. Based on these data, select the right individual and tap on See Complete Results to trigger an in-depth search further. Once the search is complete, you will get a report that also contains their Facebook account.
3-Day Trial at $5.73
Method 2: Using Search Engines: Google and Bing
In this method, I shall take you through two different ways to find someone’s Facebook account using each of these search engines. It includes the usual name search technique and reverse image lookup.
1) Google
Google is one of the easiest and most reliable solutions for searching Facebook without an account. It was pretty effective when I tried locating public profiles without logging in. I entered specific keywords such as the person’s name, city, or workplace, which narrowed down my search efficiently. This method is excellent for beginners who want quick and precise results without using complicated tools.
I did run into a few challenges, like irrelevant results and several common name profiles. To resolve this issue, I used quotation marks and some location-based keywords. This allowed me to filter the non-relevant outputs and improve accuracy. Always refine your query when the results aren’t satisfactory.
Here is a step-by-step demonstration of how I used Google to find a Facebook account:
Step 1) First, go https://www.google.com/ and type the name of the person you want to look for along with the site name i.e Facebook.
Step 2) Select the right person from the results as you may find several similar names. You can either add more specific words, for example, city name, university, occupation, etc., for better accuracy.
I have also used this trick to look up business accounts and shortlist products and services for personal requirements.
Link: https://www.google.com/
2) Google Images
Google Images’ reverse lookup method has been primarily helpful in times when I was in a hurry, as it is an on-the-go process. I became good friends with a lady I met while traveling for work to Washington. However, we only took a selfie and never found the time to exchange contact details. I was also unable to spell her name correctly, so I decided to use Google Images. After properly cropping her in the selfie, I was finally able to locate her Facebook account.
However, you may come across numerous generic results on the first attempt. Keep using the cropping tool until you get a useful output. If it fails to find the account, you can try similar reverse lookup tools. In case the image quality is low, try using an online image enhancer before you reverse-search it.
Here’s a step-by-step on how you can use Google Images:
Step 1) Go to https://images.google.com/, upload the photo, insert the image URL, and drag and drop a picture or paste an image.
Step 2) You can then type the word Facebook on the search bar to make the search precise.
The link led me to their Facebook account:
Link: https://images.google.com/
3) Bing
Bing is another useful search engine that is used widely by individuals looking for answers. It allows you to search for names the same way as Google but their databases vary. For one of my searches I was unable to locate a profile even when I typed it in Google, and that’s when Bing came through. It showed me some irrelevant profile links as well but the accurate account was also displayed.
This search engine prioritizes regional content, which could generate results that are different from your region. To get better results, make sure the location is accessible by Bing or adjust it by using a VPN. If you find too many non-relevant results, use its advanced search– site: Facebook, intitle:(name) inurl:(specific word you want in the URL), which will help narrow down your search.
Here’s a step-by-step on how you can find a Facebook profile on Bing:
Step 1) Go to https://www.bing.com/ and enter the name of the person along with the word Facebook to look for them.
Step 2) Go through the results and find the individual you are looking for.
Link: https://www.bing.com/
4) Bing Visual Search
Bing Visual Search is a reverse lookup site that is great for finding people’s social media accounts. I found it very helpful when I wanted to locate a certain business owner’s profile who had sent me a message on LinkedIn. I wanted to find out their social media presence, hence, I used Bing Visual Search to locate their Facebook profile. The search was ineffective at first, may due to their heavy use of image filters, but once I used a better picture, the result came up immediately.
In some instances you will not find results as the image might not have been indexed by Bing. When this happens I manually search their name or try other reverse image look up tools. I also suggest cross referencing and using the site’s filters correctly for better results.
Here’s how you can use Bing Visual Search to find someone’s Facebook account:
Step 1) Go to https://www.bing.com/visualsearch, browse the image and upload it, use a URL, paste a picture, or drag and drop a file.
Step 2) To find more relatable results tap on Related content option. If you cannot find the Facebook link, use the name provided by Bing Visual Search to look for them in Bing, for example– DJ Khaled Facebook.
Link: https://www.bing.com/visualsearch
Method 3: Facebook Hashtag Search
This Facebook Hashtag search can be quite helpful in finding a particular post about the person you are looking for. It is not a direct method that shows the Facebook account immediately, but it does get you somewhere to begin with. I used this method to find the account of my university friend, who is now a recipe and food blogger. Her expertise lies in pasta, therefore, I decided to look up her name using such keywords to find a post related to her.
