TikTok Live has become extremely popular.
The social media platform introduced its streaming section in 2020, well after most major competitors. However, audiences for Live shows on the app have soared since then. TikTok Live is now the second most-used streaming platform in the world behind only YouTube Live, and it has passed long-time gamer favorite Twitch to move into second place.
The success of the app’s Live feature has been credited largely to the size of the TikTok user base (2+ billion and growing) — and the diverse nature of the streams available on the platform. Gamers are plentiful, of course, but the enormous range of subjects covered by TikTok Live streamers, particularly shopping, has made the app a favored destination for Live viewers.
More than two million people are watching TikTok Live shows at any one time, which means there are countless TikTok users running Live sessions. That’s a blessing for those who love watching streams, but it can be a curse for those trying simply to watch TikTok videos in peace.
Why? Most readers understand how annoying it can be when Live notifications constantly pop up on the screen, especially when they’re being informed that someone they’ve never heard of is starting a Live session.
Take heart. There’s a simple way to get rid of those never-ending notifications.
How To Turn Off Lives on TikTok
To clarify, we’re first discussing the in-app popups that keep telling you who is starting a new Live stream. We’ll go further after that.
- Open your TikTok profile page by tapping the “Profile” icon at the bottom right of the home screen.
- Click on the “Menu” icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right of the profile screen.
- Choose “Settings and privacy” from the menu that pops up.
- Click “Notifications” on the next page, and then select “In-app notifications.”
- Scroll down to the “LIVE” heading, and move the toggle switch to the left to turn off Live notifications.
- While you’re there, you can do the same for any other types of notifications (like new followers or comments) you’d prefer not to see on the screen.
That stops the interruptions that bother you while you’re surfing. There are two more steps you can take, though, if you’d prefer not to see teasers or promotions for Live shows, either.
- When a Live video appears in your feed, press and hold on the screen until a popup appears. Tap “Not interested” and you’ll see less TikTok Live content.
- Re-visit your “Settings and privacy” page and click on “Content preferences.” Choose the “Filter keywords” option and enter the word “Live” into the text box. That will stop any TikTok posts containing the word from appearing on your feed.
These steps aren’t a foolproof way to ban all Live material from your screen and feed, but they’ll get you most of the way there. And don’t worry; you can still visit the TikTok Live section of the app at any time.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.