How to Get Video Access on TikTok Live

Bringing a guest onto your TikTok LIVE through video is one of the most effective ways to make your streams more dynamic, engaging, and collaborative. Instead of a one-way broadcast, you create a real-time conversation that draws viewers in. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to get video access for guests on your TikTok LIVE, cover the requirements you need to meet first, and share some pro tips for hosting a session that people will actually want to watch.

What Exactly is Multi-Guest Video Access on TikTok LIVE?

Multi-Guest on TikTok LIVE is a feature that allows you to share your live broadcast with other creators or viewers in a split-screen format. When you invite someone to join, their video feed appears alongside yours, letting you talk face-to-face in front of your audience. Up to five guests can join your LIVE at once, turning your solo presentation into a vibrant panel discussion, a collaborative Q&A, or an interactive duet.

Why is this such a game-changer? Collaboration is the lifeblood of social media growth. When you bring another creator on your LIVE, you're not just borrowing their personality for a few minutes, you're tapping into their audience. Their followers get notified, bringing new eyes to your content and giving you a powerful dose of cross-promotion. It's an authentic way to expand your reach without feeling overly promotional.

Beyond growth, it just makes for better content. Think about it:

• Interviews and Q&As: Bring on an expert in a field your audience loves and let them share their knowledge. The back-and-forth is far more engaging than a monologue.
• Collaborative Performances: If you're a musician, artist, or performer, you can jam or create with a fellow creator in real time.
• Live Debates or Discussions: Host a friendly debate on a trending topic, turning your LIVE into an unmissable event.
• Interactive Product Reviews: Co-host a review with a friend or even a customer, providing multiple perspectives that build trust and credibility.

Ultimately, the Multi-Guest feature transforms your broadcast from a speech into a shared experience, which is what builds a strong, engaged community on TikTok.

First Things First: Do You Meet the Requirements?

Before you get excited about hosting your favorite creator, you need to make sure your account is eligible to use the feature. TikTok puts a few safeguards in place to maintain the quality and safety of live content. Here's a quick checklist to see if you qualify.

1. Age Requirement

To go LIVE on TikTok in any capacity, whether single or with guests, you must be at least 18 years old. This is a platform-wide rule without exception, verified through the age you entered when signing up. This is a non-negotiable safety measure.

2. Follower Count

To unlock the basic ability to Go LIVE, you typically need at least 1,000 followers. While this number can vary slightly by region, 1k is the standard benchmark. Once you have access to the general LIVE feature, the Multi-Guest option is usually enabled as well. If you can go live but don't see the multi-guest icon, it might be due to a gradual feature rollout in your area or other factors below.

3. A Healthy Account Status

TikTok prioritizes creators who adhere to its Community Guidelines. If your account has recently received warnings or has had content removed for violations, you might find your LIVE access - especially advanced features like multi-guest - temporarily restricted. Maintaining a positive account standing is essential for unlocking and keeping all of TikTok's creation tools.

4. The Latest Version of the App

This sounds simple, but it's a surprisingly common reason for missing features. Social media apps are constantly updating. If you're running an older version of TikTok, the Multi-Guest feature may not appear or function correctly. Before troubleshooting anything else, head to your device's app store and make sure your TikTok app is fully updated.

How to Go LIVE with Guests: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Once you've confirmed you meet the requirements, you're ready to host your first collaborative LIVE. The process is straightforward once you know where to look. Let's break it down.

Step 1: Start Your LIVE Broadcast

1. Open the TikTok app and tap the create icon (`+`) at the bottom center of the screen, just like you would to film a regular video.
2. On the content creation screen, swipe left on the bottom menu until you see the `LIVE` option.
3. Before hitting go, set up your stream. Add a compelling title that tells people what your LIVE is about. For example: "Live Q&A: Talking Marketing w/ @SpecialGuest!" You can also add a cover photo and select topics relevant to your stream.
4. When you're ready, tap the `Go LIVE` button. After a short countdown, your broadcast will begin.

Step 2: Invite Guests to Join Your Video Stream

Now that you're live, you can start bringing people in. The Multi-Guest icon is your gateway for this.