However, it took me over 10 attempts to find the right post and the right person. I tested this method using her name, different pasta recipes, pasta names, restaurants, etc. There is no actual shortcut to get your result. Its best you take out some time and add a pinch of patience to try this method.
Here’s how I looked her up using the Facebook hashtag method:
Step 1) Type facebook.com/hashtag/ and then enter the keyword you want to search. I used the word carbonarapasta.
Step 2)The combined hashtag URL should look like this https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/carbonarapasta, and then hit Enter.
Method 4: Using Social Search Searcher
Social Searcher is an all-in-one social media account search tool. It helps you find profiles on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. I was introduced to it by my friend who works as a talent scout and uses it to look up social media presence while shortlisting candidates. It helped me find Facebook accounts within 5 seconds. However, do not use its common search tool, which is present on the home page, as it returns numerous unrelated and even outdated results. Instead, go to the specific Facebook profile search page to get the best outcome.
Here’s a step-by-step on how I used Social Searcher to find a Facebook profile:
Step 1) Go to https://www.social-searcher.com/facebook-search/, enter the name of the person of interest, and hit Search.
Step 2) Once the search is complete, look through the results to find the right profile.
Link: https://www.social-searcher.com/facebook-search/
Method 5: Using Anonymous Facebook Viewer
Using an anonymous Facebook Viewer app is also a great choice if you want to look through an account without them knowing. One such app that I found reliable is Secretly Story Viewer and Saver. It is ideal for investigations and viewing your business competitors’ stories secretly. I suggested it to a friend who desperately wanted to get an update on her ex. She found it quite effective and even downloaded some stories. Although she did complain about downtime and ads, sadly, to fix these problems, all you can do is wait them out. When I used it, the app would crash at times, but reinstalling it helped me overcome this problem.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details
Method 6: Try Using a Friend’s Profile
If you do not want to use any third-party apps and hacks, then try asking a friend with a Facebook account for help. Request your friend politely and give them a genuine reason why you want their help. If you are best friends, then it should be easier. However, it’s best not to ask for their password, instead, you can sit with them and use the app. If they live far away, ask them to send screenshots. I found it very effective since my friend sent me all the posts and story updates. However, do not make it a habit, as it could put your friend in a sticky situation if anything goes wrong.
Method 7: Create a Fake Account
If you do not want to go through any of the hassles after learning about the methods above, or if they have all failed you, a fake account is your best chance. To create a fake account, all I did was follow the same process of creating an official profile and used an entirely different but believable name. I also gathered some following, posted some pictures of restaurants, daily objects, and some images where my fake identity’s face wasn’t visible, and waited for about a week to send them a request. That’s because if the person notices that all your images were posted on the same day, it can look suspicious. Apart from finding someone’s account, you can also use it to browse through different content.
How to Avoid Common Facebook Search Mistakes
Below, I have outlined the common mistakes that occur when you search for a Facebook profile without an account. Along with the mistakes, I have also given tips on how to avoid them side by side:
| Issue | How to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Depending on unverified tools | Thoroughly research what tools and sites are the most reliable and check reviews and use trials before subscription |
| Violating Facebook’s terms and conditions | Read Facebook terms and conditions carefully before you try out any methods to ensure that you don’t end up at a dead-end |
| Ignoring Facebook’s privacy settings | You cannot access private profiles, therefore, do not waste your time on them, try other social networks instead or create a fake profile and send them a request |
| Not considering legal implications as a serious matter | Do not go ahead without understanding legal boundaries and consequences, as some techniques could lead to serious privacy and security breach |
| Becoming a victim of phishing and malware | When you do not use a secure platform, you may end up following malicious phishing links or downloading malware, therefore, use only reputable sites |
| Sharing sensitive data of individuals | Never publicly share what you find in the results. Respecting the privacy of an individual must be a top priority |
FAQs
Conclusion
Looking for a Facebook profile or browsing the app without an account can be difficult. All the methods that I have mentioned above can help you find a particular profile or a post on Facebook. These techniques offer great results but might not be effective at times. I suggest combining them to acquire the desired outcome. As per my experience, Google, Bing, Google Images, Bing Visual Search, Spokeo, Social Catfish, and Social Searcher offer the most accurate and fastest results. Hence, I would consider them pretty reliable. However, you must avoid stalking the users–stick to a genuine motive and ensure you respect their privacy at all times.
Spokeo is a top-rated tool for searching Facebook profiles without needing to create an account. By aggregating public data, it lets you find users by name, email, phone number, or other identifiers.
