# TikTok Live API

TikTok

Returns whether a TikTok account is LIVE now, with its viewer count, title and stream links, from a username, profile or LIVE link, or user ID. A room on air has its current viewers, total entries, title, cover and start time, and HLS, DASH and HTTP-FLV links for every quality TikTok serves, with when each expires. Otherwise you get the latest room, ended. The host comes with its ID, secUid, display name, verified badge and follower count.

GET `/v1/tiktok/live`

## Example

cURL:

```shell
curl 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/tiktok/live?handle=aljazeeraenglish' \
  -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```

TypeScript SDK:

```typescript
import { SocialTap } from "socialtap";

const client = new SocialTap(); // apiKey defaults to process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY

const res = await client.tiktok.live.get({ handle: "aljazeeraenglish" });
console.log(res.data);
console.log(res.credits.charged, res.meta.request_id);
```

Node.js (fetch):

```javascript
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  handle: "aljazeeraenglish",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://socialtap.dev/v1/tiktok/live?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" },
});
const body = await res.json();
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`);
const { data, meta } = body;
console.log(data, meta.credits_charged);
```

Python (requests):

```python
import os

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://socialtap.dev/v1/tiktok/live",
    params={"handle": "aljazeeraenglish"},
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]},
)
body = res.json()
if not res.ok:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}")
data, meta = body["data"], body["meta"]
print(data, meta["credits_charged"])
```

Go (net/http):

```go
package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"net/http"
	"net/url"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	q := url.Values{}
	q.Set("handle", "aljazeeraenglish")
	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://socialtap.dev/v1/tiktok/live?"+q.Encode(), nil)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"))
	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()
	var body struct {
		Data  json.RawMessage `json:"data"`
		Meta  map[string]any  `json:"meta"`
		Error *struct {
			Code    string `json:"code"`
			Message string `json:"message"`
		} `json:"error"`
	}
	if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	if body.Error != nil {
		log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message)
	}
	fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"])
}
```

200 OK:

