StreamLive ProHow to go live on TikTok from a computer
Go live on TikTok from a computer with a TikTok stream key: who gets one, where to copy the server URL and key, and how to start from StreamLive Pro.
You can go live on TikTok from a computer only with a stream key that TikTok gives your account. If you have one, you copy TikTok's server URL and stream key into StreamLive Pro, start the broadcast, and press Go LIVE in TikTok if it asks. TikTok decides which accounts get a key, the key changes between sessions, and nobody outside TikTok can grant access. If your account has no key, TikTok live is possible only from the TikTok app.
Before you start
- TikTok access to stream with a key. TikTok says its access requirements for streaming from a computer may vary by country or region, and that trial access can be withdrawn if you do not go live enough in the first week (TikTok LIVE Studio: FAQ). If you do not see a stream key or "streaming software" option in TikTok, your account does not have access yet.
- A fresh key for each live. TikTok's keys change between sessions. Plan to copy a new one shortly before every broadcast.
- A StreamLive Pro account. The browser studio works on the 7-day trial. OBS or vMix as the source needs a paid plan (see the /pricing?lang=en page).
- TikTok and StreamLive Pro open at the same time. If TikTok shows the key on your phone, use the "Key on your phone? Paste it there" link in the key window: it opens a QR code, and the key you paste on the phone lands in the window on your computer.
Steps
- Start a LIVE with a key in TikTok. Open TikTok where your account offers live with streaming software. Depending on the account this is TikTok LIVE on the web or the LIVE settings in the TikTok app. Create the LIVE and give it a title.
- Copy the server URL and the stream key. TikTok shows a Server URL (an address on a TikTok host, starting with rtmp:// or rtmps://) and a Stream key.
- Paste them into StreamLive Pro. The first time, add TikTok Live on Connections and paste both values. Later broadcasts ask for the new key when you go live, and the channel shows "Key ready" once it is saved.
- Tick TikTok and start. On Live stream, tick TikTok in the Channels list next to any other networks, and press Start stream.
- Press Go LIVE in TikTok if it is shown. Some TikTok setups go public only after you press Go LIVE on TikTok's side once the picture arrives.
- End. Press Stop stream, and end the LIVE in TikTok if it is still open there.
What StreamLive Pro checks for you
- A TikTok key is accepted only with an rtmp:// or rtmps:// address on a TikTok host. An address from another network is refused with a message that names it.
- A pasted URL in the key field, or a key with spaces, is refused before you go live.
- After a broadcast the TikTok channel is marked "New key needed", so you do not start toward a dead key.
What can go wrong
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No stream key option in TikTok | TikTok has not given the account access | Only TikTok can change that. Go live from the TikTok app meanwhile |
| "New key needed" on the TikTok channel | The key belongs to the last session | Start a new LIVE in TikTok and paste the new key |
| StreamLive Pro is live, TikTok shows nothing | TikTok is waiting for you to press Go LIVE, or the key expired | Press Go LIVE in TikTok. If it still stays dark, take a new key |
| A message that the address is not a TikTok address | The URL came from another network or card | Copy the Server URL again from TikTok |
| TikTok access disappeared | Trial access was withdrawn by TikTok | Check the access status in TikTok |
More on keys that fail: Live on Instagram and TikTok with a stream key.
Limits to know
- StreamLive Pro does not read TikTok live comments or viewer numbers. Live chat covers YouTube and Facebook (with replies) and Twitch and Kick (read only).
- Posting finished videos to TikTok is a separate feature: it is done by a person from the Publish screen, one post at a time, and cannot be scheduled. See Post a video to TikTok from your computer.
- TikTok is watched mostly on phones. If you design for vertical viewers, the studio's 9:16 safe-frame guide shows what stays inside a vertical crop.
Going further
TikTok together with YouTube in one broadcast: Stream to TikTok and YouTube at the same time. Instagram works the same way, with a key per session: How to go live on Instagram from a computer. All networks: Going live on each network: what it needs. Background on keys: RTMP and stream keys: where to find them, what breaks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go live on TikTok from a PC without the TikTok app?
Yes, if TikTok has given your account live with a stream key. You copy the server URL and key into StreamLive Pro and start from the computer.
Why does my TikTok have no stream key?
TikTok decides which accounts get one, and its requirements vary by country or region. StreamLive Pro cannot grant it. Without a key, live is possible only from the TikTok app.
Do I need a new TikTok key every time?
Yes. TikTok keys change between sessions, so paste a fresh key before each broadcast.
Can I stream to TikTok and YouTube at the same time?
Yes. Tick both in the same broadcast. YouTube connects once with a sign-in; TikTok needs its fresh key each time.
Can StreamLive Pro start a TikTok live on its own at a set time?
No. TikTok needs a fresh key from you for each session, and on some setups a press on Go LIVE in TikTok, so a person has to be there when the TikTok part starts.
Does StreamLive Pro show TikTok comments?
No. Live chat in StreamLive Pro reads YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and Kick. TikTok comments stay in TikTok.
Keep reading
Stream to TikTok and YouTube at the same time from one computer: who gets a TikTok stream key, YouTube's live requirements, vertical or landscape, and fixes.
How to go live on Facebook and TikTok at the same timeGo live on a Facebook Page and TikTok at the same time from a computer: the Page connects once, TikTok takes a fresh key per session, and one upload feeds both.
How to stream to Kick and TikTok at the same timeStream to Kick and TikTok at the same time from a computer: Kick connects once with a sign-in, TikTok needs a fresh key per session, and one upload feeds both.
How to go live on TikTok and Instagram at the same timeGo live on TikTok and Instagram at the same time from a computer: two fresh stream keys per session, a Go live press on each network, and a picture that suits phones.
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