Live videos on TikTok allow users to interact with each other in real-time.
To go live on TikTok, you need to be aged 16 and above.
To send and receive gifts during a live video, you need to be aged 18 and above.
However, there is no age restriction to watch a live video on TikTok.
Anyone can watch a live video on TikTok as long as they have an account.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to find and watch live videos on TikTok (whether its from your friend or a random person).
- How to watch live videos on TikTok
- How do you find live streams on TikTok?
- Can you watch previous LIVEs on TikTok?
How to watch live videos on TikTok
To watch live videos on TikTok, navigate to “Top LIVES” in your inbox.
If you want to watch live videos from users that you’re following, tap on the “Following” tab instead.
“Top LIVES” showcases the most popular live videos on TikTok in your region.
On the other hand, live videos under the “Following” tab display the users that you’re following that are currently live on TikTok.
If the section is empty, it means that no one you’re following is live at the moment.
However, there are a couple of prerequisites required to watch live videos.
This includes having a TikTok account and using TikTok on a mobile device.
In order to watch live videos, you need to have a TikTok account.
Secondly, you need to use the TikTok app on a mobile device.
This is because LIVEs are not shown on the desktop version of TikTok.
Without further ado, below are two ways you can use to watch live videos on TikTok.
1. Navigate to “Top LIVEs”
Open TikTok (on a mobile device) > Inbox > Top LIVEs.
The first method is to navigate to “Top LIVEs”.
To begin with, open TikTok on your mobile device.
You cannot use TikTok on a desktop as it does not display the “Top LIVEs”.
In addition, make sure that you’re signed in to your TikTok account.
This is because you won’t be able to see “Top LIVEs” if you don’t have one.
Once you’re on TikTok, tap on “Inbox” on the bottom navigation bar.
After you’ve tapped on “Inbox”, you’ll land on your inbox.
On the inbox page, you’ll see your follow requests (if your account is set to private) and other notifications (e.g. likes, comments).
At the top of the page, you’ll see a tab that says, “Top LIVEs”.
This tab allows you to see the most popular live videos on TikTok in your region.
Tap on “Top LIVEs” to see the top live videos.
After you’ve tapped on “Top LIVEs”, you’ll land on a random live video.
You can either scroll up to go to the next LIVE or tap on the “Explore more” button.
If you scroll up, you’ll go to the next live video.
On the other hand, if you tap on the “Explore more” button, you’ll see a grid list of other users that are live on TikTok.
These users are located around your region.
The profile icon on the bottom of each grid indicates how many viewers are watching the live video.
You’ve successfully learned how to find and watch live videos on TikTok!
If you want to see the live videos of users that you’re following on TikTok, proceed to the next method.
2. Tap on the “Following” tab
Open TikTok > Home > Following > LIVE.
The second method is to navigate to the “Following” tab.
You can use this method if you want to find and watch the live videos of users that you’re following on TikTok.
Firstly, open TikTok on your mobile device.
This is because you won’t be able to see live videos if you’re using TikTok on a desktop.
Once you’re on the TikTok app, go to the home page if you haven’t already.
You can go to the home page by tapping on the “Home” icon on the bottom navigation bar.
On the home page, you’ll see a “Following” tab and a “For You” tab.
Tap on the “Following” tab to see the videos of users you’re following on TikTok.
On the “Following” tab, users you’re following that are currently live will be displayed at the top of the page.
Their profile picture will be shown along with a “LIVE” tab.
To watch their live stream, simply tap on their profile picture.
However, if you’re not following anyone or if you’re only following a few users on TikTok, there probably won’t be any live streams at the top of the “Following” tab.
To have more LIVEs displayed at the top of the “Following” tab, make sure to follow more users on TikTok that consistently go LIVE.
You’ve successfully learned how to see the live videos of users that you’re following on TikTok!
How do you find live streams on TikTok?
To find live streams on TikTok, you can either navigate to “Top LIVEs” in your inbox or check your “Following” tab.
Popular live streams on TikTok will be shown on the “Top LIVEs” tab.
The “Top LIVEs” tab can be found when you tap on the “Inbox” icon on the bottom navigation bar.
When you tap on the “Top LIVEs” tab, you’ll land on a random live stream from a user in your region.
For example, if you’re located in Singapore, you’ll see live streams that are in Singapore.
If you want to watch live streams of users you’re following on TikTok, tap on the “Following” tab instead.
Users that you follow who are live on TikTok will be shown at the top of the “Following” tab.
Can you watch previous LIVEs on TikTok?
Unfortunately, you cannot watch previous LIVEs on TikTok.
Live streams can only be watched when the creator is actually live on TikTok.
When a live stream has ended, it will not be saved for replay.
The only way you can watch a previous LIVE on TikTok is if you’ve recorded it.
Conclusion
Going live on TikTok s a great way for a creator to interact with their followers.
However, in order for you to know if a creator went live on TikTok, you need to follow them.
If you’re not following the creator, you won’t be notified that they are live on the app unless you search for their profile manually.
That said, if you want to be notified when your favorite creator goes live, it’s best to follow them.
After you’ve followed them, you can always check whether they are live on TikTok by navigating to the “Following” tab.
Further Reading
What Does #xyzbca Mean on TikTok?
How to See Follow Requests on TikTok
How to DM (Direct Message) People on TikTok
Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.
