How to go live on TikTok

TikTok logo on phone screenPixabay: olbergeron

Being able to access the live feature on TikTok is a great way to connect with your followers, but there are some requirements that need to be met before a user is permitted to live stream.

If you’ve been on TikTok for any extended period of time, you may have scrolled past, and even watched a live stream or two when they crop up on your For You Page.

While it can be a chance for hugely popular creators to connect with thousands of followers at the same time, it is not only for big influencers. A good portion of the TikTok userbase has the ability to access the live stream feature, though it is not available immediately upon downloading the app.

Article continues after ad

There are some requirements that need to be met in order for the average user to be able to live stream, relating to your age and follower count.

An image of the TikTok app loading page on a phone with a bright backgroundWikimedia Commons, Solen Feyissa
TikTok is a hotspot for viral trends and fascinating videos.

Live stream access requirements:

In order to be able to live stream, your TikTok account must meet the following requirements:

  • Have more than 1,000 followers
  • Be at least 16 years old.

If you’ve met these standards access to be able to live stream should be available, and if you’ve only recently met the requirements then the option should appear soon.

Article continues after ad

How do you go live on TikTok?

Once you have met the requirements for being able to go live, the process of actually streaming is pretty simple. Just follow these steps:

  1. Launch TikTok, and press the plus button at the bottom-center of your screen.
  2. Under the red record button, select the option labeled ‘live.’
  3. Enter a title for your live video.
  4. Tap ‘go live’ to start the stream.

Once you’ve gone live, viewers will be able to talk to you via live chat, making communication much more instant. It also gives you an opportunity to delve into longer content, like storytimes for example, that TikTok’s usual one-minute video limit doesn’t give you.

While not everyone can go live right off the bat, the threshold for being able to is still relatively low, and can serve as a great way to communicate with your followers.

Article continues after ad

If you want to learn more about how to use TikTok, you can check out our other guides here:

How to duet on TikTokHow to Stitch on TikTokHow to favorite videos on TikTokHow to find contacts on TikTok | How to use TikTok StoriesBest time to post on TikTok for more views and likes