TikTok LIVE is a great way to interact with viewers in real-time. But how does it work, and how easy is it to use TikTok LIVE Studio? Let’s take a look.
What is TikTok LIVE?
TikTok LIVE is a live-streamed section of TikTok, giving content creators the chance to connect directly with followers. You can respond to comments and questions, and if you’re a master of the hustle, you can receive virtual gifts that can be exchanged for real money.
TikTok LIVE muscled onto the scene as direct competition to well-known, established live streamers like Facebook Live and Instagram Live.
How do I get TikTok LIVE?
To qualify for TikTok LIVE, you’ll need at least 1,000 followers. Once you’ve ticked that box, anyone over the age of 16 can start broadcasting with TikTok LIVE. And if you’re over 18, you can earn TikTok LIVE Gifts – more on those in a minute, though.
How does TikTok LIVE work?
As long as you’re eligible, TikTok LIVE is easy to access.
- Open the TikTok app and tap the create button (+) at the bottom of your screen.
- Click ‘LIVE’ from the menu.
- You’ll see a preview of your video feed. In that preview, you can title your live stream, turn comments on or off, add effects and filters, choose a charity to support, and share your TikTok LIVE video through your connected social media platforms.
- Once you’re set, hit ‘Go LIVE’ and… go live!
When your TikTok LIVE video is finished, just hit the power button at the bottom of the menu screen. Your TikTok LIVE stream will end. If you want to replay, download or delete your TikTok LIVE video, click ‘Settings and privacy,’ then ‘LIVE Replay.’
What are TikTok LIVE Gifts?
If viewers want to reward their favorite creators with some cold, hard cash, they can do so with TikTok LIVE Gifts.
To receive TikTok LIVE Gifts, you need at least three TikTok posts that have racked up 1,000+ views in the past 30 days, and 1,000 followers or more.
Viewers pay for TikTok Coins, which are used to buy ‘gifts’ to send during your TikTok LIVE videos. These can be anything from images of a tennis ball to a cute little Corgi. Once you earn a certain amount of TikTok LIVE Gifts, they can be converted into ‘Diamonds,’ which you can exchange for real currency.
To enable TikTok LIVE Gifts, you need to be part of the TikTok Creator Next program. We explain that, alongside all the other ways to make money on TikTok, here. But the long and short of it is: to set up TikTok LIVE Gifts, just head to the menu in the top-right of your profile. Then, hit ‘Creator Tools,’ select ‘LIVE Gifts’ and follow the onscreen instructions. Then you should be all set to start earning TikTok LIVE Gifts!
Why can’t I go live on TikTok?
If you’re unable to use TikTok LIVE, it could be for several reasons. These include:
- You might have lost some followers. If your follower count has slipped under 1,000, you’ll lose the ability to use TikTok LIVE.
- You could be in a country that doesn’t allow TikTok LIVE. If you’re visiting China, India or Hong Kong, you’ll be unable to create or upload TikTok LIVE videos. That’s because TikTok is banned in these territories.
- Your TikTok app may be outdated. Check for updates, uninstall the app, turn your phone off and on again – try all that usual business. Sometimes you just miss an update and your device can't deal with it.
If you’ve got more than 1,000 followers, are in an area that supports TikTok Live, have an up-to-date app and still can’t access TikTok LIVE, it’s best you get in touch with the TikTok support team.
To do this, head to your profile, open up ‘Settings and privacy’ from the menu in the top-right, then scroll down to ‘Report a problem.’ Here, you’ll see the ‘LIVE’ section. Click ‘I can’t start a LIVE,’ describe your issue, then submit your response. Someone at TikTok will review your case and hopefully it should get cleared up!
If you’re submitting feedback to TikTok using a computer, you can head here instead.
How long is a TikTok LIVE ban?
Most TikTok LIVE bans are temporary, lasting between one day and two weeks. If you’ve received a temporary ban, you can see how many days you have left in the ‘Livestream Restrictions’ section.
