How To Go LIVE on TikTok: Enjoy Real-Time Engagement

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2024

TikTok 101
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Having a live audience offers a unique opportunity for real-time engagement. When you host a live stream, you can enjoy immediate interactions with your viewers and vice versa. Here’s everything you need to know about how to go LIVE on TikTok. 

Why Can’t I Go LIVE on TikTok? Know TikTok’s Requirements

Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok? If you don’t see the option to go LIVE on TikTok, it’s likely you don’t meet the eligibility requirements. To use this feature, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years old. 
  • Have at least 1,000 followers (the minimum follower count may vary across regions). 
  • Be in good standing on the platform and adhere to TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. 

Through TikTok LIVE, creators and viewers can engage with each other in real time. Many of TikTok’s interactive creative features, such as effects and filters, are also available on LIVE. TikTok’s video broadcast feature offers creators several opportunities for monetization, including LIVE Subscriptions, LIVE Gifts, etc.

Creators can go LIVE to have a Q&A session with their fans, do a tutorial, and host a behind-the-scenes video. Businesses may go LIVE to promote and sell products/services. 

If you have the ability to go LIVE, follow these steps to start your broadcast:

  1. Launch the TikTok app. 
  2. Tap the Create button. 
  3. Tap LIVE. The LIVE button may appear next to the record button. Otherwise, you may have to swipe left at the bottom to find it. 
  4. Set up your LIVE. Select an image and type a title for your LIVE. Customize other LIVE settings, such as filters, effects, turning Comments on/off, enabling LIVE Gifts, or inviting a host. 
  5. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE

How Many Followers on TikTok To Go LIVE 

How many followers do you need on TikTok to go LIVE? To use TikTok’s LIVE feature, you need at least 1,000 followers. This ensures that you’ll have sufficient viewership and engagement. 

TikTok also wants to ensure viewers have a fun and positive viewing experience. TikTok may restrict your ability to use LIVE when you commit certain content violations, such as sharing inappropriate or harmful content. As a safety measure, registered users below 16 years old also don’t have the ability to go LIVE. This applies regardless of their follower count. 

How To Go LIVE on TikTok Without 1000 Followers 

Is the one-thousand-follower minimum requirement absolute? Is it possible to go LIVE even if you don’t meet this requirement?

There is a possible workaround if your follower count is still under 1K. You can submit a request to go LIVE to TikTok. Here’s how to go LIVE on TikTok without 1000 followers by making a formal request:

  1. Go to your Profile
  2. Tap the Menu/three-line icon in the top right. 
  3. Tap Settings and privacy
  4. Under Support&About, tap Report a problem
  5. Tap LIVE, then select Hosting LIVE
  6. Select Other hosting LIVE issues
  7. Under the question, “Is your problem resolved?” tap No. Then, tap Need more help?
  8. In the feedback section, type your request to access TikTok LIVE. 

It may take up to 72 hours to get a response from TikTok. 

Another solution is to find a creator who meets the requirements and ask them to co-host a LIVE with you. The creator must initiate the broadcast and invite you as a LIVE guest/co-host. 

As a final alternative, use a third-party streaming software that allows you to restream to TikTok via a stream key.

How To Go LIVE on TikTok on PC

Are you wondering how to go LIVE on TikTok on your PC? You can stream via your PC through TikTok LIVE Studio or a restreaming service. 

TikTok LIVE Studio lets creators go LIVE from their desktop computers. Gaming creators need a minimum of 1,000 followers to use this feature, while non-gaming creators need at least 10K followers. 

Additionally, gaming creators “must have previously posted game-related short videos or went LIVE with game-related content on TikTok.”

If you meet TikTok’s requirements, you can download LIVE Studio and start streaming from your PC. 

What if you don’t meet TikTok’s eligibility requirements but you’re already streaming consistently on other platforms? You may submit a request to access LIVE Studio

How To Go LIVE With Someone on TikTok 

TikTok allows multiple hosting on LIVE. If you’re the main host, you can invite guests to your LIVE stream. If you want to join somebody’s else’s LIVE, you can submit a request. 

Here’s how to go LIVE with someone on TikTok as the main host:

  1. Start your LIVE
  2. Tap the Multi-guest button at the bottom of the screen. 
  3. Tap Invite, then select creators or friends you want to join your stream as guests. 
  4. If other creators, friends, or viewers send you a request to join your LIVE, tap Accept

When you receive an invitation to join a LIVE, follow these steps to accept the invite:

  1. Open the notification inviting you to join a LIVE. 
  2. Select Video Join or Audio Join to accept. 
  3. Adjust your video settings and add the Enhance filter, select Props, and turn your camera and audio on or off. TikTok will show you a video and audio preview before joining the LIVE. 
  4. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE. You’ll join the stream in five seconds. 

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

  1. During a LIVE stream, tap the Multi-guest button, then tap Apply
  2. Wait for the creator to accept your request. Once they approve your request to join, you can customize your LIVE video settings and preview your video and audio. 
  3. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE. You’ll join the broadcast in five seconds. 

Best Time To Go LIVE on TikTok

When is the best time to go LIVE on TikTok? The best time is when most of your fans are available to watch your broadcast. This gives you the best opportunity to maximize viewership. 

So, how do you find out when your target audience is active on TikTok? You can check your Analytics to view your viewers’ most active times. You can also find out when other creators in your niche typically go LIVE. 

With a bit of research, you can collect enough data to identify the ideal day and time to have your own broadcast. 

Take note that the best time for a live stream varies per day and depends on your target audience’s region. It’s best to get to know your audience first and build consistent engagement to have the most accurate data possible. 

Why Should You Go LIVE?

Going LIVE offers unique opportunities for instant and rewarding engagement. 

Hosting a live stream is more demanding than posting pre-recorded videos for obvious reasons. You need confidence and your wits about you to keep your viewers engaged in real time. Having the gift of gab certainly helps. 

Your future relationship will depend on how smoothly your broadcast goes and how pleasant, entertaining, or informative the experience is for your viewers. 

Fortunately, you can rehearse for a live broadcast. And having a script is perfectly okay. As intimidating as it can be for beginners, going LIVE offers many long-lasting benefits:

  • Build stronger and more meaningful connections with your audience. Enjoy a great opportunity to get to know your viewers better and for them to get up close and personal with you. 
  • Enjoy lively interactions with your viewers. This could be the start of a higher level of engagement from your fans. 
  • Collect virtual Gifts from fans and Diamonds from TikTok. Hosting a LIVE is a great way to monetize your content and establish your relevance as a creator in your community. 
  • Show appreciation for your followers’ support. A LIVE performance, tutorial, or the like is one way to give back to your community. 

How To Maximize Your TikTok LIVEs

Do you have the ability to go LIVE on TikTok? If yes, don’t miss out on an exciting chance to bolster your connection with fans and earn more rewards from your content. Live streaming takes your engagement to the next level and helps you establish a stronger presence in your community. 

When you know how to go LIVE on TikTok, you can explore more opportunities to monetize your content. Ensure you’re always reaching viewers whose interests align with yours to maximize your rewards. Bolster your audience-targeting capability by signing up for a High Social plan!

Take advantage of High Social’s team of TikTok experts and their advanced, proprietary AI technology. Instantly connect with audiences likely to hit your follow button and become lifelong fans. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101