You need a TikTok account with at least 1,000 followers and to be at least 18 years old
TikTok's live feature, called TikTok Live, is not available to every account. The platform requires you to meet two hard requirements before you can broadcast: your account must have at least 1,000 followers, and you must be 18 or older. TikTok checks your age against the birthdate you provided when you signed up, so if you listed a false birthdate, you will not be able to go live even if you meet the follower count.
If you have fewer than 1,000 followers, the live button will not appear in your app. There is no way to unlock it early. You can still watch other people's live streams and send gifts (which costs money), but you cannot start your own broadcast until you cross that threshold.
Key Takeaways
- TikTok Live requires 1,000 followers and an account holder who is 18 or older; neither requirement can be waived.
- Once you go live, TikTok records your stream and may keep it on your profile for up to 30 days unless you delete it manually.
- Everything you say and do on a live stream is visible to anyone who tunes in, and viewers can screenshot or record your broadcast without your knowledge.
- TikTok collects data about who watches your stream, how long they watch, and what gifts they send, and uses this information for recommendations and advertising.
- Deleting a live stream from your profile does not erase it from TikTok's servers or from anyone who saved a copy.
How to start a live stream once you meet the requirements
Open the TikTok app and tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the screen to create new content. Instead of selecting "Video," swipe left until you see "Go Live." Tap it. You will see a preview of your camera and a text box where you can add a title for your stream. The title appears to people browsing the live tab, so choose something that describes what you are doing.
Before you tap "Go Live," you can choose who can watch: everyone, friends only, or followers only. You can also turn on a "duet" mode that lets viewers create split-screen videos with your stream. Once you tap "Go Live," your stream starts when ready and a notification goes to your followers. The broadcast will appear in the "Following" tab for anyone subscribed to your account.
What TikTok records and keeps about your live stream
When you go live, TikTok records the entire broadcast. By default, the recording stays on your profile for 30 days, and anyone can watch it during that time even if they missed the original live broadcast. You can delete the recording manually at any time by going to your profile, finding the live video, and selecting "Delete." However, deleting it from your profile does not remove it from TikTok's servers.
TikTok also collects data about your stream itself: how many people watched, how long the average viewer stayed, which viewers sent gifts and how much they spent, and when people joined and left. This data is visible to you in your analytics, but TikTok also uses it internally to decide which streams to recommend to other users and to build a profile of your viewing and broadcasting habits for advertising purposes.
Who can see your stream and what they can do with it
Depending on your privacy settings, your live stream is visible to everyone on TikTok, only your followers, or only your friends. But visibility settings do not prevent recording. Anyone watching your stream can take a screenshot, record your video using their phone's screen recording tool, or use a third-party app to save your broadcast. You will not be notified if someone records you.
Once someone has saved a copy of your stream, they can share it anywhere: other social media platforms, messaging apps, or websites. TikTok cannot remove those copies because they are no longer on TikTok's platform. If you say something you regret during a live stream, the only way to limit its spread is to delete the stream from your profile as quickly as possible, but this only prevents new viewers from finding it on TikTok itself.
What data TikTok collects from your viewers
TikTok collects information about everyone who watches your stream: their account ID, how long they watched, whether they sent gifts, and when they tuned in and out. This data is tied to their TikTok profile and used to build a record of their interests and behavior. TikTok uses this information to recommend future streams to them and to show them targeted ads based on what they watch.
If a viewer sends you a gift (which costs them money), TikTok records the gift type, the amount spent, and the timestamp. You receive a portion of the money spent on gifts, but TikTok keeps a cut. The viewer's name appears on your stream in real time, and their gift is logged in your analytics.
How to control who can comment and send gifts during your stream
While you are live, you can moderate your stream by blocking users, turning off comments, or restricting gifts to followers only. To block someone, tap their username and select "Block User." To turn off comments entirely, tap the comment icon and toggle comments off. To restrict gifts to followers, tap the gift icon and select "Followers Only."
These controls only affect the current live stream. The next time you go live, comments and gifts are turned on by default again. Blocked users can still watch your stream unless you also set it to "Followers Only" or "Friends Only" before you start broadcasting. If you block someone after they have already watched, they can still see the recording on your profile unless you delete it.
What happens to your data after you stop streaming
After your live stream ends, TikTok keeps a record of the broadcast, the viewer list, the gift data, and your analytics for at least 30 days. During this time, the video remains on your profile and can be watched, shared, and downloaded by anyone with access to it. After 30 days, the video is automatically deleted from your profile, but TikTok retains the metadata (viewer counts, gift totals, timestamps) in its analytics system indefinitely.
TikTok's privacy policy states that it may keep aggregated or anonymized data about your streams to improve its service and train its recommendation algorithm. This means your stream contributes to TikTok's understanding of user behavior even after the video itself is deleted. You cannot opt out of this data collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I go live if my account is private?
Yes. A private account can still go live, but only your approved followers will see the broadcast. The live notification still goes to your followers, and the recording stays on your profile for 30 days unless you delete it. Private accounts do not prevent people from recording your stream.
What if I want to go live but do not have 1,000 followers yet?
You will have to wait until you reach 1,000 followers. There is no other way to unlock the live feature. Some creators use other platforms like Instagram or YouTube to stream while building their TikTok audience, then switch to TikTok Live once they hit the threshold.
Can I delete a live stream from someone else's phone if they recorded it?
No. Once someone has saved a copy of your stream to their device, you have no control over it. You can report the video to TikTok if it violates the platform's rules, but TikTok cannot force someone to delete a file on their personal phone. The only thing you control is the original recording on your profile.
Do I have to accept all gifts during a live stream?
No. You can turn off gifts entirely before you start streaming, or restrict them to followers only. You cannot reject individual gifts in real time, but you can block the user sending them, which prevents them from sending more gifts in future streams.
How much money do I make from gifts?
TikTok takes a percentage of each gift purchase, and you receive the remainder. The exact split varies and is not publicly disclosed by TikTok. You can see your total gift earnings in your creator analytics, but you cannot see the breakdown per gift or per viewer.