How To Get LIVE Access on TikTok To Strengthen Your Presence

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Oct 23, 2024

TikTok 101
Want More Real TikTok Followers?

TikTok’s LIVE feature opens more opportunities for follower growth, higher engagement, and content monetization. It’s also one of the best ways to strengthen your presence in your community and build trust among your followers. This article walks you through how to get LIVE access on TikTok! 

A musician plays the ukelele under two spotlights and in front of two microphones.

How Many Followers on TikTok To Go LIVE

How many followers do you need to go LIVE? TikTok’s minimum follower requirement to go LIVE is 1,000 followers. Users also have to be at least 18 years old. 

Creators can also go LIVE via a web browser on a computer. You’ll need to download TikTok LIVE Studio for Windows or OBS Studio for Linux, Mac, or Windows. 

When you go LIVE, the greatest advantage is having the opportunity to interact with your viewers in real-time. LIVE creators can also access the following features:

  • Filters and effects
  • Multi-guest hosting
  • Comments management
  • Moderation tools
  • LIVE Gifts
  • LIVE Subscription

Previously, TikTok did not limit the length of a live stream. This meant your broadcast could run indefinitely as long as there was no dead air for an extended period. These days, however, a live stream has a maximum run time of 60 minutes. 

According to TikTok, 30 minutes is the ideal run time for maximum viewership and engagement. 

If you meet the platform’s requirements, here’s how to start a live stream:

  1. Tap the Create button. 
  2. Scroll through the options under the Record button and tap LIVE
  3. Add a title and cover image.
  4. Apply your desired Filter and Effect. Adjust other LIVE settings, e.g., select who can comment, filter comments, add moderators, or invite guests.
  5. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE

If you don’t meet TikTok’s eligibility requirements for LIVE access, you won’t be able to find the LIVE button in Create mode

A woman sits in a bookstore in front of a video camera for a TikTok LIVE.

How To Get LIVE Access on TikTok Without 1000 Followers

Can you access LIVE if you have fewer than 1,000 followers? You have two options for how to get LIVE access on TikTok without 1,000 followers:

  1. Join a livestream as a guest. 
  2. Meet the minimum follower requirement by purchasing followers. 

You must make prior arrangements to collaborate to co-host a live stream with another creator. You first need to find a creator in your niche who meets TikTok’s requirements. You have to be ready with something valuable to contribute to the stream. Make sure you have content that demonstrates what you have to offer. 

If you’re buying followers, do it without triggering TikTok’s spam alarm. The algorithm investigates sudden and significant follower, viewer, or engagement metrics increases.

Let’s look at each option more closely. 

A black DSLR camera captures a band performing live for their TikTok audience.

How To Get LIVE Access on TikTok as a Guest

If you don’t have 1,000 followers, you can still access the streaming feature as a guest. This entails collaboration with another creator who has access to LIVE. 

TikTok has a multi-guest feature that lets LIVE creators invite guests or accept guest requests during their stream. Guests can join the broadcast via video or audio. 

Here’s how to get LIVE access on TikTok as a guest via an invitation:

  1. Open the LIVE invitation and select Video Join or Audio Join
  2. Adjust your video settings. Add a Filter, select your desired Props, and turn your camera on or off. You can preview your video and audio before joining the live stream. 
  3. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE, and you’ll join the broadcast in five seconds. 

Follow these steps to send a request to join a TikTok LIVE as a guest:

  1. On the LIVE video you want to join, tap the Multi-guest button. 
  2. Tap Apply and wait for the LIVE creator to accept your request. 
  3. Once the creator approves your guest request, you can adjust your video settings. You can preview your video and audio before joining the broadcast. 
  4. Tap Go LIVE when ready; you’ll go LIVE as a guest in five seconds. 

A video gamer sits in front of a camera, a microphone, and two computer monitors as he livestreams his game.

