How Many Followers Do You Need to Go Live on TikTok?

To go live on TikTok you need to be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you live) and have a minimum number of followers. TikTok says the follower minimum varies by region and does not publish one fixed number. The figure most widely reported is 1,000 followers, the number given in news coverage when TikTok raised the LIVE age in 2022. Your account also needs to follow TikTok's Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

TikTok LIVE requirements in 2026

TikTok's own creator guide lists three things you need before the LIVE option appears. There is a separate, higher bar if you want to earn money from your streams.

What age do you have to be to go live on TikTok?

You need to be at least 18, or the age of majority in your country or region if that is higher. TikTok raised the LIVE hosting age from 16 to 18 on 23 November 2022. Sending Gifts and receiving them also needs you to be 18 or older (19 to send Gifts in South Korea). If the birthday on your account puts you under 18, LIVE will not appear, whatever your follower count.

Can you go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers?

It is the best-known figure, but treat it as a guide rather than a fixed rule. When TikTok announced in October 2022 that the LIVE host age would rise from 16 to 18, news reports said users then needed at least 1,000 followers and to be 16 or over to go live. TikTok's own announcement covered the age change but did not state a follower number, and its help and creator pages only say the number "may vary by region" or "by market".

The number may be different where you live, or TikTok may have changed it since, so the app is the final word. If you meet the age rule and still do not see LIVE, the follower minimum is the most likely reason.

How to go live on TikTok

Once your account is eligible, starting a LIVE on your phone takes a few taps. These steps follow TikTok's own guide.

1. 1Open the create screen. Open the TikTok app and tap the Create (+) button at the bottom.
2. 2Choose LIVE. Swipe through the options at the bottom of the screen and select LIVE.
3. 3Set it up. Add a title and cover image, and check your settings, such as comment controls, moderators and who can watch.
4. 4Go live. Tap Go LIVE to start your stream.

Going live from a computer

TikTok offers a few desktop options, and which ones you see depends on your account and region:

• TikTok LIVE Studio: TikTok's own streaming app for computers. You install it, log in, add your video and audio sources, then start the LIVE. It needs LIVE access on your account.
• Streaming software such as OBS: you add your video and audio sources, then paste the Server URL and Stream Key that TikTok gives you into the software's stream settings.
• TikTok on the web: log in on a desktop browser, choose the LIVE option if it is available to you, and follow the on-screen steps.

Why can't I go live on TikTok?

If LIVE is missing from the create screen, one of these is usually the reason:

• You are under 18, or the age on your account says you are.
• You have not reached the follower minimum for your region yet.
• Your account has a rule violation that has limited features, including LIVE. If your views have also dropped, read our guide to the TikTok shadowban.
• The feature has not reached your app yet. Update the TikTok app and restart it before assuming anything else is wrong.

If you are sure you meet every requirement and LIVE is still missing, contact TikTok support from the help section of the app's settings so they can check your account.

What to do if you are below the follower minimum

There is no official shortcut. The only way to unlock LIVE is to reach the follower count for your region. These habits help most:

1. 1Post regularly. A steady schedule gives TikTok more chances to show your videos to new people. Our guide on the best time to post on TikTok explains how to pick your slots.
2. 2Hook viewers early. The first seconds decide whether people keep watching. If your videos stall, read why your TikTok views are low.
3. 3Stick to a clear topic. People follow accounts when they know what they will get next. A consistent theme turns one-off viewers into followers.
4. 4Reply to comments. Answering comments, including with video replies, builds the habit of talking to your audience that you will need on LIVE anyway.
5. 5Join other creators' LIVEs. Watching and chatting in streams in your niche shows you what works and gets your name in front of people who already enjoy LIVE content.

Some creators also give a new profile a head start with a TikTok followers package while they build their audience. Be clear about the trade-off. TikTok's Community Guidelines do not allow the trade of services that artificially boost engagement, and TikTok says it removes fake likes, followers and other inflated signals it detects. Followers it removes will not count towards the LIVE minimum. Bought followers do not replace good videos, and they will not keep a stream going. People stay on a LIVE because the host is worth watching.

Going live is not the same as getting paid

Unlocking LIVE lets you stream. Earning from it is a separate step. Viewers aged 18 or over can send you Gifts, which turn into Diamonds you may be able to withdraw, but TikTok has its own criteria for LIVE monetisation, including age rules that vary by region. See how many followers you need to get paid on TikTok, what TikTok gifts are worth and how much TikTokers make for the details. To turn a gift count into money, try our free TikTok coin and gift calculator.

Other follower milestones on TikTok and Instagram

LIVE is only one of the features tied to your follower count. See how many followers you need for a link in your TikTok bio, and if you also stream on Instagram, how many followers you need to go live on Instagram. The rules are different on each platform.