How to Share a Live on TikTok

Going LIVE on TikTok is one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience in real time, but getting people to show up is only half the battle. To truly expand your reach, you need your current viewers to become your biggest promoters by sharing your broadcast. This guide will walk you through exactly how to share a TikTok LIVE as a viewer and, more importantly, how creators can strategically encourage a flood of shares to maximize their visibility and engagement.

Why Sharing Your TikTok LIVE is a Game-Changer

Before getting into the "how," it’s important to understand the "why." A share is one of the most valuable engagement metrics on TikTok. It’s not just a passive "like" or a fleeting comment, it’s an active endorsement. When a viewer shares your LIVE, they’re telling their network, "Hey, this is worth your time." This simple action can have an incredible ripple effect.

• Explosive Growth in Viewership: Every share sends a direct invitation to someone new. Instead of hoping the algorithm shows your stream to more people, your viewers are hand-delivering it to their friends' inboxes. This can lead to a rapid increase in concurrent viewers, turning a small stream into a packed house.
• Powerful Signals to the Algorithm: TikTok’s algorithm is always watching. When it sees your LIVE getting a high number of shares, it interprets that as a sign of high-quality, engaging content. As a result, it’s more likely to push your stream onto the For You Page of users who don’t follow you yet, a key method for organic discovery.
• Strengthened Community Bonds: Sharing fosters a sense of community and participation. It transforms passive watchers into active co-hosts who are invested in your success. When people feel like they’re part of your team and contributing to the stream's energy, they are more likely to stick around, returning for future LIVES.

How to Share a TikTok LIVE: A Step-by-Step Guide for Viewers

If you're watching a LIVE and want to share it with a friend or your wider network, the process is incredibly simple. TikTok has made this a core function of the LIVE viewing experience. Here’s exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Locate the Share Button

While watching any TikTok LIVE, look toward the bottom-right corner of your screen. You will see a set of icons. The share button is represented by a curved arrow, similar to the one you see on regular TikTok videos. Tap on it. It’s typically located above the "Gifts" icon.

Step 2: Choose Your Sharing Method

Once you tap the share arrow, a menu will pop up from the bottom of the screen with several options. You can decide where and with whom you want to share the LIVE.

Sharing Directly with TikTok Friends

The first option you'll see is a list of your mutual followers on TikTok. This is the quickest way to share the LIVE with specific people. Just tap the "Send" button next to the profile picture of the friend(s) you want to invite. They will instantly receive a notification and a direct message in their TikTok inbox with a link to join the LIVE.

Reposting the LIVE

At the top of the sharing menu, you may see a yellow "Repost" button. This feature works differently than a direct share. Reposting is TikTok’s way of allowing you to recommend the LIVE to your network more broadly. TikTok will then show this LIVE to your friends via their For You Page, with a small notification that you reposted it.

Sharing to Other Social Media Platforms &, Apps

Below your list of TikTok friends, you'll see a row of icons for other apps installed on your phone. This typically includes apps like Instagram, Facebook, SMS (text messages), WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and more. Tapping one of these icons will open that app and automatically pre-populate a message with a link to the TikTok LIVE. You can then add your own message before sending it as a DM, a Story, or a post.

Copying the Link

If you want to share the LIVE in a way that isn't listed, like in a specific group chat, a blog post, or an email, just select the "Copy Link" option. This will save the direct URL for the LIVE to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it anywhere you'd like.

The Creator’s Playbook: 7 Proven Ways to Encourage More Shares

Knowing how to share is great for viewers, but as a creator, you need a strategy to make it happen. Simply going LIVE is not enough, you need to actively prompt and incentivize your audience to hit that share button. Here are proven tactics to turn your viewers into a promotion army.

1. Just Ask for the Share (Your Most Powerful Tool)

It sounds almost too simple, but it works. Many viewers are so absorbed in your content that they forget sharing is even an option. Throughout your stream, mix in friendly, direct calls-to-action (CTAs). Don’t be aggressive, be inviting.