Meet the LIVE Follower Threshold With the Help of a Growth Service

Want to host your own real-time broadcasts but don’t meet the 1K-follower threshold? You can get the numbers you need via a TikTok growth service

Here are a few quick tips to help minimize spam/bot detection when purchasing followers:

  1. Keep your purchases small. Instead of getting hundreds of followers in a single purchase, purchase small quantities in multiple batches. 
  2. Don’t increase your follower count too quickly. Wait a few hours between purchases or deliveries. If you can meet your 1K goal over a few days or weeks, even better! 
  3. You can also find a growth service that offers gradual delivery. A bulk purchase is often cheaper, but choose a service that lets you select natural growth/gradual delivery. 
  4. Make sure your other metrics tally properly with your increasing follower count. Accounts with 1K or more followers often have hundreds of likes and thousands of views. You may also need to buy views and likes to avoid suspicion. 

Take note that there’s no guarantee you’ll get LIVE access after purchasing the followers you need to meet the requirement. You may submit a report to TikTok if you can’t find the LIVE button. However, doing so increases the risk of TikTok detecting your fake numbers. 

What’s the Key to a Successful Livestream?

If it’s your first time hosting a live stream on TikTok, here are some pointers to help you maximize visibility and engagement:

  • Choose a topic that’s popular among your target audience. 
  • Ask your followers for input on what your LIVE content should be. 
  • Invite your fans to submit questions you’ll answer during your broadcast. 
  • Prepare an outline or script for your stream to make sure it flows smoothly. 
  • Create the proper setup for your stream, e.g., lights, audio, and background. 
  • Do a few test runs of your LIVE content. 
  • Create teaser videos for your upcoming broadcast and promote it across multiple channels.

A person at a concert livestreams the performance using their phone.

Going LIVE on TikTok: Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the LIVE button? I have over 1,000 followers, so why can’t I access LIVE? Here are a few more FAQ to help you gain access to TikTok’s LIVE feature.

How do I enable TikTok LIVE access?

To enjoy LIVE streaming capabilities, you must meet TikTok’s minimum age and follower requirements. You must be at least 18 years old and have 1,000 followers or more to enable the LIVE feature. 

If you meet the eligibility requirements but can’t find the LIVE button or experience issues going LIVE, submit a report to TikTok

Why can’t I view or send comments on a livestream?

The LIVE creator and moderator/s can turn comments on or off before going LIVE or any time during the stream. If the comments are off, the creator and moderator/s, if any, won’t be able to view comments as they come. If you’re filtering comments or have muted/blocked comments from certain users, their comments also won’t appear during the stream.

If you’re a LIVE viewer, you won’t be able to view or send comments if the creator/moderator turned off commenting. If you can send comments, but they’re not showing up, the creator/moderator is most likely filtering them. They may have also muted your comments or blocked you from commenting. 

Can I still access LIVE without 1,000 followers?

The multi-guest feature is the best way to get LIVE access without meeting the 1K follower requirement. You can request to join a LIVE or make prior arrangements with a creator to co-host their stream. 

A man carries a camera and captures a street dancer’s performance.

Enhance Your TikTok Presence by Going LIVE

LIVE video content offers many unique advantages. Real-time engagement from viewers helps build stronger connections and trust. It gives fans intimate access to their favorite creator’s content process and allows them to provide immediate feedback. 

On the other hand, creators can collect virtual Gifts from viewers and earn Diamonds from TikTok via their livestream. They can offer LIVE Subscriptions to monetize their content via exclusive content access. Collaborating with another creator via a video broadcast is also an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience. 

If you want to level up your content game to boost visibility and engagement, learn how to get LIVE access on TikTok. You can try to work around the platform’s eligibility requirements if you haven’t met them yet. At the same time, step up your efforts to grow your follower base and enable the LIVE feature for your profile.

Do you need expert help to increase your posts’ visibility among suitable viewers? Sign up for a High Social plan! High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI targeting technology instantly doubles your targeting capability. Connect with more genuinely interested viewers eager to join your community and engage with your content. 

Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101