What the TikTok Guest Box is and who can use it
The Guest Box is a TikTok feature that lets creators invite other users to appear in their videos without needing to film together in person. When you open a Guest Box, other TikTok users can request to join your live stream or video call, and you choose which requests to accept. The person you invite appears on your screen in a split-screen format while you both film.
TikTok rolled out Guest Box access gradually, so not every account has it yet. The feature is most commonly available to creators with at least 1,000 followers, though TikTok has tested it with smaller accounts at times. If you do not see the option after following these steps, your account may not have access to the feature in your region yet.
Key Takeaways
- Guest Box appears in the TikTok camera interface when you start a new video, shown as a "Guests" button next to other recording options.
- You need an active TikTok account with a reasonable follower count, though the exact threshold varies by region and changes over time.
- Once you tap Guests, you can invite specific people or allow followers to request to join, then accept or decline each request before filming starts.
- The guest appears in a smaller window on your screen during recording, and both of you can see and hear each other in real time.
Step-by-step: Opening Guest Box on your phone
Open TikTok and tap the plus icon at the bottom center of the screen to start recording a new video. This takes you to the camera interface where you see the red record button and various options above it.
Look for a button labeled "Guests" — it usually appears in the top row of options, alongside buttons for effects, filters, and other recording tools. Tap "Guests" to open the Guest Box menu. If you do not see this button, scroll left through the options row to reveal more buttons, or check that your account meets the follower requirement for your region.
Once you tap Guests, you see two options: "Invite" and "Allow Requests." Tap "Invite" if you want to send a direct invitation to a specific person. Tap "Allow Requests" if you want to let your followers request to join, and you will review each request before they appear on camera.
If you chose Invite, search for the person by their username and send them an invitation. They will receive a notification and can accept or decline. If you chose Allow Requests, a notification goes out to your followers that you are accepting guest requests, and they can tap to request to join. You will see their requests appear in real time and can tap to accept or decline each one.
Inviting specific people versus allowing open requests
The Invite option gives you direct control. You search for a specific TikTok user by their username and send them a one-on-one invitation. They see a notification that you have invited them and can choose to accept. This is useful when you want to collaborate with a friend, another creator, or someone you know will be available. The person has a limited time to respond before the invitation expires.
The Allow Requests option is more open-ended. You broadcast to your followers that you are accepting guest requests, and anyone following you can tap a button to request to join. Requests appear in your Guest Box menu in real time, and you review each one before accepting. This approach works well if you want spontaneous collaboration or want to feature different followers in each video. You maintain full control over who actually appears — you can decline any request without the person knowing you saw it.
You can use both methods in the same session. Start with Allow Requests to see who is interested, then also send direct invites to specific people if you want them included.
What happens once a guest accepts
Once someone accepts your invitation or you accept their request, they appear in a smaller window on your screen in a split-screen layout. You can both see and hear each other in real time through your phone cameras and microphones. The guest window is usually positioned in the corner or along one side of your screen, and you can often resize or reposition it by tapping and dragging.
Both of you can use filters, effects, and stickers during the recording, though some effects may not work the same way in split-screen mode. When you tap the record button, both video feeds are captured together. The final video shows both of you on screen at the same time, which is what gets posted to your profile or sent to your followers.
Either person can end the guest session at any time by tapping a leave or end button. If the guest leaves, you can continue recording solo, or you can invite another guest to join. The video stops recording only when you tap the stop button.
Troubleshooting when Guest Box does not appear
If you do not see the Guests button in your camera interface, the most common reason is that your account does not yet have access to the feature. TikTok rolls out Guest Box in phases, so availability depends on your region, account age, and follower count. Check that you have at least 1,000 followers and that your account is in good standing with no recent violations of TikTok's community guidelines.
Try closing and reopening the TikTok app, or restart your phone entirely. Sometimes the feature appears after an app update, so check your phone's app store to see if a TikTok update is available. If you have a very new account or recently changed your username, wait a few days before trying again.
If you see the Guests button but invitations are not going through, check that the person you are inviting has their account set to receive messages or notifications from you. If they have restricted who can contact them, your invitation may not reach them. Ask them to check their notifications or try inviting someone else to confirm the feature is working on your end.
Using Guest Box for different types of content
Guest Box works well for interviews or Q&A videos where you ask a guest questions and they answer on camera. You can also use it for duets or challenges where you and a guest perform the same action side by side, or for reaction videos where you and a guest watch something and respond together. Some creators use Guest Box to feature followers, answer fan questions, or collaborate with other creators in real time.
Keep in mind that both you and your guest need a stable internet connection for the feature to work smoothly. If either person has a weak connection, the video feed may lag or freeze. Test your connection before inviting someone, and let your guest know they should be on WiFi if possible.
Guest Box videos are posted to your profile like any other TikTok video, so they appear in your feed and can be shared, liked, and commented on by other users. The guest does not automatically get a copy of the video on their own profile unless you send it to them separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Guest Box on a computer or tablet?
Guest Box is designed for the TikTok mobile app and works on both iPhone and Android phones. The feature is not available on TikTok's web version or on tablets. You need to use the phone app to access Guest Box.
What if someone I invited does not respond?
Invitations expire after a set time, usually a few minutes. If the person does not accept before the invitation expires, you can send another one or try inviting someone else. There is no penalty for sending multiple invitations.
Can guests see my follower count or other account details?
Guests can see your profile information the same way any other TikTok user can — by visiting your profile. During the Guest Box session itself, they see your video feed and can hear you, but they do not have access to private account settings or analytics.
Does the guest get notified when I post the video?
The guest does not automatically receive a notification that the video has been posted. You can send them the link directly or tag them in the caption so they see it in their notifications. Tagging them also helps their followers discover the video.
Can I delete a Guest Box video after posting it?
Yes, you can delete any video from your profile the same way you delete other TikToks — by going to the video, tapping the three dots, and selecting delete. Deleting the video removes it from your profile and from your followers' feeds, though anyone who already downloaded or screenshotted it will still have a copy.