Once you’ve served your time, you’ll be allowed back on TikTok LIVE with the same privileges you had before the ban.
However, more serious offenses can result in a permanent ban. Unless it’s appealed, this ban lasts forever – you’ll not be allowed to use TikTok LIVE again.
If you feel like you’ve been unfairly banned, you can reach out to TikTok in a similar way to troubleshooting general TikTok LIVE problems: Head to ‘Report a problem,’ then ‘LIVE,’ onto ‘Hosting LIVE,’ and finally ‘LIVE is suspended.’ Then, if your problem isn’t answered there, you can describe it in detail within the text field.
You can get hit with a TikTok LIVE ban for:
- Threatening practices, including weapons, illegal substances and more
- Hate speech against individuals or communities
- Plagiarized content, whether it’s the entire broadcast or just a portion
- Overuse of profanity during broadcast
- Something else that could be seen as violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service
However, accidents happen. Viewers can report your TikTok LIVE stream for the wrong reason, the algorithm can mistakenly flag your content, or a TikTok moderator could get something mixed up. If you think that’s happened to you, get in touch with TikTok and they’ll review your case.
What is TikTok LIVE Studio?
TikTok LIVE Studio is a Windows-only program that allows content creators to stream as they would on a platform like Twitch. This means they can stream directly to TikTok LIVE from their desktop or gaming console.
At the moment, it’s only available to a few thousand users worldwide. TikTok LIVE Studio may roll out more widely in the future, to draw attention from live streaming competitors like Twitch. Keep your eyes peeled!
How to make the best TikTok LIVE videos
Once you’re ready to roll on TikTok LIVE, it’s worth keeping the below tips in mind.
The time slot is important!
Consider promoting your TikTok LIVE video before it happens, using regular TikToks and your other social channels to get the word out. In terms of when to go live, choose a time that works best for your audience. If most of your viewers are based in the UK, it’s no good starting your TikTok LIVE video when they’re all in bed. Learn more about your audience with TikTok Analytics.
Keep your TikTok LIVE video short and sweet
There’s no golden rule for exactly how long a TikTok LIVE video should be, but 30 minutes has proven to work. It’s the same length as an episode of something light on Netflix – long enough to offer value, but short enough to commit to.
Post a video directly before using TikTok LIVE
If viewers watch one of your TikTok videos while you’re live, they’ll be notified that your TikTok LIVE video is happening. This means they’ll be able to access your TikTok LIVE video directly from their For You feed, rather than browsing through the LIVE section. You can give viewers an extra nudge with a LIVE countdown sticker, which you can place in your regular TikToks.
Set the agenda
Assign your TikTok LIVE video a LIVE Topic, so people can get an idea of what to expect. You can also drop hints about what you’ll discuss on your other TikTok content.
Buddy up
Weigh up the idea of adding another host and using TikTok LIVE with another content creator. This way, you can bring in two different audiences, have an actual conversation and hopefully win over some new fans.
Host a LIVE Q&A
Once your TikTok LIVE video’s rolling, you can click the Q&A button – it looks like a speech bubble. This turns the session into a proper Q&A session, allowing you to select viewers’ questions and display them in your TikTok LIVE video for everyone to see.
Ensure your internet connection is stable
It would suck if your TikTok LIVE video started lagging halfway through. Check, double-check and triple-check your internet connection before streaming, to ensure it can handle TikTok LIVE.
Check your mic
You can probably get away with using the microphone built into your smartphone, as long as you're tucked away in a quiet space. However, if you’re streaming a TikTok LIVE video from a busy street, you might need something more substantial. Check out our lavalier microphone guide for the ins and outs of tiny, discreet mics that’ll do your sound justice.
Smile for the camera
Test out camera angles and settings before going live. If you’re sitting in a room, it’s best to stick to just one angle.
Nail your lighting
Bad lighting can ruin great content. Read our ring light guide to give yourself the glow-up required for TikTok LIVE.
Have fun and be yourself!
