How to Go Live on TikTok
Learn how to go live on TikTok step by step. Covers requirements, setup, live features, multi-guest streaming, desktop streaming, and tips for a great broadcast.
We put off going live on TikTok for weeks because we assumed it was complicated. Turns out, the actual streaming part takes about four taps. The part that takes the time is working out whether you qualify and where to find the button.
TikTok Live has grown into one of the biggest live streaming platforms in the world. Sprout Social reports that TikTok now has 1.99 billion monthly active users, and live content gets pushed hard by the algorithm because it keeps people on the app longer.
This guide walks through everything from checking your eligibility to going live on desktop with a proper streaming setup. Whether you are doing your first stream or want to level up with multi-guest broadcasts and OBS, it is all here.
A TikTok account with at least 1,000 followers A stable internet connection (5 Mbps upload or higher recommended) A phone mount or tripod for a steady shot Good lighting (a ring light works well but a window with natural light is fine too)
Make sure you meet the requirements
TikTok does not let everyone go live. There are three things you need before the option even shows up in the app. First, you need to be at least 18 years old. TikTok raised the minimum age from 16 to 18 in November 2022 as part of a safety update. If your account was registered with a birthdate under 18, you will not see the LIVE option regardless of your follower count. Second, you need at least 1,000 followers. This is the official threshold and it has not changed. There are scattered reports of accounts getting live access with fewer followers, but do not count on it. Third, your account needs to be in good standing. If you have active community guideline violations or recent strikes, TikTok may restrict your live access even if you meet the other requirements. Check your inbox in the app for any moderation notices.
Good to know: If you just hit 1,000 followers and the LIVE option is not showing up, give it 24 to 48 hours. TikTok does not always update feature access instantly.
Start your live stream
Open TikTok and tap the + button at the bottom center of the screen. This is the same button you use to create a regular video. At the bottom of the screen, you will see mode options like Photo, Video, and Templates. Swipe all the way to the right until you see LIVE. Tap it. Now set up your stream before going on air. Type in a title that tells people what the stream is about. Keep it short since longer titles get cut off in the feed. Pick a cover image by tapping the thumbnail area. Choose a topic category from the dropdown so TikTok can recommend your stream to the right audience. Before you hit the button, you can also apply filters, toggle gifts on or off, and set up keyword comment filters to automatically hide comments containing certain words. When everything looks good, tap Go LIVE. A three-second countdown starts, and then you are live.
Use the tools available during your stream
Once you are live, a toolbar appears on the right side of the screen with everything you need to manage the stream. Tap the comment icon to open Q&A mode, which lets viewers submit questions in a structured format so they do not get buried in the chat. You can press and hold any comment to pin it to the top of the feed, which is useful for keeping your topic visible or highlighting a great question. You can assign up to 20 moderators during a stream. Moderators can mute or block viewers, filter comments, and help keep the conversation on track. TikTok also supports keyword comment filters with up to 200 terms, so you can automatically hide comments containing specific words. The camera flip button lets you switch between front and back cameras. Filters and beauty effects are available throughout the stream, not just during setup.
Good to know: Pin a comment with your topic or a call to action right after you go live. New viewers who join mid-stream can immediately see what the stream is about.
Bring guests into your live
TikTok lets you bring up to five additional guests into your live stream. This is great for interviews, group discussions, or just hanging out with friends on camera. To invite someone, tap the multi-guest icon in the toolbar during your stream. You can send invites to specific people or allow viewers to request to join. When a request comes in, you can preview it and accept or decline. There is also a co-hosting feature that connects your live stream with another creator's stream. Both audiences merge into one shared experience. This is one of the best ways to grow your following because you get exposed to an entirely new audience. Guests appear in a split-screen layout. You can rearrange or remove guests at any time during the stream.
Go live from your computer
If you want better production quality, you can go live from a desktop instead of your phone. TikTok offers two ways to do this. The first is TikTok LIVE Studio, a free desktop app built by TikTok. It is currently available for Windows only. Download it from TikTok's website and log in with your account. LIVE Studio gives you scene switching, screen sharing, custom overlays, and the ability to stream in landscape or portrait mode. One catch is that you need to have streamed at least 25 minutes from your phone before LIVE Studio becomes available. The second option is using OBS Studio or Streamlabs, which works on both Windows and Mac. To get your stream key, go to livecenter.tiktok.com, create a LIVE room, add your title and topic, and save. Your stream key and RTMP server URL will appear. Paste those into OBS under Settings > Stream. For best results, set your resolution to 720p or 1080p, frame rate to 30fps, and bitrate between 2,500 and 4,500 Kbps.
End your stream and review your stats
When you are ready to wrap up, tap the X icon in the top-right corner of the screen. TikTok will ask you to confirm by tapping End now. After you end the stream, TikTok shows a performance summary with your peak concurrent viewers, total unique viewers, new followers gained during the stream, and any gifts you received. Take a screenshot of this or check it later in Profile > Creator Tools > LIVE Center. Your LIVE replay stays available for 30 days, and you can download it to repost as a regular video. Some of the best-performing TikTok content comes from clipping highlights out of live streams. According to Streams Charts, TikTok Live hit over 8 billion watch hours in Q1 2025, a 30 percent increase from the previous quarter. Live streaming on TikTok is growing fast, and the algorithm actively promotes live content to viewers who have not seen you before.
Going live on TikTok is one of those things that feels like a big deal the first time and becomes second nature by the third. The hardest part is honestly just hitting the button. If you run into trouble with specific viewers during a stream, our guide on how to block someone on TikTok covers how to handle that quickly without disrupting your broadcast. And if you ever decide TikTok is not for you anymore, we also have a guide on how to delete your TikTok account that walks through the full process.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
You need at least 1,000 followers. This is the official requirement and it has been in place since TikTok launched the feature. There are some reports of accounts getting access with fewer followers based on content quality and account standing, but 1,000 is the standard threshold. If you drop below 1,000 after getting live access, TikTok suspends the feature until you are back above it.
The most common reasons are having fewer than 1,000 followers, being under 18 (or having an account registered as under 18), having active community guideline violations, or running an outdated version of the app. Try updating TikTok to the latest version, clearing the app cache, and logging out and back in. If you just hit 1,000 followers, it can take up to 48 hours for the feature to appear. If you meet all the requirements and still do not see it, use the Report a Problem option in settings to contact TikTok support.
There is no hard time limit enforced by TikTok. You can technically stream for as long as you want. That said, TikTok recommends keeping streams around 30 to 60 minutes. Engagement tends to peak in the first 30 minutes and drops off after that. Shorter, focused streams usually perform better than long, meandering ones.
Yes, through LIVE Gifts. Viewers buy coins with real money and send virtual gifts during your stream. Those gifts convert to diamonds in your account, and you can cash out diamonds through PayPal. TikTok takes roughly 50 percent of the gift value as commission. To receive gifts, you need to be 18 or older, have at least 1,000 followers, and have your account enrolled in the Creator Next program. Gift values range from 1 coin up to 44,999 coins for the most expensive gift. Coins cost a little over a cent each depending on the bundle you buy, which puts that top gift somewhere around $560.
Yes. Go to your Creator Tools, open LIVE Center, and select Schedule LIVE Event. You can schedule a live stream anywhere from 1 hour to 10 days ahead of time. Scheduling creates a LIVE Event card on your profile that followers can tap to set a reminder. They get a push notification when you actually go live. Scheduling ahead of time helps build an audience before you even start streaming.