1. Look at the bottom-left corner of your screen during the broadcast. You'll see several icons. Tap the one that looks like two intertwined rings or two figures - this is the Multi-Guest icon.
2. Tapping this opens the guest management screen. Here, you have two main ways to add people: inviting specific friends who are watching or accepting requests from viewers.

Option A: Inviting a Planned Guest

If you've pre-arranged a collaboration, this is the easiest way. On the guest management screen, you'll see a list of viewers who are currently watching your stream. Scroll through or use the search bar to find your guest's username, then tap the `Invite` button next to their name. They will receive a pop-up notification inviting them to join your LIVE. Once they accept, their video will appear on screen.

Option B: Accepting Requests from Viewers

Viewers can also actively request to join your broadcast. When someone makes a request, you'll see it appear in the "Requests" tab on the guest management screen. You can review the profiles of those requesting and choose to `Accept` or `Decline`. This is a great way to spontaneously involve your community, but be prepared - you never know who might join!

Step 3: Manage Your Guests and On-Screen Layout

Once a guest is on screen, you have a few simple controls to manage the stream.

• Layouts: With two or more people on screen, another icon will often appear, allowing you to change the video layout. "Grid" view gives everyone an equal-sized box, which is good for panels, while "Panel" view gives the host the main screen with guests shown in smaller windows along the side. Experiment to see what works best for your content.
• Muting a Guest: If a guest has background noise or you need them to be quiet for a moment, you can typically tap on their video box and find a mute option. They can also mute themselves.
• Removing a Guest: To end a guest's participation, find the `X` in the corner of their video feed and tap it. Or, go back into the Multi-Guest management screen and tap the disconnect button next to their name. This removes them from the stream without ending your broadcast.

You can add and remove guests throughout your LIVE, keeping the conversation fresh and dynamic for your audience.

Tips for Hosting an Amazing Multi-Guest LIVE

Just knowing how to use the feature isn't enough. A truly great collaborative LIVE session requires a bit of planning and active management. Here are a few tips to elevate your stream from good to unmissable.

1. Promote It Ahead of Time

Don't just go live and hope people show up. Use TikTok's "LIVE Event" feature to schedule your stream in advance. This places a registration link on your profile, allowing followers to get a reminder when you go live. Create a few short videos leading up to the event that introduce your guest, tease the topic, and tell people when to tune in. Building anticipation is everything.

2. Have a Plan (But Be Flexible)

Before you go live, have a conversation with your guest. What are you going to talk about? Is it a structured interview, a casual chat, or a specific activity? Having a rough outline with a few key talking points prevents awkward silences and keeps the stream on track. That said, don't be afraid to let the conversation flow naturally and engage with audience comments.

3. Test Your Setup First

A laggy connection or poor audio can ruin a stream instantly. Before you go live, check your Wi-Fi, make sure your phone is charged or plugged in, and find a well-lit, quiet location. Advise your guest to do the same. A seamless technical experience lets your content shine.

4. Actively Involve Your Audience

Your job as the host is to bridge the gap between your guests and the viewers. Welcome new people as they join, shout out gift-givers, and pull questions from the comment section to ask your guest. When the audience feels seen and heard, they are far more likely to stick around.

5. Have a Clear Call to Action

What's the goal of your LIVE? Make it known. If you want viewers to follow you and your guest, say it. If you're directing them to a link in your bio, mention it a few times throughout the broadcast. A clear CTA makes sure your time spent live translates into tangible results for your brand or community.

Final Thoughts

Getting video access for guests on TikTok LIVE is a powerful tool for any creator looking to increase engagement, expand their reach, and make their content more interactive. Once you meet the follower and age requirements, the process is as simple as starting a LIVE, tapping the multi-guest icon, and inviting your collaborator to join the conversation.

Running a successful LIVE requires not just in-the-moment creativity, but also pre-planning and promotion to make sure people actually show up. At Postbase, we designed our platform to make this organization effortless. You can add your LIVE events to our visual calendar to see how they fit with your other video content, and then schedule all of your promotional posts across TikTok, Instagram, and more to build hype. It's a modern, straightforward way to manage your entire social media presence in one place.