Example phrases:

• "If you're finding this valuable, tap that share button at the bottom and send it to one friend who needs to hear this."
• "We're trying to hit 500 viewers! Help me get there by sharing the LIVE."
• "Welcome to everyone new! Don't forget to tap and share the stream - it helps a ton."

Make a point of asking at peak moments - right after a great play in a game, after sharing a powerful tip, or during a particularly funny moment.

2. Create “Sharable Moments”

Give your audience something worth sharing. A sharable moment is a peak in excitement, value, or entertainment during your broadcast. Plan these moments into your stream instead of just hoping they happen. Announce them in advance to build suspense.

Ideas for sharable moments:

• A big reveal: "In five minutes, I'm going to announce the winner..."
• A valuable lesson: "Next up, I'm sharing the one secret I used to grow my account..."
• An entertaining event: "Let's see if we can beat my last high score. If you want to see this happen, share it with your friends!"

When you telegraph these moments, you’re not just holding your audience’s attention, you’re giving them a reason to tell their friends, "You need to see this right now."

3. Run Exclusive LIVE Giveaways Where Sharing is Key

Few things motivate action more than the chance to win something. Running a giveaway exclusive to your LIVE viewers can drive shares through the roof. The key is to make sharing part of the entry process.

How to set it up:

1. Announce the prize: Clearly state what you're giving away.
2. State the rules: "To enter, you must be following me and share this LIVE with at least two friends."
3. Ask for proof: "Once you've shared it, come back and comment 'Shared' in the chat!"

This gamifies the sharing process and provides a tangible reward for viewers who help you grow.

4. Acknowledge and Reward Sharers with Shoutouts

As a host, TikTok sometimes shows you notifications when a viewer shares your LIVE. Use this to your advantage. Whenever you see that notification, give that person a verbal shoutout. It makes them feel seen and appreciated.

A simple, "Hey, huge thanks to @username for sharing the stream! You’re awesome," can be incredibly effective. This act of public recognition does two things: it validates the person who shared and shows everyone else that you notice and value that behavior, encouraging them to do the same.

5. Leverage a Guest or Co-Host

Bringing another creator onto your LIVE with you is one of the fastest ways to cross-pollinate audiences. Before the stream, coordinate with your guest to promote it to both of your followers. During the LIVE, make joint calls-to-action for shares.

You can say, "If you're here from my page, give @guest's profile a follow. And if you're coming from their page, welcome! Let’s get this stream out to even more people by tapping the share button." This instantly doubles your promotional efforts.

6. Have an Irresistible Title and Cover Photo

Your LIVE’s title and cover image are its packaging. When a viewer shares your LIVE, the recipient will see your title and photo before they decide to click. Make them count.

• Your Title: Be specific and intriguing. Instead of "LIVE Video," try something like, "Painting a Custom Sneaker - Live Reveal!" or "AMA Session: Ask Me Anything About Starting a Business."
• Your Cover Photo: Use a clear, well-lit, high-quality image of yourself or a relevant object related to the stream. Avoid blurry, dark, or chaotic photos. Your cover photo is your virtual welcome mat.

7. Promote Your LIVE Before You Start

Great LIVES start with great promotion. Use TikTok's scheduling feature to set an event for your LIVE. This allows your followers to register and receive a reminder when you're about to start. Announce your upcoming LIVE on your TikTok profile with a regular video and across your other social media channels. The more people who show up at the very beginning, the more momentum you will have, which will lead to a higher potential for early shares and a stronger boost from the algorithm.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to share a TikTok LIVE involves a dual approach: making it effortless for your audience while actively encouraging them to do so. By implementing direct CTAs, creating genuinely sharable content, and rewarding your community for their support, you can turn a simple live broadcast into a powerful engine for organic growth and deeper audience connection.

Once your LIVE is over, the work of growing your account continues with consistent content, which is often easier said than done. To keep the momentum going, we built Postbase to make planning and scheduling all our short-form video content simple and reliable. It helps us map out our entire content calendar visually, so we're never scrambling for what to post next after a successful stream.