Social Media

Beginner

4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

How to Watch and Host a Facebook Live Video

Facebook Live lets people broadcast video in real time. You can watch live streams from family, news outlets, and public figures — or go live yourself.

At a Glance

Find and watch a Facebook Live video

~23s

When someone you follow is live, a red "LIVE" banner appears on their video in your News Feed. Tap the video to watch it full screen. You'll see the viewer count, live reactions, and comments scrolling up the side of the screen.

Quick Tip

To find past Live broadcasts from a public figure or page you follow, go to their profile and tap "Videos" to see saved replays.

React and comment during a Live

~19s

While watching a Live, tap any of the emoji reaction icons at the bottom (like or ) to send a reaction. It floats up the screen for everyone to see. Tap the comment box at the bottom to type a message. The person going Live can see your comments and may respond to you.

Start your own Facebook Live

~15s

Open Facebook and tap the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your News Feed. Scroll across the options below it and tap "Live Video." Facebook will ask for permission to use your camera and microphone — tap "Allow."

Set your audience and go Live

~27s

Before going live, type a description of what you're going to show (for example, "Backyard bird watching!"). Tap the audience selector to choose who can watch: "Friends," "Public," or a custom list. When you're ready, tap the blue "Go Live" button. Your camera turns on and the broadcast begins right away.

Warning

Facebook Live is broadcast in real time. What you say and show is visible to your chosen audience the moment it happens. Be aware of your surroundings and what's visible in the background.

End the broadcast and save the video

~16s

Tap "Finish" to end the Live. Facebook will ask if you want to save the video to your profile so people can watch it later. Choose "Save Video" if you'd like the replay to remain on your page, or "Delete" to remove it.

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Facebook Live is a feature that lets anyone broadcast a live video directly to their Facebook friends, followers, or the public. You might come across a Live video from a family member sharing a birthday party in real time, a church service being streamed, a local news station covering breaking news, or a public figure answering questions from viewers.

When someone goes Live on Facebook, you'll see a notification if you follow them. Their post in your News Feed will show a red "LIVE" badge. Live videos are interactive — you can type comments that the person sees in real time, react with emoji (hearts, thumbs up, etc.), and see how many other people are watching at the same time.

After a Live broadcast ends, it's usually saved as a regular video post on the person's profile or page. So you can watch it any time even if you missed it live.

Going Live yourself is also available to everyone with a Facebook account. You can go Live from your phone using the Facebook app — no special equipment needed. People go Live to share family milestones, show off a hobby, or say hello to friends and family spread across the country.

If you run a Facebook Page (for a small business or community group), going Live is one of the best ways to get your posts seen by more people, since Facebook's system shows Live videos to more viewers than regular posts.

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Official Resources

Facebook Help Center AARP Social Media Guide FTC — Social Media Safety

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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