Playing Spotify Music During Your TikTok Live Streams

You cannot add Spotify directly to TikTok Live Studio, but you can play it so your audience hears it

TikTok Live Studio does not have a built-in Spotify integration. However, you can play Spotify audio during your stream by routing it through your computer's audio mixer so that both your microphone and the music feed into TikTok at the same time. The method depends on whether you are streaming from a Mac or Windows PC, and which audio software you have available.

The core idea is the same across all setups: your computer's audio output (where Spotify plays) and your microphone input (where you speak) both need to go into TikTok Live Studio as a single audio source. This requires either built-in operating system tools or free third-party software that creates a "virtual audio device" — a software mixer that TikTok can listen to.

Key Takeaways

TikTok Live Studio accepts audio from your microphone and your computer's speakers, but only if you route them through a mixer first.
Windows users can use VB-Audio Virtual Cable (free) or Voicemeeter to combine microphone and Spotify into one audio input.
Mac users can use Loopback by Rogue Amoeba (paid, $99) or the free alternative BlackHole to create a virtual audio device.
You must set TikTok Live Studio to listen to the virtual audio device, not your physical microphone, for the setup to work.
Test your audio levels before going live — Spotify and your voice should be balanced so viewers can hear both clearly.

Setting up audio mixing on Windows with VB-Audio Virtual Cable

VB-Audio Virtual Cable is free software that creates a virtual audio device your computer can route sound to. Download it from vb-audio.com, install it, and restart your computer. Once installed, you will see a new audio device called "VB-Audio Virtual Cable" in your Windows sound settings.

Open Windows Settings, go to Sound, and scroll down to Advanced. Under "App volume and device preferences," set Spotify to output to "VB-Audio Virtual Cable" and leave your microphone set to your physical microphone. Then open TikTok Live Studio, go to Settings, find the Audio section, and change the Microphone input to "VB-Audio Virtual Cable." Now when you play Spotify and speak into your microphone, both sounds will reach TikTok.

Before you go live, open the Volume mixer in Windows Settings and adjust the sliders for Spotify and your microphone so they are balanced. Spotify should be quieter than your voice — aim for your voice at 100 percent and Spotify at 30 to 50 percent so viewers can hear you clearly over the music.

Setting up audio mixing on Windows with Voicemeeter

Voicemeeter is a free alternative to VB-Audio that gives you more control over audio levels. Download it from vb-audio.com (same company), install it, and restart. Voicemeeter creates a virtual mixer on your desktop where you can see and adjust audio from multiple sources in real time.

Open Voicemeeter and you will see three columns: Physical Input (your microphone), Virtual Input, and Output. Set Spotify to output to "VB-Audio Virtual Aux" in Windows sound settings. In Voicemeeter, drag the fader for your microphone down to around 70 percent and the fader for Spotify down to around 30 percent. Set the Master Output to "VB-Audio Virtual Cable."

In TikTok Live Studio Settings, set the Microphone input to "VB-Audio Virtual Cable." When you play Spotify and speak, Voicemeeter will mix both sounds and send them to TikTok. The advantage over plain Virtual Cable is that you can see and adjust levels on the fly without opening Windows Settings.

Setting up audio mixing on Mac with BlackHole

BlackHole is free software for Mac that works like VB-Audio Virtual Cable on Windows. Download it from existential.audio, install it, and restart your Mac. BlackHole creates a virtual audio device that can receive sound from multiple sources.

Open System Settings, go to Sound, and create an Aggregate Device by clicking the plus button at the bottom of the Devices list. Name it "Spotify + Mic." In the Aggregate Device window, check both "BlackHole 16ch" and your physical microphone. Set BlackHole as the default output device in Sound settings. In Spotify, go to Settings and set the output device to "BlackHole 16ch."

Open TikTok Live Studio, go to Settings, and set the Microphone input to "Aggregate Device" or "Spotify + Mic" (whatever you named it). Test your audio levels — Spotify will likely be much louder than your voice through this setup, so you may need to lower Spotify's volume in the Mac Volume Control before going live.

Setting up audio mixing on Mac with Loopback

Loopback by Rogue Amoeba is a paid alternative ($99 one-time purchase) that is more user-friendly than BlackHole. Download it from rogueamoeba.com, install it, and open the app. Loopback shows a visual mixer where you can drag Spotify and your microphone into a single output device.

Create a new Virtual Device in Loopback and name it "Stream Audio." Drag Spotify into the Sources section and your microphone into the Sources section. Set the Output to "Built-in Output" so you can still hear yourself. In TikTok Live Studio Settings, set the Microphone input to "Loopback Virtual Audio Device."

Loopback's main advantage is a cleaner interface and automatic level balancing, but BlackHole is free and works just as well if you are willing to spend a few minutes adjusting levels manually.

Testing your audio before going live

Before you start a real stream, do a test broadcast. Open TikTok Live Studio, start a test stream (or go live to a private account), play a Spotify song, and speak into your microphone. Ask a friend to watch and tell you if they can hear both your voice and the music clearly, and whether one is much louder than the other.

If Spotify is too loud, lower its volume in your operating system's mixer or in Voicemeeter/Loopback. If your voice is too quiet, speak closer to your microphone or raise the microphone input level in TikTok Live Studio Settings. If you hear echo or feedback, make sure your speakers are not pointed at your microphone, and that you are not monitoring audio through TikTok while streaming.

Once you have the levels right, write them down — the exact percentages you used for Spotify and microphone volume. You will want to set them the same way each time you stream.

Copyright and music licensing on TikTok Live

TikTok's live streaming has different copyright rules than pre-recorded videos. When you play Spotify during a live stream, TikTok's system may detect the music and either mute it, claim it, or allow it depending on the rights holder's agreement with TikTok. You will not know which until you go live.

If TikTok mutes the audio during your stream, viewers will hear your voice but not the Spotify music. If TikTok claims the music, the copyright holder may earn money from your stream, but the audio will stay audible. Neither of these outcomes will get your account in trouble — they are how TikTok handles copyrighted music in live streams.

If you want to avoid copyright issues entirely, use royalty-free music from sites like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or YouTube Audio Library instead of Spotify. These services license their music specifically for streaming and live content, so you can play them without the risk of muting or claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Spotify's web player instead of the desktop app?

Yes, Spotify Web Player works the same way — your computer's audio output is what matters, not which Spotify version you use. The setup steps are identical whether you play music from the desktop app, web player, or mobile app playing through your computer's speakers.

Why does my voice sound like it is coming from far away?

Your microphone input level is too low. In TikTok Live Studio Settings, find the Microphone slider and drag it to the right to increase the input level. You can also speak closer to your microphone or check that your microphone is not muted in Windows/Mac sound settings.

Can I adjust Spotify volume during the stream without stopping?

Yes. If you are using Voicemeeter or Loopback, you can adjust the Spotify fader while streaming and the change will take effect immediately. If you are using plain Virtual Cable, you will need to pause the stream, adjust levels in Windows Settings, and resume — which will interrupt your broadcast.

What if TikTok does not recognize my virtual audio device?

Restart TikTok Live Studio after installing the virtual audio software. If it still does not appear, restart your entire computer — Windows and Mac both need a full restart to recognize new audio devices. After restarting, open TikTok Live Studio Settings again and the virtual device should appear in the Microphone dropdown.

Do I need to buy Loopback or can I use the free options?

The free options (VB-Audio Virtual Cable on Windows, BlackHole on Mac) work just as well as Loopback. Loopback is easier to use if you are not comfortable with audio settings, but it is not necessary. Start with the free software and upgrade only if you find yourself adjusting levels constantly.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.