diff --git a/backend/api/routes/user.py b/backend/api/routes/user.py
index d576cd8..398c657 100644
--- a/backend/api/routes/user.py
+++ b/backend/api/routes/user.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ async def search_videos(
 ):
     """
     Search for videos by keyword or hashtag.
-    Uses TikTok's internal search API for fast, reliable results.
+    Uses TikTok's video search API.
     """
     from urllib.parse import quote
     
@@ -221,61 +221,65 @@ async def search_videos(
     
     headers = {
         "User-Agent": user_agent or PlaywrightManager.DEFAULT_USER_AGENT,
-        "Referer": "https://www.tiktok.com/",
+        "Referer": f"https://www.tiktok.com/search?q={quote(query)}",
         "Cookie": cookie_str,
         "Accept": "application/json",
+        "Accept-Language": "en-US,en;q=0.9",
     }
     
     try:
-        # TikTok search API endpoint
-        search_url = f"https://www.tiktok.com/api/search/general/full/?keyword={quote(query)}&offset=0&search_id=&from_page=search&web_search_code=%7B%22tiktok%22%3A%7B%22client_params_x%22%3A%7B%22search_engine%22%3A%7B%22ies_mt_user_live_video_card_use_b%22%3A1%2C%22mt_search_general_user_live_card%22%3A1%7D%7D%2C%22search_server%22%3A%7B%7D%7D%7D"
+        # TikTok video search API - simpler endpoint
+        search_url = f"https://www.tiktok.com/api/search/item/full/?keyword={quote(query)}&offset=0&count={limit}"
         
         async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=15.0, follow_redirects=True) as client:
             response = await client.get(search_url, headers=headers)
             
             videos = []
             
+            print(f"Search API status: {response.status_code}")
+            
             if response.status_code == 200:
                 try:
                     data = response.json()
-                    items = data.get("data", [])
+                    items = data.get("item_list", []) or data.get("itemList", []) or data.get("data", [])
+                    
+                    print(f"Found {len(items)} raw items")
                     
                     for item in items[:limit]:
-                        # Extract video data from search result
-                        item_type = item.get("type")
-                        
-                        # Type 1 = video
-                        if item_type == 1:
-                            video_item = item.get("item", {})
-                            if video_item:
-                                video_id = video_item.get("id", "")
-                                author_info = video_item.get("author", {})
-                                video_data = video_item.get("video", {})
-                                
-                                # Get playable URL
-                                play_addr = video_data.get("playAddr") or video_data.get("downloadAddr", "")
-                                
-                                videos.append({
-                                    "id": video_id,
-                                    "url": f"https://www.tiktok.com/@{author_info.get('uniqueId', 'user')}/video/{video_id}",
-                                    "cdn_url": play_addr,
-                                    "author": author_info.get("uniqueId", "unknown"),
-                                    "description": video_item.get("desc", ""),
-                                    "thumbnail": video_data.get("cover") or video_data.get("dynamicCover", ""),
-                                    "views": video_item.get("stats", {}).get("playCount", 0),
-                                    "likes": video_item.get("stats", {}).get("diggCount", 0),
-                                })
+                        # Handle different response formats
+                        if isinstance(item, dict):
+                            video_id = item.get("id", "")
+                            author_info = item.get("author", {})
+                            video_data = item.get("video", {})
+                            
+                            # Get playable URL
+                            play_addr = video_data.get("playAddr") or video_data.get("downloadAddr", "")
+                            
+                            author_name = author_info.get("uniqueId") or author_info.get("unique_id", "unknown")
+                            
+                            videos.append({
+                                "id": video_id,
+                                "url": f"https://www.tiktok.com/@{author_name}/video/{video_id}",
+                                "cdn_url": play_addr,
+                                "author": author_name,
+                                "description": item.get("desc", ""),
+                                "thumbnail": video_data.get("cover") or video_data.get("dynamicCover") or video_data.get("originCover", ""),
+                                "views": item.get("stats", {}).get("playCount", 0),
+                                "likes": item.get("stats", {}).get("diggCount", 0),
+                            })
                     
-                    print(f"Found {len(videos)} videos for '{query}'")
+                    print(f"Processed {len(videos)} videos for '{query}'")
                     
                 except Exception as parse_error:
                     print(f"Error parsing search response: {parse_error}")
+                    # Try to print raw response for debugging
+                    print(f"Raw response: {response.text[:500] if response.text else 'empty'}")
             else:
                 print(f"Search API returned status {response.status_code}")
+                print(f"Response: {response.text[:300] if response.text else 'empty'}")
             
             return {"query": query, "videos": videos, "count": len(videos)}
             
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error searching for {query}: {e}")
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=str(e))
-