How to create live videos on Twitter
Twitter is the place to see what’s happening in the world—from breaking news to major live events. You can easily create live videos, powered by Periscope, to share what’s happening live.
Invite guests to join
When enabled, a broadcaster can invite their viewers to join as guests, and viewers of the live broadcast can request to join as a guest. Up to 3 guests can participate in a live broadcast at one time. Broadcasters can choose to turn off the camera, and participate as audio only. Guests will participate with audio, and can be heard by all viewers.
To allow viewers to request to join your broadcast:
Tap the icon from the Tweet composer.
Tap Live at the bottom.
To allow live viewers to request to join your broadcast, tap the icon on the upper right.
Tap Go LIVE to begin your broadcast.
When a viewer has asked to join your broadcast, a notification will appear in the chat. You can also view the call-in list by tapping the icon on the bottom bar and see every viewer who has requested to join the broadcast.
Tap the icon to add them to the broadcast. There will be a 5 second countdown before they join.
- To remove a guest from the broadcast, tap the X on the top right of their avatar.
To invite viewers to a live broadcast:
Tap the icon from the Tweet composer.
Tap Live at the bottom.
To allow live viewers to request to join your broadcast, tap the icon on the upper right.
Tap the icon.
- Tap Invite guests.
Select or Search for Guests.
- Tap Go LIVE to begin your broadcast and invites will be sent via Direct Message.
To add guests to a live broadcast:
- Tap the icon from the Tweet composer.
- Tap the Live mode at the bottom.
- To allow live viewers to request to join your broadcast, tap the icon on the upper right.
- Tap Go LIVE to begin your broadcast.
- Tap the icon.
- Tap the “+” next to the viewers you’d like to add as guests.
To join a live broadcast as a guest:
While watching a live broadcast that has guests enabled, tap the icon, then tap Ask to join.
The broadcaster must approve your request to join as a guest.
Once accepted, a 5 second countdown will appear onscreen before you are added to the broadcast. If you choose not to join, tap Cancel.
Your audio will be heard by all viewers of the broadcast.
To leave the broadcast as a guest:
To exit the live broadcast as a guest, tap on the icon on the bottom, and select Hang up, or simply tap the X at the top left of the screen. When you leave the broadcast as a guest, you can continue to watch the live broadcast as a viewer.
Yes! From the live video or replay full screen mode, click or tap the share icon then choose between the following options:
- Click or tap Share Live (when live) or Share From Beginning (when in replay mode) to Tweet, Direct Message, or copy the link of a full live video or replay from the beginning.
- Click or tap Share from… to Tweet, Direct Message, or copy the link of a live video or replay starting at a point chosen using the selection bar.
Periscope broadcasters may choose to assign moderators, who can help keep an eye on the comments in their broadcast, and mute people on their behalf. When one of their selected moderators mutes someone in the audience, the commenter will not be able to chat for the remainder of the broadcast. Anyone joining the broadcast on Periscope or Twitter will be able to see when someone has been muted by one of the moderators.
Learn more about how to assign chat moderators from Periscope.
Your live video can go anywhere that a Tweet can go. This means that it’ll be searchable in the Twitter app, on the Twitter website, and it can be embedded on other websites just like any other Tweet. It will also exist and be searchable on Periscope, which powers live videos on Twitter. If you add a location to your live video Tweet, your video will be discoverable on the Global Map on Periscope.
In the Twitter for iOS and Android apps, you can change the title, thumbnail image, and set a custom starting point after ending a broadcast. To get started, tap on the broadcast you’d like to edit. Tap on the overflow menu, then tap the Edit Broadcast option. Once you make your changes you’ll be prompted to save.
Keep in mind that broadcast titles can be edited up to three times. Additionally, it will take up to 15 minutes for edits to appear in Twitter, and up to a minute for them to appear in Periscope.
We use your Twitter account to log in to Periscope. To take full advantage of Periscope’s features, download the Periscope app to discover popular and featured live videos and to find accounts to follow. You can also update your account settings on Periscope.
Your live videos will automatically be posted as a Tweet when you go live. You can also save your live video right to your device’s camera roll at the end of your live video by tapping Save to camera roll. If you would like to upload and share your video later, read how to share and watch videos on Twitter.
Yes! Learn how to opt-in to receive push notifications from accounts when they go live through our Sharing and watching videos on Twitter article.
Yes, you can comment and send hearts in any live video you’re watching on iOS, Android, and on the web. You can also interact with other members of the audience by tapping on a comment to view the account profile, respond to a comment, or block the account. Please note that if you block an account from Twitter, they'll be blocked in Periscope as well.
What are hearts?
Hearts are how you share support and show your enthusiasm for a video. On iOS or Android, tap the screen to give the broadcaster a heart. On web, you can give hearts once you’re logged in by clicking the heart icon in the bottom right corner. We have more information about hearts and super hearts available.
When you block someone on Twitter they won't be able to watch or comment in your live video. If you want to stop someone from commenting in your live video, you can block them by tapping on their comment, selecting their profile, tapping the gear icon, and then choosing Block User. The account will no longer be able to participate in your live videos and they'll be blocked on Twitter and Periscope. Read Periscope's comment moderation article to learn more.
As a viewer, you can report comments that you find abusive or offensive by selecting the comment and choosing Report Comment. When you report a comment you'll no longer see messages from that commenter for the remainder of the live video. This will not, however, block the account on Twitter or Periscope.
Yes, you can. To opt-out: Navigate to your Settings and privacy, tap Privacy and safety, then unselect Connect to Periscope to turn the feature off.
When you opt-out, you will no longer be able to go live on Twitter, or comment and heart on others’ live videos, but your previous live videos will still be available on Twitter and Periscope. You can always choose to delete previous live videos from Twitter and Periscope by deleting a Tweet with your live video.
You cannot go live from Twitter if you have protected Tweets. However, you can download Periscope and host a private live video through Periscope.
When you make your Tweets protected, after being public, your live videos will only be discoverable to your followers on Twitter, but remain available on Periscope. You can delete previous live videos from Twitter and Periscope by deleting a Tweet with your live video.
Viewers can comment directly in live videos through Twitter and Periscope. To learn more, visit the Periscope Help Center.
Download Periscope to explore live videos from around the world.
Read about acceptable media content on Twitter.
Bookmark or share this article
