How to Do a TikTok Battle (Co-host LIVE and Match Steps)

People call it a TikTok battle, but when I read TikTok's help centre the official name is a LIVE match. It's one of the most watched things on TikTok LIVE because two creators go head to head in front of a shared audience. If you run a brand account or a creator page, it's also a quick way to meet someone else's viewers.

Below is the order TikTok's help gives, with the bits people usually miss. Menus can shift with app updates, so treat the button names as a guide.

What a TikTok battle is, and what TikTok calls it

TikTok says a LIVE match is a type of co-host mode on TikTok LIVE that lets people complete challenges against each other, either as individuals or in a team. Viewers back their favourite by sending Gifts or liking the LIVE. Each Gift or like represents a certain number of points, and the creator or team that collects the most points wins.

What you need before you can start a TikTok battle

A battle sits on top of going LIVE, so the LIVE rules come first. TikTok's help says you must be at least 18 years old to go LIVE and have 1,000 followers, though it adds that this may vary across regions. LIVE and Gift features also aren't available everywhere.

There's no way around that, so if you can't see the LIVE option, the battle isn't the problem. Check you meet the basics before you try to set one up.

Step one: start a co-host LIVE with another creator

You can't battle on your own. A match begins from a co-host LIVE, so you need a partner. TikTok's steps are:

1. Go LIVE as normal.
2. During your LIVE, tap +Hosts at the bottom.
3. Tap Send to invite a random recommended creator, or tap Invite to pick a friend (people you follow who follow you back), people you may know or other recommended creators.
4. Wait for them to accept. The co-host starts once they do.

TikTok says recommended creators are suggested using basic account information such as app language or number of followers, plus their past LIVE content. If you're choosing, someone who already knows your audience's taste will make a better match.

Step two: start the TikTok battle itself

1. With the co-host running, tap the Match button at the bottom.
2. If it's just the two of you, tap Send invite.
3. If your co-host group is bigger, choose Solo match or Team match first, then tap Send invite.
4. Once everyone accepts, the match starts.

TikTok's co-host page also mentions a Play button next to Match for other co-host modes, so if you only see Play, look for the match option inside it. If neither shows, make sure the co-host has started.

Solo match or team match: which to pick

• Solo match: everyone competes individually.
• Team match: you compete as part of a team.

For a first go, a simple two-person match is easiest to explain to your viewers. Teams are better once your regulars know how the scoring works.

Choosing which Gifts count in a TikTok battle

TikTok says creators can choose whether all Gifts or only specific Gifts count towards the scores. In a specific-Gift match, viewers can still send other Gifts or like the LIVE, but only the chosen Gift adds to the final scores. Specific Gifts count whether they're sent on their own or from a Gift Box.

Tell your viewers which type you've picked, early and more than once. Nothing flattens a match faster than people sending the wrong thing and wondering why the score didn't move.

Making your first TikTok battle go well

• Agree with your co-host beforehand what you'll say and when the match starts.
• Say out loud, a couple of times, how people can help: likes and the Gift you've chosen.
• Keep an eye on the chat. TikTok's tools let you filter unkind or spammy comments, and I'd turn that on before a busy match.
• If you run a business, have your link or offer ready in your profile so new viewers can find you after the match. My guide to putting a Linktree on your TikTok profile is useful here.

Keeping a TikTok battle friendly

A match is a game, and it should stay one. TikTok's moderation tools let you mute, block or report viewers who break the Community Guidelines, and you can add moderators to help. If something goes beyond rude and you feel unsafe, report it to TikTok and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

What other creators do instead of a TikTok battle

Not every LIVE needs a match. TikTok also has multi-guest, where you invite guests to join your LIVE in audio or video mode, and viewers can send Gifts to you and your connected guests. It's a calmer format for interviews and Q&As. And if viewers message you afterwards, my guide to deleting TikTok messages helps you keep your inbox tidy.

If you can't start a TikTok battle

1. Update the TikTok app and open it again.
2. Check you can go LIVE at all: 18 or over, with the follower count TikTok asks for in your region.
3. Make sure the co-host is running before you look for Match.
4. Check the other creator accepted your invite.
5. Look for Match or Play at the bottom of the LIVE screen.
6. If it still isn't there, TikTok says some LIVE features aren't available everywhere, so contact TikTok through the help centre.

Frequently asked questions

How do you do a battle on TikTok?

Go LIVE, tap +Hosts to start a co-host with another creator, then tap Match and Send invite. The match starts when they accept.

What does TikTok call a battle?

TikTok's help centre calls it a LIVE match, a type of co-host mode where people complete challenges against each other.

How is the winner decided in a TikTok battle?

TikTok says each Gift or like represents a certain number of points, and the creator or team with the most points wins.

Can I do a TikTok battle without 1,000 followers?

TikTok says you need 1,000 followers to go LIVE, though it may vary across regions. A battle starts from a LIVE, so the same rule applies.

What's the difference between a solo match and a team match?

In a solo match everyone competes individually. In a team match you compete as part of a team.

Can I choose which Gifts count?

Yes. TikTok says creators can choose whether all Gifts or specific Gifts count towards the scores.