How to go LIVE on TikTok

TikTok is more than just your feed of daily entertainment – half the fun is chiming in on comment conversations, or even posting your own content. Now, TikTok LIVE makes it easier than ever to stream and interact with audiences in real time.

Not every user on TikTok can start a LIVE. To stream, you need to be over 18 years old, meet a local threshold of followers, and pass other safety-related criteria. To help keep TikTok LIVE safe and entertaining, your account must also be in good standing, following Community Guidelines, LIVE Monetization Policies and Creator Code of Conduct.

LIVEs are a great way to express yourself candidly, so there’s no right way to go about it – just be yourself. You can go simple with a GRWM or “get ready with me” stream while you prepare to head out, a singing or drawing stream to showcase your talents, or with a more complex gaming setup to share your playthroughs if that’s your jam.

However you choose to go LIVE, the first step is the same: once you meet eligibility requirements, simply tap the plus button at the center of your screen, and then tap LIVE. Here, you’ll find options to flip your camera, adjust the filter, use Effects, and share your LIVE with a link or to your friends on TikTok.

Under Settings, you’ll find more ways to customize your live, like add a LIVE title and cover, adjust your video quality depending on your WiFi or data connection,or toggle Gift settings to allow viewers to use virtual Gifts to interact with your LIVE content and show their appreciation for it.

Tip: If you want to give it a whirl before officially broadcasting to an audience, tap Settings and then Practice mode for a pre-LIVE session. Once you’re happy with your settings and you’re ready to go, tap “Go LIVE.”

Once you’re LIVE, you can add hosts or guests by tapping those buttons at the bottom left corner, or just get right to interacting with viewers. Livestreams are the best time to bring people together in real time, so don’t forget to have fun and engage with your audience. For starters, welcome them in by name, answer their questions, or even get a conversation going by asking them a few.

To make your LIVE more engaging, you can also tap the “Interact” button to start polls, do lightning Q&As, and other activities.

Tapping the “More” button on the LIVE interface allows you to access options like Flip camera, Mirror video, and Pause live. Once you’re finished, tap the power icon at the top-right corner of your screen and then “End now.”

The end screen shows you how long you streamed, how many viewers joined and commented, new followers, and other stats. Congratulations, you’ve just done your first LIVE!

The more you go LIVE, the more comfortable you’ll be in front of your audience and the better your streams can be. To get even more advice and tips on going LIVE, just tap into the LIVE Center on the LIVE interface. There you can join the Creator Network, view Creator rankings, or even learn how to stream better through informational videos at the LIVE Academy tab.

There are endless ways to enjoy the world of content and community on TikTok, and LIVEs make it easy to connect with others in the moment. All you need to do is hit “LIVE,” let your personality shine, and open yourself up to real-time connections.