TikTok AI Alive turns one of your photos into a video using a text prompt, and you can post the result to your TikTok Story. To use it, tap your profile photo from your Profile, inbox or feed, take or upload a photo, tap the AI Alive button on the side panel, then enter a prompt or keep the default one and tap Continue.
I like features like this because they lower the bar for posting. Not everyone has video ready every day, but most of us have a decent photo. AI Alive takes that photo and adds movement, guided by what you type. It's tucked away behind your profile photo rather than in the main camera, which is why so many people can't find it.
How to use AI Alive on TikTok
- Open TikTok and tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap your profile photo. You can also tap it from your inbox, or from the For You and Following feeds.
- Take a photo, or tap the Upload button to add one from your phone.
- Tap the AI Alive button on the side panel.
- Type a text prompt, or select the default one, then tap Continue. The first time, you'll need to give the app access to generate your video.
- Tap Your Story to post the finished video to your Story.
What you can do once the video is made
| What you want | What to tap |
|---|---|
| Post it | Your Story |
| Try a different prompt | The AI Alive button on the side panel, to regenerate with a new prompt |
| Use the photo without AI Alive | Turn it off with the Apply AI Alive setting |
| Cancel while it's working | The AI Alive button, then Stop generating |
How long it takes and where the videos go
TikTok's help gives a few practical details that are easy to miss:
- It takes about a minute. TikTok says an AI Alive video may take around one minute to generate. You don't have to sit and wait: you can use the rest of the app, and TikTok will notify you when it's done.
- Your videos are in drafts. Finished AI Alive videos, and ones still being made, can be found in your drafts or your notifications.
- Drafts expire after 7 days. If you make one and don't post it, it won't wait for you forever.
That last point catches people out. If you're making something for a specific day, generate it close to when you want to post, or post it to your Story as soon as you're happy with it.
There's a simpler version of the idea in how to make a TikTok a Live Photo.
Writing a better AI Alive prompt
TikTok doesn't publish prompt rules for AI Alive, so this is my own advice from writing prompts for image and video tools. Describe the movement you want, not the photo you already have. The tool can see the picture; what it needs from you is what should happen next. Short, concrete prompts tend to work better than long, poetic ones. Think 'steam rises slowly from the cup' rather than 'a cosy autumn morning full of warmth'. If the first result isn't right, regenerate with a small change rather than starting over.
If you've enjoyed making the photo move and want more control, a dedicated tool will give you longer clips and more settings. I've compared the main ones in my guide to AI image to video tools.
Ideas for small businesses
For a small business, AI Alive is a quick way to turn a product shot into a Story without filming anything. A plate of food with gentle steam, a candle with a moving flame, a shop window with light shifting across it. Keep the movement subtle and believable, because customers trust what looks real, and don't use it to show a product doing something it can't. If you want a consistent character for your account rather than a photo, a TikTok avatar is a different tool for that job.
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Frequently asked questions
What is AI Alive on TikTok?
AI Alive is a TikTok feature that turns your photos into videos using text prompts. You can upload the AI Alive videos to your Story to share them.
Where is AI Alive on TikTok?
Tap your profile photo from your Profile, inbox or the For You and Following feeds, take or upload a photo, then tap the AI Alive button on the side panel.
How long does AI Alive take?
TikTok says an AI Alive video may take about one minute to generate. You can keep using the app, and TikTok notifies you when it's ready.
Do AI Alive drafts expire?
Yes. TikTok says AI Alive drafts expire after 7 days, so post the video to your Story before then if you want to keep it.
How do I stop an AI Alive video from generating?
Tap the AI Alive button on the side panel, then tap Stop generating. You can also regenerate with a new prompt or switch it off with the Apply AI Alive setting.
Where do I find my AI Alive videos?
TikTok says completed AI Alive videos, and ones still being generated, are in your drafts or your notifications.