It’s good to know what you’ll be saying in advance, but there’s no need to stick rigidly to a script if you’re filming a TikTok LIVE video. People are tuning in to interact with you – they’re investing their time in your life, so it makes sense that you return the favor. Respond to questions, give shout-outs and make people feel welcome!
Related posts:
- What is TikTok Effect House?
- What’s Better: Instagram Reels or TikTok?
- How to Save TikTok Videos
FAQs
How do you answer questions on TikTok live? ›
You can tap the “Answer” button under a question if you want to respond to the question in a video, or you can tap the “Answer later” button under a question if you want to save it to your favorites so that you can answer it at a later time.
Why won t TikTok let me go live with 1,000 followers? ›To access the Live feature on the TikTok app, you must have at least 1000 followers. To access some of TikTok's features, like adding a link to your profile bio, you can find workarounds like switching to a Business account.
What am I not allowed to do on TikTok live? ›We do not allow nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content on our platform. We also prohibit content depicting or supporting non-consensual sexual acts, the sharing of non-consensual intimate imagery, and adult sexual solicitation.
What can ban you on TikTok live? ›- Sharing Content That Threatens Public Safety. ...
- Sharing Sexually Explicit Content. ...
- Posting Content That Depicts or Glorifies Self-Harm. ...
- Sharing Violent or Graphic Content. ...
- Posting Content That Promotes Illegal Activities. ...
- Blackmail Threats. ...
- Spam, Impersonation, and Misinformation.
Once you've received some responses, tap at the top or swipe right from anywhere in Feed. Tap Live at the bottom of the screen, then tap . Tap to see the questions you've received from the questions sticker in your story. Select a question to answer it and show it to your viewers.
How do I do the question and answer on TikTok? ›Add Q&A feature on TikTok: Head back to settings > select Creator tools > tap Q&A > tap Turn on Q&A > then the Q&A icon will be added below your TikTok bio. So viewers can tap the Q&A section, which looks like a question mark, to ask you questions or check the questions responded.
What is the answer live? ›The Answer Live feature allows you to answer a question from your Audience live – with audio.
Does TikTok live have a limit? ›Live Duration: You should also plan out how long you want to keep the live sessions. It will help you make the sessions brief and on-point. Though TikTok live videos have a limit to run for 60 minutes, I recommend keeping the duration up to 30 minutes.
Is there a limit on TikTok live? ›Just like with regular short-form TikTok videos, you have access to filters, effects, and camera control. But unlike the former, there are no limits on your recording time when you go LIVE, but if we detect that a host is inactive for a long period of time in their LIVE room, we will close the LIVE room.
How many likes do I need to get paid on TikTok? ›Can you make money on TikTok? The short answer is: Yes. To make money on TikTok directly you must be 18 years of age or older, have more than 10,000 followers, and have at least 100,000 views over the last 30 days. You can then apply to the TikTok Creator Fund in the app.
How to go live on TikTok without 1000 followers without reporting a problem? ›
You must have at least 1,000 followers to go Live, but you can request an exception by contacting TikTok. If you don't meet the requirements, send a request to enable Live by going to Settings and privacy, then Report a problem.
What does double tapping a TikTok live do? ›Double-tapping the screen while watching a TikTok live will give the video a like or a heart. Another double-tap will give them another like. This will tell the TikTok algorithm that something interesting is happening in the video and that people like it.
How do you become a top viewer on TikTok live? ›TikTok also ranks viewers when they join Lives. You can go up in ranking by sending gifts to creators, and for watching Lives for long periods of time. You can check these rankings by tapping the on the viewers icon in the top-right corner.
How much does TikTok live pay? ›Tik tokers earn around 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views. This translates to an earning between $20 to $40 once your video has gained 1 million views. A viral video with 10 million views costs around $200 to $400 from the creator's fund.
Does going live on TikTok help gain followers? ›Going live on TikTok can help you boost your engagement, as well as build your audience. You can even earn money in the process through gift points. But going live isn't a tool that's available to all creators — you'll have to meet certain requirements to access the option on the app.
