Is Bigo Live Banned in Pakistan? No: PTA Status, Likee, Download and the 18+ Rule (2026)

No, Bigo Live is not banned in Pakistan in November 2026, and neither is Likee. PTA, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, blocked Bigo Live in July 2020 and the ban was lifted on 30 July 2020. On 14 January 2022, PTA said the company behind both apps, BIGO Service Pakistan Pvt Ltd, was one of the first two social media companies to register with it. On 4 November 2026 we opened both apps' Google Play listings for Pakistan, and both were there to install.

So you can download Bigo Live and Likee from the Play Store or App Store without a VPN. The bigger questions are the age rules, the content rules PTA can enforce, and the scams around buying diamonds. This guide covers each one, with what we could and could not confirm.

Bigo Live and Likee status in Pakistan at a glance

Here is where each app stands. "Registered with PTA" means the company signed up under Pakistan's 2021 online content rules, so PTA has a named local contact when it wants content removed.

A report on 4 November 2026 said PTA had registered Bigo Live and Likee again. PTA had not posted it on its own website when we checked that night, so we treat it as reported only. Either way, the 2022 registration on PTA's own page already shows both apps are allowed.

Why PTA blocked Bigo Live in 2020

In July 2020, PTA blocked Bigo Live and gave TikTok a final warning. The reason given, as reported at the time, was complaints about "immoral, obscene and vulgar" content. PTA used its powers under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, known as PECA. Section 37 of PECA lets PTA remove or block online content on grounds such as decency, morality and public order.

The block was short. In a release Bigo itself issued on 1 August 2020, the company said PTA lifted the ban on Thursday 30 July 2020 after a meeting with its South Asia team. Bigo said it would "fully comply with Pakistan national laws and values". It gave no numbers on moderators or removed streams.

Then in 2022 came registration. The PTA notice of 14 January 2022 says the Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules, 2021 require significant social media companies to register. BIGO Service Pakistan Pvt Ltd, for Bigo Live and Likee, and Joyo Technology, for Snack Video, were the first two.

How to download Bigo Live or Likee safely in Pakistan

Both apps are on the normal stores, so there is no reason to install a file from a website or a WhatsApp group. Those files are a common way to spread malware that steals OTP codes.

1. Open the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your phone.
2. Search "Bigo Live" or "Likee".
3. Check the developer name: BIGO TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. for Bigo Live, LIKEME PTE. LTD. for Likee on Google Play.
4. Tap Install. You do not need a VPN, because neither app is blocked.
5. Sign up with your own phone number or Google account, and set a strong password.
6. Open Settings in the app and turn off location sharing if you do not want viewers to see your city.

If an app only opens through a VPN, something else is wrong, such as a network fault. A VPN does not make anything legal. Businesses that need one should read our guide to registering a VPN with PTA.

Age limits: Bigo Live is 18+, Likee is lower but live streaming is not

The Google Play listing for Bigo Live in Pakistan says "Rated for 18+" and lists "Users Interact" and "Shares Location". Bigo is a live video app where strangers chat and send paid gifts, so it is not an app for children.

Likee's Play listing in Pakistan says "Rated for 12+". Its own terms are reported to set 16 as the minimum age for an account and 18 for live streaming. We could not read Likee's agreement page, because it would not load outside the app, so check it in Likee under Settings before you let a teenager use it.

Parents can block both apps with Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time. Set app ratings to 12+ or lower and Bigo Live cannot be installed on the child's phone.

Earning on Bigo Live: diamonds, beans and what we could confirm

On Bigo Live, viewers buy diamonds with real money and send them to streamers as gifts. Streamers receive the value of those gifts as beans, which they can apply to exchange for money through the app. The exchange rate, the minimum withdrawal and the payment methods are set inside the app and can change. We could not find a public Bigo page in English with these figures, so we do not print any.

Three things are safe to say. First, gift income is income, and you should keep records of it. Second, money that reaches you through JazzCash, Easypaisa or a bank may face withholding tax rules, which we explain in our JazzCash and Easypaisa tax guide. Third, anyone who promises a fixed monthly salary for going live on Bigo, in return for a joining fee, is not Bigo. Bigo does not charge you to stream.

If you also stream on TikTok, its rules are different. See our guide to TikTok LIVE requirements in Pakistan.

Scams around Bigo diamonds and Likee accounts

The most common loss is a fake top-up seller. Someone on Facebook or WhatsApp offers diamonds at half price, asks for payment by JazzCash or Easypaisa, and then blocks you. Some ask for your login so they can "load" the diamonds, and take the account instead.

• Buy diamonds only inside the app, through Google Play or the App Store.
• Never share your password or the OTP code sent to your phone.
• Be wary of "agency" offers that ask for money first.
• If someone threatens to share your video or photos unless you pay, do not pay. Report it in the app and to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on 1799.

If you lose an account, the steps are close to the ones in our guide to recovering a hacked TikTok account: reset the password from the login screen, then contact the app's support from inside the app.

How to report a stream or video to PTA

Report inside the app first. Long press the stream or video, tap Report and pick the reason. That reaches the company's own moderators fastest.

If the content is unlawful under PECA, for example blasphemous, obscene or a threat to someone's safety, you can also complain to PTA. PTA lists a social media content blocking complaint under Consumer Services, and complaints go through the PTA complaint portal. Give the exact link to the stream, profile or video, and a screenshot. Read what PTA accepts as a complaint before you file.

Common questions

Is Bigo Live banned in Pakistan in 2026?

No. PTA blocked it in July 2020 and the ban was lifted on 30 July 2020. On 4 November 2026 the app was listed on Google Play in Pakistan.

Is Likee banned in Pakistan?

No. We found no PTA notice that ever blocked Likee in Pakistan. It is registered with PTA through BIGO Service Pakistan Pvt Ltd since 14 January 2022.

Do I need a VPN for Bigo Live in Pakistan?

No. Neither Bigo Live nor Likee is blocked, so both work on normal mobile data and Wi-Fi.

What is the age limit for Bigo Live?

Google Play in Pakistan rates Bigo Live for 18+. It is not suitable for children.

Is earning from Bigo Live allowed in Pakistan?

The app itself is allowed. Withdrawal rates and limits are set inside the app, and the income should be recorded like any other income.

Where do I report a Bigo or Likee stream in Pakistan?

Report it in the app first. For unlawful content, complain to PTA through its complaint portal with the link and a screenshot.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

We last checked this page on 4 November 2026. We read the PTA notice of 14 January 2022 on registration of social media companies, PTA's content complaint page, the Google Play listings for Bigo Live and Likee in Pakistan, and Bigo's own release of 1 August 2020 on the lifting of the ban. The reasons for the 2020 block and Likee's age terms are as reported, because we could not read the original PTA notice of July 2020 or Likee's agreement page.