How To Join a Live on TikTok: Join, Chat, and Connect!

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: May 22, 2024

TikTok Tips
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Do you want to be part of the excitement on TikTok? Joining a live session is an exciting way to connect with other creators and your followers. As an aspiring influencer, knowing how to join a Live on TikTok can open more engagement and collaboration opportunities.

The TikTok Live feature lets you engage in real-time conversations, share your thoughts, and engage with viewers. In this guide, we’ll show you how to start and join live sessions on TikTok. Plus, we’ll explain how to invite others to your Live as guests and request to join theirs as a guest. Get ready to go live and engage with a wider audience!

A TikTok influencer having a Live session on her laptop.

What Is TikTok Live and Its Eligibility Requirements?

Before getting into how to request to join TikTok Live, let’s first discuss what it is and its eligibility requirements.

TikTok Live is an engaging feature that enables users to broadcast live video content to their followers. It allows you to engage in real-time conversations with your audience and receive virtual gifts from them. However, not just anyone can start or join a Live on TikTok. You have to meet some eligibility requirements to be able to start your Live sessions. They include:

  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • Your account must be in good standing with no violations of the TikTok community guidelines or terms of service.
  • You must have at least a thousand followers.
  • TikTok must support the Live feature in your region.

You won’t be able to host or join a Live session without meeting these eligibility requirements. After meeting these eligibility requirements, how do you start a Live on TikTok? Let’s find out.

How To Start a Live on TikTok in 6 Easy Steps

Going live on TikTok is an excellent way to connect with your audience, showcase your talent, and grow your presence. Before you go live, plan what you want to share with your audience. It could be a Q&A session, a dance tutorial, or a casual chat. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start a live stream on TikTok:

  1. Open your TikTok app and tap the “+” button at the bottom center of the screen. This will open the camera and video recording options.
  2. Swipe the options at the bottom of the screen to the right until you see “Live.” Tap on it to enter the live-streaming interface.
  3. Create a catchy and descriptive title for your livestream. This will attract viewers to join your Live. 
  4. Adjust your privacy settings and choose who can join your live stream. You can choose between “Everyone,” “Friends,” or “Off.” Select the one that suits your goals and preferences.
  5. Customize your live stream with TikTok stickers, filters, and effects to make it visually appealing and fun.
  6. Tap the “Go Live” option to start broadcasting.

That’s it! You can now start a Live on TikTok. Remember to acknowledge your viewers as they join and introduce the topic or purpose of your live stream to them. Additionally, thank your viewers at the end of the session and encourage them to join your next live session.

An influencer smiling happily to her audience during a Live session.

How To Invite Someone to Your Live: The More the Merrier!

Inviting other creators to your Live sessions opens new collaboration opportunities and increases audience engagement. Here’s how to invite someone to join your Live:

  1. Go Live on TikTok. 
  2. Tap the “Multi-guest” button at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a list of viewers currently watching your livestream. Then, choose the creator you want to invite from this list.
  3. If the creator you want to invite is not active, Tap “Invite” to send a request to them. They’ll join your live stream in a split-screen format after accepting your invitation. This allows both of you to interact with the audience in real time. You can collaborate, share insights, and discuss topics together.
  4. Tap “Accept” to approve friends’ or viewers’ requests to join your Live session.

Notably, you can also remove your guest during the Live session. Here’s how to do that:

  1. On the Live screen, tap the “X” button next to the guest you want to remove.
  2. Tap “End Now” to confirm. Alternatively, go to the guest’s profile and tap the “Disconnect” button.

Congratulations! You can now invite and remove guests during your Live. Inviting others lets you network with fellow creators, share knowledge, and have fun together. Now, what if you want to join someone else’s live session? Let’s see how you can do that.

An influencer starting a live session and waiting for others to join.

How To Join a Live on TikTok

Joining other people’s Live can help you connect with fellow creators, expand your reach, and engage with a broader audience. Here’s how to join a live on TikTok:

  1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device and log in to your account.
  2. Tap the “Live” icon at the top left corner of the screen. You’ll see live streams from people you follow and others.
  3. Browse through the available live streams. Then, tap the one that interests you to enter the session. You’ll immediately join the audience and watch the host’s broadcast content.
  4. You can interact with the host and other viewers by sending comments, likes, and virtual gifts.

Engaging actively during the Live session can help you catch the host’s attention. If you enjoy it, consider following the host and engaging with their other posts. Building connections with other creators can increase the visibility of your profile. But how do you request to join a live on TikTok?

How To Request To Join Someone’s TikTok Live

The perks of participating in TikTok Live as a guest are different from those of joining as a regular viewer. Your interaction is limited to sending comments and reactions when you’re in the audience. In contrast, being a guest enables you to engage with the live stream by using video, voice, or text comments. Here’s how to request to join a live on TikTok in 2023:

  1. Log in to your TikTok account.
  2. Tap “Live” at the top-left corner of the screen. You will be able to scroll through ongoing Live sessions. Alternatively, if you know whose Live you want to join, search for them using the search bar. 
  3. Tap the “Multi-Guest Request” icon once you find the session you want to join. 
  4. Click the “Request” button to go live with the creator. If the creator accepts, you’ll go live with them right away.

However, while joining a friend’s Live session is easy, joining that of top influencers may be difficult. So, if you want to join a specific Live, inform the creator prior to their session. They are more likely to accept since you informed them earlier.

An influencer is sad because she can’t join TikTok Live as a guest.

Why Can’t I Join TikTok Live as a Guest?

You may be unable to join TikTok Live as a guest for several reasons. First, the host of the session may have turned off the option for guests to join. Secondly, the TikTok multi-guest feature only allows a maximum of nine guests in a live session. Hence, the host may not be able to accept additional requests to join once they reach this limit. Lastly, if the host blocked or restricted your access, you won’t be able to participate as a guest.

To boost your chances of joining Lives as a guest, follow the host and engage actively with the TikTok community. Additionally, ensure your account is in good standing to avoid restrictions from joining live sessions. Remember that not all hosts allow guests, so respecting the host’s preferences for their sessions is essential.

A TikTok influencer engaging with his followers in real time.

How To Start Your Live Journey With High Social

Joining TikTok Live is an easy way for aspiring influencers to connect, engage, and grow their presence. We’ve explored how to start your own Live, invite others to join, and request to join someone else’s session. However, meeting the eligibility requirements and engaging your audience effectively to make the most of your Live sessions is essential.

Remember that you must have at least 1,000 followers to start your own TikTok Live session. But what if you don’t have up to a thousand followers? Well, don’t be discouraged. High Social, an organic growth agency, offers a solution for influencers at any stage of their journey.

High Social specializes in organically helping influencers build an active and engaged following base. This platform creates customized and AI-driven strategies to connect you with your target audience. By partnering with this agency, you can grow your following base to thousands and start your Live sessions. Now that you know how to join a Live on TikTok and create your own, what next? Start growing your TikTok audience with High Social today.

TikTok Tips