Why did I get suspended on TikTok live? ›TikTok is strict on its community guidelines, and you will get banned when your account is found to have violated the guidelines. Reasons for TikTok banning your account include promoting violence, violating children's rights, promoting illegal content, self-harm, harassment, sexual content or nudity, and hate speech.
Can you be shirtless on TikTok? ›TikTok's nudity rules state that content that is "overly revealing of breasts, genitals, anus, or buttocks" will not be allowed on the platform, and say they "do not allow nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content on our platform." Similar guidelines are also enforced across other social media platforms.
Why do TikTok keep banning me? ›Accounts that consistently violate Community Guidelines will be banned from TikTok. If your account has been banned, you will receive a banner notification when you next open the app, informing you of this account change. If you believe your account was banned incorrectly, let us know by submitting an appeal.
How do TikTok guidelines work? ›Content on TikTok first goes through technology that identifies and flags potential policy violations, such as adult nudity and violent and graphic content. When content is identified as violating our Community Guidelines, it will be automatically removed or it will be flagged for additional review by our Safety team.
What happens if you get 3 Community guidelines TikTok? ›If a user repeatedly violates TikTok's community guidelines, then it might lead to a permanent ban from the platform. If a user constantly posts inappropriate content, even after TikTok issued a strict ban or a temporary ban, their account will get permanently banned.
What happens if you violate TikTok community guidelines? ›
Accounts that consistently violate Community Guidelines will be banned from TikTok. If your account has been banned, you will receive a banner notification when you next open the app, informing you of this account change. If you believe your account was banned incorrectly, let us know by submitting an appeal.
Can you smoke on TikTok live? ›You can not smoke on Tiktok. So while uploading videos you should keep this in mind and avoid a ban. Other than a complete ban, Tiktok might also reduce your engagement with your audience.
How many times can you violate TikTok guidelines? ›Your first violation results in a warning unless it's a zero-tolerance violation, in which case you get immediately banned (permanently. Secondary violations and onward can result in temporary or permanent bans. There is no official “limit” to the number of violations required to get banned.
How do you avoid TikTok violations? ›- Consider whether there may be any copyright material in your video. ...
- Consider any speech used in the video (signs or added text). ...
- Ensure that you have the proper permission to video at a location. ...
- Ensure that before you post a film of anyone, you ask them for permission to do so.
Once you're logged in, you can start browsing videos. You can also activate TikTok on your TV by casting from your phone or tablet. To do this, you will need to open the TikTok app on your phone or tablet and start playing a video. Then, tap the cast icon and select your TV from the list of devices.
Does going LIVE on TikTok boost views? ›Going live on TikTok can help you boost your engagement, as well as build your audience. You can even earn money in the process through gift points. But going live isn't a tool that's available to all creators — you'll have to meet certain requirements to access the option on the app.
Are you allowed to drink on TikTok live? ›We do not allow the depiction, promotion, or trade of drugs or other controlled substances. The trade of tobacco and alcohol products is also prohibited on the platform.
How long does Community Guidelines Appeal last TikTok? ›For US users, you will have 23 days to submit an appeal and download your data. If you don't appeal, or if your appeal is unsuccessful, we'll delete your account on day 30 and start deleting all your data.
Does TikTok shadow ban you for Community guidelines? ›Another potential reason for shadow banning? Repeatedly going against TikTok's community guidelines with content containing hate speech, nudity, drugs, fake news, violence, or any other inappropriate behavior the app doesn't condone — you can find a full list on TikTok's site.
Do TikTok guideline violations expire? ›The app can also block a device from preventing any accounts in the future. However, your violations will expire from your record over time.
Why did TikTok ban my account for no reason? ›
Why did TikTok ban my account for no reason? Your TikTok account may be banned due to a flaw or glitch in the app's algorithm. If you're 100% sure that you didn't violate TikTok's community guidelines, send an appeal immediately to lift your ban.