```json
{
  "data": {
    "approximate_fields": [],
    "category": null,
    "ended_at": null,
    "host": {
      "avatar_url": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast8-avt-0068-tx2/f569c9cd13cf1ccee624a4ae1b0b4c4e~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.webp?dr=9640&refresh_token=b70569e5&x-expires=4070908800&x-signature=SCRUBBED&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=fdd36af4&idc=useast5",
      "display_name": "Al Jazeera English",
      "id": "7074562477175424046",
      "is_verified": true,
      "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish",
      "username": "aljazeeraenglish"
    },
    "id": "7703236637299444493",
    "metrics": {
      "concurrent_viewer_count": 4935,
      "like_count": null,
      "view_count": 926646
    },
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "platform_specific": {
      "tiktok": {
        "host_follower_count": 16752217,
        "host_sec_uid": "MS4wLjABAAAAtS2tPZtfESngqzjzrwwUu0M1LUlx1MjODxCDecgBvwBcyquIg56vBb_2I0BaW574",
        "is_age_restricted": null,
        "is_subscriber_only": false,
        "stream_id": "3579127593564111804"
      }
    },
    "post_id": null,
    "scheduled_start_at": null,
    "started_at": "2026-11-01T16:14:18Z",
    "status": "live",
    "streams": [
      {
        "bitrate_kbps": 10671,
        "expires_at": "2026-10-25T18:00:00Z",
        "format": "hls",
        "height": 1080,
        "is_audio_only": false,
        "quality": "Original",
        "url": "https://pull-hls-f16-tt01.tiktokcdn-us.com/game/stream-3579127593564111804/index.m3u8?expire=4070908800&sign=SCRUBBED",
        "video_codec": "h264",
        "width": 1920
      },
      {
        "bitrate_kbps": 10671,
        "expires_at": "2026-10-25T18:00:00Z",
        "format": "dash",
        "height": 1080,
        "is_audio_only": false,
        "quality": "Original",
        "url": "https://pull-f5-tt01.tiktokcdn-us.com/game/stream-3579127593564111804/index.mpd?auth_mode=2&expire=4070908800&sign=SCRUBBED",
        "video_codec": "h264",
        "width": 1920
      },
      {
        "bitrate_kbps": 10671,
        "expires_at": "2026-10-25T18:00:00Z",
        "format": "flv",
        "height": 1080,
        "is_audio_only": false,
        "quality": "Original",
        "url": "https://pull-f5-tt01.tiktokcdn-us.com/game/stream-3579127593564111804.flv?expire=4070908800&sign=SCRUBBED",
        "video_codec": "h264",
        "width": 1920
      }
    ],
    "text": null,
    "thumbnail_url": "https://p16-webcast.tiktokcdn-us.com/webcast-oci-tx/7628418490097126158~tplv-obj.image",
    "title": "Al Jazeera English TikTok LIVE",
    "unknown_fields": [],
    "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish/live"
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "source": "api",
    "is_cached": false,
    "credits_charged": 1,
    "latency_ms": 476,
    "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z",
    "input": {
      "kind": "profile",
      "id": "7703236637299444493",
      "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish/live"
    },
    "credits_remaining": 9999,
    "client_request_id": null,
    "warnings": []
  }
}
```

Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Good to know**
>
> - An account that isn't LIVE returns its latest room with status ended, its start time and entries, and no viewers or links.
> - An account TikTok shows no room for returns no_live.
> - Stream links are signed by TikTok and expire at expires_at, so fetch the room again for fresh ones.
> - Logged out, TikTok shows no like count, end time or topic for a room, so those fields are null.

## Authorizations

`x-api-key`stringheaderrequired

Your API key. [Authentication](https://socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md)

## Query parameters

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `handle` required | `string`<br>max 2,048 chars | TikTok username with or without the @ (aljazeeraenglish, @aljazeeraenglish), a profile or LIVE page URL (tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish, tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish/live), or a numeric user ID (tiktok.com/share/user/\<id> or the bare ID). Usernames are case-insensitive. | `aljazeeraenglish` |

`handle` takes TikTok profile links; another kind of link, or another platform's, fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input). Unknown parameters are rejected with a suggestion, never ignored ([Requests](https://socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md)).

**Parameters every endpoint accepts**

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `max_age` optional | `integer`<br>min 0 | Accept a cached response up to this many seconds old. Cache hits cost 0 credits. Omit to always fetch fresh. The Cache-Control: max-age=N request header is equivalent; max_age wins when both are sent. | — |
| `fields` optional | `string` | Return only these fields of each item: comma-separated paths in the schema's notation (id,text,metrics.view_count,segments\[\].text; a parent path keeps the whole object). Unknown paths are rejected. Applied after the cache, so it changes neither the price nor cache hits; page and meta are always returned whole. | — |

## Response

### 200

`{data, meta}`. `data` is a [live](https://socialtap.dev/resources/live/index.md) object; `meta` describes the request ([meta](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/index.md#meta)). Fields only TikTok has are under `platform_specific.tiktok`.

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). |
| `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native ID of the broadcast (string; TikTok room ID, YouTube video ID). |
| `data.url` | `string` (uri) | Public page of the broadcast (TikTok: the host's LIVE page, tiktok.com/@\<username>/live). |
| `data.status` | `string` | live: on air now; scheduled: announced, not started; ended: over. New values may be added; treat an unknown value as not live.<br>One of `live`, `scheduled`, `ended` |
| `data.title` | `string` or `null` | The broadcast's title as the host set it. |
| `data.text` | `string` or `null` | Description as plain text; null where the platform has none. |
| `data.category` | `string` or `null` | The topic or game the broadcast is filed under, as the platform names it. |
| `data.host` | `object` | The broadcasting account. |
| `data.host.id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. |
| `data.host.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. |
| `data.host.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. |
| `data.host.url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. |
| `data.host.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data.host.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. |
| `data.started_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When the broadcast went on air, RFC 3339 UTC; null while scheduled or when not shown. |
| `data.ended_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When it went off air, RFC 3339 UTC; null while live or scheduled, and when the platform does not say. |
| `data.scheduled_start_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When a scheduled broadcast is due to start, RFC 3339 UTC; null when none was announced. |
| `data.thumbnail_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Cover or preview image URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data.post_id` | `string` or `null` | ID of the post the platform keeps the broadcast as (equals post.id: a YouTube or Rumble video); null when it keeps none (TikTok LIVE) or none yet. |
| `data.streams` | `object[]` | Playback links of the broadcast while live, one per rendition and format, best first; \[\] when not live or when the platform's links only work from SocialTap's network (YouTube). |
| `data.streams[].quality` | `string` or `null` | The platform's label for the rendition (Original, 1080p60, 720p, …). |
