An overlay that does not show in TikTok LIVE Studio is usually one of five things: the Link source holds an old or wrong link, the same overlay is open somewhere else, the source is too small or sits under your camera, the overlay only appears when something fires, or it needs a paid plan. Work through the checks below in order.
What you need
- TikTok LIVE Studio open, with your scene selected
- The BetterTok dashboard or desktop app open on the same computer
- A few minutes before your LIVE: most of these checks do not need you to be live
Fix it, one check at a time
The steps name BetterTok's screens. If your overlay comes from another tool, the checks for the link, duplicates, size and order still apply.
See whether the link is open at all
Open the overlay's page in BetterTok and read the chip on its preview. Not connected to TikTok LIVE Studio or OBS means nothing has loaded the link yet, so press Copy live link and add it.
Paste the link again
Copy a fresh link with Copy live link on the overlay's page, and paste the whole thing into the Link source.
Remove duplicates
An overlay link is meant for one place at a time. If it is open in a second source, in OBS or in a browser tab, the newest copy can take over and leave the old one blank or frozen, so keep one.
Check the size and the order
A single overlay draws in the centre of its source unless its editor has a position control, so if it is in the wrong place, move the source, and if part of it is cut off, make the source bigger. Then make sure the source sits above your camera or game, or they will draw over it.
Fire a test event
Alerts and some games show nothing until something happens, so an empty overlay can be working normally. Open Event Simulator, pick an event and press Fire this event. Results says which actions matched and whether an overlay was open to show them.
Check the link for action alerts
An alert made in Actions plays on its own screen, which has its own link. Open Actions and look at Send it to OBS. If it says Not connected, click Copy and add that link as a Link source too.
Look for an upgrade card
A card asking you to upgrade means that overlay type needs the Creator plan, as live auctions and the wheel do. A Creator-only theme shows no card: on a free account the overlay switches to its free theme, so it can look different from the editor.
Check your TikTok connection
If the overlay shows but does not react, open Setup, then Overview. BetterTok connects by itself when you go LIVE. If your username is wrong, type it and press Change username. A quiet chat does not mean the connection is lost.
If it is still blank
Remove the Link source and add it again, then restart LIVE Studio. TikTok's troubleshooting guide also lists firewalls and antivirus software among the things that can stop LIVE Studio connecting, and recommends trying a restart of LIVE Studio and your computer first.
Setting up from scratch? Follow how to add overlays to LIVE Studio step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my overlay go blank in the middle of a stream?
One likely reason is that its link was opened somewhere else. A link is meant for one place at a time, so the newest copy can take over and leave the old one blank or frozen. Opening your live link in a browser tab is enough to do it. Close the other copy and refresh the Link source.
Why can I see my overlay in LIVE Studio but viewers say part of it is hidden?
TikTok draws its own buttons and comments over your video on a viewer's phone, so anything under them is covered. Turn on Safe zone above the overlay's preview in BetterTok to see those areas, and move the overlay out of them.
Why does my overlay show but not update?
The overlay has loaded but is not getting events. Check your username on the BetterTok Overview page. BetterTok connects when your LIVE starts, so an overlay waits until then unless you fire a test from Event Simulator.
Why is my alert overlay empty?
An alert only appears while it plays, so an empty alert overlay is normal between events. Press Fire test on the overlay's page, or fire an event from Event Simulator, to check it.
Is the fix the same in OBS?
The checks are the same, with a Browser source instead of a Link source. OBS also has a button to refresh a source: open the Browser source's properties and click Refresh cache of current page.