To go live on TikTok, tap the plus button, swipe to LIVE, add a title and tap Go LIVE. You must be at least 18 to host, and in most regions the LIVE option appears only once an account reaches a minimum follower count, commonly 1000. If you do not see LIVE, your account has not met the requirement in your region yet.
Requirements
- Age. Hosts must be 18 or older. Viewers must be 18 or older to send gifts.
- Followers. Most regions require a minimum number of followers before LIVE appears, commonly 1000. The threshold is set by TikTok and can differ by region.
- Good standing. Accounts with recent guideline violations can lose LIVE access for a period.
Start a LIVE
- Tap the plus button at the bottom of the screen.
- Swipe the options under the record button to LIVE.
- Write a title that says what viewers will see. It appears in notifications.
- Choose a cover image and a topic.
- Open Settings and decide on comments, gifts and moderators.
- Tap Go LIVE.
To end the stream, tap the power icon and confirm.
Settings worth checking first
- Keyword filters. Add words you do not want in the chat.
- Moderators. Appoint someone you trust to mute or remove viewers.
- Comment settings. You can limit comments to followers, or switch them off.
- Connection. Use Wi-Fi where possible. A dropped stream loses the viewers you built up.
A plan for the first stream
| Minute | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Greet people by name as they join and say what the stream is about |
| 3 to 15 | The main activity: a demonstration, a Q&A, a making-of |
| 15 to 25 | Take questions from the chat; repeat the topic for people joining late |
| 25 to 30 | Summarise, say when you will be live next, and end clearly |
Thirty minutes is a sensible first length. Viewers arrive throughout, so re-introduce the topic every few minutes.
Bringing people in
- Post a short video an hour before, saying when you will be live. Viewers of that video see a LIVE badge on your profile picture once you start.
- Go live at your followers' most active time; see best time to post on TikTok.
- Stream at a regular time each week so viewers can plan for it.
Some creators use live viewer packages to raise the displayed viewer number for a set time. A package covers the stated session only, and a higher number does not create chat activity; that still comes from the people actually watching.
What TikTok does not allow on LIVE
The community guidelines apply in full. Streams are also checked for content aimed at getting gifts in misleading ways. A violation can end the stream and suspend LIVE access.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I go live on TikTok?
The usual reasons are age under 18, not enough followers for your region, or a recent guidelines violation. Update the app as well; LIVE sometimes disappears on old versions.
How long can a TikTok LIVE be?
There is no short limit for most accounts, but 30 to 60 minutes is long enough for viewers to arrive and short enough to keep energy up.