| `data.streams[].format` | `string` | Delivery format of url: hls (an .m3u8 playlist), dash (an .mpd manifest, TikTok's CMAF) or flv (HTTP-FLV). New values may be added; treat unknown values as other.<br>One of `hls`, `dash`, `flv` |
| `data.streams[].url` | `string` (uri) | Playback URL, signed and expiring: see expires_at. |
| `data.streams[].expires_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When url stops working, RFC 3339 UTC, read from the platform's signed URL; null when unknown. |
| `data.streams[].width` | `integer` or `null` | Width in pixels; null for audio-only or when not stated. |
| `data.streams[].height` | `integer` or `null` | Height in pixels; null for audio-only or when not stated. |
| `data.streams[].video_codec` | `string` or `null` | Video codec, lowercase (h264, h265); null for audio-only or when not stated. |
| `data.streams[].bitrate_kbps` | `integer` or `null` | Target bitrate in kbit/s, when the platform states it. |
| `data.streams[].is_audio_only` | `boolean` or `null` | The rendition carries sound only. |
| `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. |
| `data.metrics.concurrent_viewer_count` | `integer` or `null` | People watching now; null when not live or not shown. |
| `data.metrics.view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Cumulative views since the broadcast began (TikTok counts entries into the room). |
| `data.metrics.like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes or hearts; null when hidden or not exposed. |
| `data.platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\<platform>); each null when unknown. |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok` | `object` or `null` | A TikTok LIVE room's own fields. |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok.host_sec_uid` | `string` or `null` | The host's secUid, TikTok's account key that survives a rename. |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok.host_follower_count` | `integer` or `null` | The host's follower count at fetch time; null when hidden. |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok.stream_id` | `string` or `null` | TikTok's ID of the room's current stream (in its playback links). |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok.is_subscriber_only` | `boolean` or `null` | Only the host's paying subscribers can watch. |
| `data.platform_specific.tiktok.is_age_restricted` | `boolean` or `null` | Viewers must be of age to watch the room; null when the source does not show it. |
| `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text. A list path means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. |
| `data.unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them); null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. |

not_found, private_or_unavailable and no_live are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned.

### 400

400 Bad Request: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `invalid_input` | 400 | No | A parameter is missing or malformed, or the link is not one this endpoint takes. | Fix the parameter named in param as the message says. For a link of the wrong kind, call an endpoint listed in details.endpoints, when there is one. |

### 401

401 Unauthorized: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, or its key is unknown or revoked. On the dashboard's routes: the session cookie is missing or expired. | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header. No key yet? A person gets one at details.signup_url; an AI agent follows details.agent_auth_url. |

### 402

402 Payment Required: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Have a person buy credits at details.purchase_url (or make them a checkout link with details.checkout), then repeat the request. Do not retry automatically. |
| `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for this period. The account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at, or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}). Do not retry automatically. |

### 403

403 Forbidden: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request, and details.reason says why: the account is suspended, the key lacks the route's scope, waits for its owner to confirm it by email, has expired, or was used from an IP outside its allowlist, or a rotated key's previous secret was used for a call that needs the admin scope. A running job stops with it too when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item: a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403, so branch on the code. | Act on details.reason. suspended: contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev). scope: use a key with details.required_scope. previous_secret: use the new secret. key_pending: have the owner open the emailed link. key_expired or key_revoked: create a new key. ip_not_allowed: call from an allowed IP. |
| `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is not public: it is private, age- or region-restricted, or needs a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key), so branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched. Do not retry. |

### 404

404 Not Found: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. On GET /v1/requests/{id}/response: the response was not kept (details.reason says why). | Check the link or ID. Do not retry. |
| `no_live` | 404 | No | The account exists but has no live broadcast to show: nothing on air or scheduled, and no past broadcast the platform still shows. | Do not retry now. Ask again later, when the account may be live. |

### 429

429 Too Many Requests: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account passed its runaway-protection ceiling: a high per-account limit that stops a broken client loop (plans have no rate limit). Requests without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint) are limited per IP address instead. It also stops an account whose failed requests in the last hour cost far more than its successful ones paid for: failures are free within a limit (the message says so), and successes raise it. | Wait the seconds in the retry-after header, then retry. If your steady traffic needs more, ask [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) to raise the ceiling; without an API key, send one. |

### 500

500 Internal Error: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | An unexpected error on SocialTap's side. | Retry with backoff. If it keeps happening, contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) with the request_id. |

### 502

502 Bad Gateway: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed, or answered with something we could not read. | Retry with backoff. Failed requests are free. |

### 503

503 Unavailable: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt, our own retries included. | Retry later with backoff. Failed requests are free. |
| `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was at capacity, or paused by its operators, and did not start the request. Nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the seconds in the retry-after header. Failed requests are free. |

## Pricing

From **1 credit** per request. Charged only for successful requests. Errors are free. The price depends on the source that produced the result, reported as `meta.source`; sources are tried cheapest first: Platform API → Public page.

| Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Any source | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 |

**Balance, sources and what you were charged**

Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts.

| meta.source | Source | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. |
| `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. |

`meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md)

Endpoint ID `tiktok.live` · operationId `tiktok.live.get` · [Product overview](https://socialtap.dev/apis/tiktok/live/index.md)

---

[HTML version](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/tiktok/live/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)