Why Can’t I Go Live on TIKTOK? Live Questions & Answers

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2023

TikTok 101

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TikTok LIVE lets creators and businesses connect with their communities in real time. LIVE allows genuine and spontaneous interactions, meaningful engagement, and endless creativity. What do you need to know about using TikTok LIVE? You may wonder, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” Let’s address all the common questions about this exciting TikTok feature.

Black DSLR camera recording a live stream.

TikTok Live Best Practices

TikTok promotes a sense of community through creativity and shared interests. Through LIVE, creators have a space for limitless opportunities. Did you know you can access effects, filters, and camera control when you go LIVE on TikTok? The platform does not limit your recording time when you go LIVE. On LIVE, you have a unique opportunity to find out what your audiences want. LIVE can help you gain new followers and lifelong fans.

Before we dive into questions like, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” take note of the following best practices. These will help you maximize your time with your audience on LIVE.

  • Identify prime hours to go LIVE. Find out when your target audience is most active on the platform; this would be the perfect time to reach them.
  • Set a time limit. While your LIVE can run as long as you want, TikTok recommends limiting it to 30 minutes for optimal engagement. This should be enough time to foster a meaningful connection with your audience in real time and find out what they want. Remember that they also have other stuff to do!
  • Post a video before you go LIVE. Doing so will give your LIVE additional exposure. If the video appears on your audience’s FYP while you’re on LIVE, they can join your stream via a special icon in the video.
  • Make adequate preparations. Ensure your LIVE location has good lighting and does not have distracting background noise. Ensure that you’ll have a stable internet connection. Practice with different camera angles to find the best one for your LIVE. Create an outline for how you want your stream to flow. Make notes about the various ways that you can engage your audience.

A studio microphone condenser set up for a live stream.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TIKTOK? Everything You Need To Know

Now it’s time to answer frequently asked questions about TikTok LIVE, such as “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” You may also be very interested to learn how you can earn money when you do a LIVE stream.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TikTok With 1,000 Followers?

You no longer need 1,000 followers to go LIVE on TikTok. However, you must be at least 18 years old to go LIVE. If you can’t go LIVE on TikTok with 1,000 followers, LIVE may not be available in your area. If you’re still asking, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” the reason may simply be technical.

The platform may also suspect your ability to go LIVE if you violate TikTok’s Community Guidelines. Here are the most common violations that could lead to such a suspension:

  • Make promises to your audience in exchange for something, like “follow for follow.”
  • Asking your audience to send you virtual Gifts so they can get a shoutout during your LIVE.
  • Asking your audience to share your LIVE if they want you to give them a follow.
  • Posting inappropriate content.

What To Do if You Can’t Go Live on TikTok

TikTok LIVE can give you the exposure you need to become famous. In addition to, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” you may also ask, “What can you do if you can’t go LIVE on TikTok?” You can try the following solutions:

  1. Restart the app. If this doesn’t work, restart your device.
  2. Check your internet connection. You can also restart your modem. If you have a weak WIFI connection, you can use LIVE via a desktop computer or laptop directly connected to your modem.
  3. Clear app cache. If internet connectivity is not the problem, try clearing your app cache.

Follow these steps to clear your app cache:

  1. Go to your Profile.
  2. Tap the 3-line icon in the top right.
  3. Tap Settings and Privacy.
  4. Tap Clear cache.

If none of these troubleshooting options work, you can report the issue to TikTok:

  1. Go to your Profile.
  2. Tap the 3-line icon in the top right.
  3. Tap Settings and Privacy.
  4. Tap Report a Problem > LIVE/Payment/Rewards.
  5. Choose the topic that best describes your current issue with LIVE.
  6. Follow the steps in the app to resolve your issue.

A professional camera capturing a live workout video.

How Can I Start a TikTok Live?

If you have fixed the issue regarding “Why I can’t go LIVE on TikTok,” you can start exploring this feature. In the mobile app, you can access LIVE through the following steps:

  1. Open the app and tap the Create icon (+) at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Swipe left in the navigation bar and select LIVE.
  3. You’ll be able to see a preview of your video feed. You can add a title to your LIVE stream, and add effects or filters. You can also turn comments on or off, choose a charity to support, and share your LIVE.
  4. When you’re ready, tap Go LIVE to start your stream.
  5. Once you’re LIVE, you can tap the three dots to change various settings. You can flip the camera, change your effects, filter comments, and add up to 20 moderators.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TikTok Continuously?

