If you prefer running your own recording setup rather than using a service, there's an open-source option. TikTok Live Recorder is a Python CLI tool that captures TikTok live streams directly from your computer. It's the same recording engine that powers TikRec's cloud service.
780+ GitHub stars, MIT licensed, actively maintained.
What it does
The tool connects to TikTok's live streaming infrastructure and downloads the raw video stream using FFmpeg. You get a clean MP4 file at the original broadcast quality - no screen recording, no overlays, no quality loss.
Three recording modes:
- Manual - start recording a specific user who's currently live
- Automatic - poll a username and start recording whenever they go live
- Followers - monitor all accounts you follow and record every live
Requirements
- Python 3.11 or newer
- FFmpeg installed and in your PATH
- A computer that stays on while recording
Installation
Linux / macOS:
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
git clone https://github.com/Michele0303/tiktok-live-recorder.git
cd tiktok-live-recorder
uv venv && uv sync
On macOS, install FFmpeg first: brew install ffmpeg
Windows (PowerShell):
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
git clone https://github.com/Michele0303/tiktok-live-recorder.git
cd tiktok-live-recorder
uv venv && uv sync
Docker:
docker pull ghcr.io/michele0303/tiktok-live-recorder:latest
Android (Termux):
Install Termux from F-Droid, then follow the Linux instructions inside the terminal.
Basic usage
Record a user who's currently live:
uv run python src/main.py -user charlidamelio
Record multiple users:
uv run python src/main.py -user charlidamelio,bellapoarch,addisonre
Automatic mode - wait for them to go live and record:
uv run python src/main.py -user charlidamelio -mode automatic
Monitor all accounts you follow:
uv run python src/main.py -mode followers
Useful flags
| Flag | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -user | TikTok username(s) to record | -user charlidamelio |
| -mode | manual, automatic, or followers | -mode automatic |
| -output | Directory to save recordings | -output ./recordings |
| -duration | Max recording length in seconds | -duration 3600 |
| -proxy | HTTP proxy for restricted regions | -proxy http://ip:port |
| -bitrate | Output video bitrate | -bitrate 1M |
| -telegram | Upload recording to Telegram when done | -telegram |
When to use this vs. TikRec
The open-source tool is for people who want full control over their recording setup. You run it on your own hardware, manage your own storage, and handle everything yourself.
| Feature | Open-source CLI | TikRec (cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Python + FFmpeg + terminal | Open Telegram, send /watch |
| Requires your computer on | Yes | No |
| Storage | Your disk | Telegram (unlimited) |
| Multiple creators at once | Yes (one process each) | Yes (automatic) |
| 24/7 monitoring | If your machine runs 24/7 | Built in |
| Cost | Free + your electricity | Free |
| Customizable | Full source code access | No |
If you're a developer who wants to tinker, integrate with your own pipeline, or run recording on a VPS you control - use the CLI. If you want recordings delivered to Telegram without maintaining anything - use TikRec.
Links
- GitHub: github.com/Michele0303/tiktok-live-recorder
- License: MIT (free for any use)
- TikRec cloud service: @tikrec_live_bot on Telegram