If your TikTok account has stream key access, log in to TikTok on a computer, open LIVE Producer at livecenter.tiktok.com/producer, set a title and category, press Save & Go LIVE, and copy the Server URL and Stream key at the bottom of the page. Not every account gets a key, and TikTok does not publish who does. Without one, you can still stream from a computer with TikTok LIVE Studio.
What you need
- A TikTok account you can go LIVE on, logged in on a computer
- Streaming software that takes a custom server, such as OBS Studio
What a stream key is
A stream key tells TikTok which account a video signal belongs to. Streaming software that is not TikTok's own needs two things: a server URL saying where to send the video, and the key saying whose LIVE it is.
TikTok's own LIVE Studio does not use one, because you sign in with your TikTok account. BetterTok does not issue stream keys either, and you do not need one to use BetterTok: overlays go in LIVE Studio as a Link source.
Find your stream key
TikTok does not document these steps publicly, and the page can change. They match what streaming tools publish as of the date on this page.
Log in to TikTok on a computer
Use the account you go LIVE on, in a desktop browser.
Open LIVE Producer
Click Go LIVE in TikTok's left-hand panel, or go straight to livecenter.tiktok.com/producer. If the page does not offer you a stream, your account probably has no key yet: skip to the section below.
Set a title and category
Click Go LIVE, choose a category and a stream title, then press Save & Go LIVE. You are not on air yet: TikTok is waiting for your software to send video.
Copy the Server URL and Stream key
Both are at the bottom of the page. Copy each one exactly, with no extra spaces.
Paste them into OBS
In OBS, open Settings, then Stream, and set Service to Custom. Paste the Server URL into Server and the key into Stream Key, then click OK.
Start streaming
Press Start Streaming in OBS, then check the TikTok page shows your video.
No stream key? Your options
- Use TikTok LIVE Studio. It needs no key, only LIVE access, which you can check and apply for in the app. TikTok says the requirements vary by country or region.
- Keep OBS and feed it into LIVE Studio with the Virtual Camera: how to use OBS with TikTok LIVE covers both routes.
- Ask a LIVE agency. Some list stream key access as a benefit of joining. Read the terms first and ask what the agency takes in return. BetterTok lists partner agencies in its agency directory.
Keep your key private
- Anyone with your key can broadcast on your LIVE, so treat it like a password and never show it on stream.
- Keys can change between sessions, including when you log out, so check yours before you go LIVE.
- Be careful with tools or people that offer to generate or sell a key. Never give anyone your TikTok login for one.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone on TikTok get a stream key?
No. Many accounts see no key at all, and TikTok does not publish a rule for who gets one. There is no form to fill in. Creators report getting access through a LIVE agency or directly from TikTok.
How many followers do I need for a TikTok stream key?
TikTok does not publish a follower number for stream keys. For LIVE Studio access, TikTok says the requirements include account age, recent LIVE time and a number of followers, and that they vary by country or region and can change without notice.
Does a TikTok stream key change?
It can. Keys can change between sessions and when you log out, so copy the current one from LIVE Producer before you go LIVE. If OBS stops connecting, an old key is the first thing to check.
Can I go LIVE from a computer without a stream key?
Yes. TikTok LIVE Studio runs on a computer and signs in with your TikTok account, so it needs LIVE access rather than a key. You can also send OBS into LIVE Studio with the Virtual Camera.
Can BetterTok give me a TikTok stream key?
No. Stream keys come from TikTok. BetterTok does not need one: its overlays work in TikTok LIVE Studio as a Link source and in OBS as a Browser source.