Another question you may ask is, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok continuously?” TikTok allows creators to stream a LIVE with no time limit. However, if the platform detects that you have been inactive in your LIVE room for a long time, TikTok will send a verification message. If you fail to complete the verification (probably because you’re busy with something else), TikTok will end your stream.

It’s important to stay active throughout your LIVE to stream without interruption.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TikTok and Earn Gifts and Diamonds?

You can use LIVE to monetize your content on TikTok through virtual Gifts and Diamonds. When you have earned enough Diamonds, you can convert these into cash. When you do a stream, your question might be, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok and earn Gifts and Diamonds?”

The eligibility requirements for LIVE Gifts and Diamonds are as follows:

  1. Live in a location where LIVE Gifts are available.
  2. Be 18 or older (or adhere to local age requirements).
  3. Eligibility to go LIVE.
  4. Have an account in good standing and adheres to our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

Remember that your audiences must be “aged 18 (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) or older” to purchase virtual Gifts. They’ll need to use TikTok Recharge to buy Coins and send you Gifts. If you’re not receiving Gifts, it may be because your viewers cannot buy Coins to reward you with Gifts. It’s also possible they’re not aware of this feature.

You can only collect Diamonds from your TikTok LIVE by converting a certain number of Gifts. TikTok awards Diamonds based on the popularity of your LIVE content. You can redeem them for money when you have accrued 2,000 Diamonds ($10).

Close-up of one-hundred-dollar bills.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TikTok and Participate in Weekly Rankings?

Weekly Rankings are one of the LIVE features that can help increase your visibility to new audiences. A relevant question you may ask is, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok and participate in Weekly Rankings?”

Weekly Rankings show how creators rank against each other based on their accrued Diamonds. If you have more Diamonds, then you’ll rank higher. You’ll want to rank in the Weekly Top 20 hosts to receive prizes from TikTok. TikTok features the top four to 10 hosts on the “Explore More” page. These hosts will also be able to display their previous week’s rank on their LIVE video thumbnail.

You must be at least 18 years old and follow Community Guidelines to participate in Weekly Rankings.

If you want to opt out of Weekly Rankings, follow these steps:

  1. Tap LIVE Screen.
  2. Go to your Settings.
  3. Click Rankings.
  4. Tap More, Admin Settings, and Rankings to opt out of Weekly Rankings during a LIVE stream.

Why Can’t I Go Live on TikTok on a PC?

You can go LIVE on TikTok on a PC via TikTok LIVE Studio. You’ll find the LIVE Studio feature by clicking on your profile. If your problem is, “Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok while using my PC?” because the LIVE Studio option is not on the menu when you click on your profile, it might be because:

  • LIVE Studio is not available in your country or region.
  • LIVE Studio is not available for you at the moment.

If TikTok LIVE Studio is available, you’ll need to download it first. Follow these steps:

  1. Click on your profile, then select LIVE Studio.
  2. You’ll land on the TikTok LIVE Studio download page. LIVE Studio is free to download for Windows. Unfortunately, this feature is not yet available for macOS.
  3. Log in to your TikTok account to access the software after installation.
  4. You can click “Set up now” to set up your camera, microphone, and publishing parameters. You can skip the set-up process and click “Go LIVE now” or “Open streaming view.”
  5. Set up your LIVE stream and click the red “Go LIVE” button at the bottom right corner.

Go Beyond a Live Stream To Connect With the Right Audience

“Why can’t I go LIVE on TikTok?” This is a pressing question for creators who wish to connect with their audiences in real-time. TikTok LIVE is a not-to-miss opportunity to boost your presence on the platform. When you do a LIVE stream, you can directly interact with your audience, ask and answer questions, and strengthen your relationship.

TikTok LIVE is just one of the many rewarding options to build a loyal following on the platform. Of course, you want to be able to reach the right audience each and every time you share content. Optimizing your videos with hashtags, staying up-to-date on trends, and participating in trending challenges can help drive more views and engagement for your content. The ability to fine-tune your audience-targeting capability can further accelerate your TikTok success.

Team up with a company like High Social, an expert in TikTok growth management. High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology will give you precise audience-targeting capability. Your videos will reach authentic users whose interests perfectly match your content. High Social’s social media specialists will also use their TikTok marketing expertise to promote your content and generate maximum engagement.

Subscribe to High Social to gain organic and engaged followers month after month. Level up your TikTok game and get the exposure you need. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101