Streaming on TikTok Just Got a Whole Lot Easier (EXCLUSIVE)
"It's a very straightforward, linear process, which is what we've always hoped for," Streamlab's head of product said.
Published April 18 2024, 11:04 a.m. ET
Though sites like Twitch, Kick, and YouTube are known for their livestreaming capabilities (and the large number of people who tune in to them daily), TikTok has quickly become a site for livestreaming gaming content.
For instance, though Ninja is the most-followed streamer on Twitch at the moment, he will simultaneously stream across different platforms — yes, including TikTok. Though it was once incredibly difficult to stream games live on TikTok, there are now plenty of tools to make it happen.
Ashray Urs, the head of product at Streamlabs, spoke with Distractify about the company's new integration with TikTok — and it's a game-changer for streamers.
Streamlabs is the easiest way to stream on TikTok from your PC.
TikTok users have been finding ways to livestream video games for years, but it's always been a bit of a challenge. Back in December 2021, the popular social media app started testing the TikTok Live Studio, which was a way for users to stream something from their desktop to TikTok. The program is now defunct, leaving many to turn to other third-party apps to go live from their gaming consoles to the app.
"Just about every streamer we talked to is really looking to build their audience and grow and TikTok is a means [through which] they definitely want to accomplish that," Ashray said of TikTok's boom of live content. "We've been talking to TikTok for years really wanting to make it easier and easier for our creators to go live and stream to TikTok."
On April 10, 2024, the company officially launched its integration with TikTok LIVE, allowing its users to easily stream to the platform using either the desktop or mobile app. While streaming live to TikTok used to require multiple steps, like getting a stream key, the process is much more streamlined with this new integration.
"Now for any streamer, it's as simple as logging in, if you're an existing user, connecting your TikTok account if you're not logging in with [it] and then if you have access, you'll be able to set a title and go live," Ashray said.
If you don't have access to go live on TikTok yet? Ashray said that part of the integration includes a way to apply for permission to go live on TikTok right in its user interface.
"It's a very straightforward, linear process, which is what we've always hoped for," Ashray said.
Typically, users need 1,000 followers before they can go live on TikTok — so if you don't already have that, you may want to work on building that platform before trying to livestream.
Streamlabs has the ability to stream to multiple platforms at once.
If you'd like to channel your inner Ninja and stream across multiple channels at once, you can still do that from Streamlab's interface. You can set up vertical and horizontal screens, depending on which platforms you plan to stream to, and go live on them all at the click of a button. Streamlabs also has official integration with X, and Ashray said the team is hoping to one day add Instagram to that list.
There are, of course, other platforms you can also use to stream on TikTok, like Loola. That said, without the same integration that Streamlabs has, you'll have to obtain your stream key and do some additional setup before going live through another platform.