How to Go Live on Facebook

Facebook has come full circle over the last decade. The company continues to offer new features and functions, making it a one-stop-shop for casual users, businesses, and even streamers. One of these features, Facebook Live, is used by people all over the world for various reasons. If you have the Facebook mobilOther using the web browser on a computer, you can go Live and share video content will your family and friends.

This article will teach you how to go Live on Facebook, and we’ll teach you some helpful tips along the way.

How to Go Live on Facebook

As mentioned previously, there are a few ways to go Live on Facebook. We’ll cover each platform in this section.

How to Go Live on Facebook – Mobile App

Fortunately, the iOS and Android versions of the Facebook application are pretty similar. If you’re using a mobile device to go Live, follow these steps:

1. Open Facebook to the home screen and tap Live.
   
2. If this is your first time trying to go Live on this device, Facebook will ask for a few permissions to access your camera, audio, etc. Grant those permissions to move forward. Note: These options will vary based on your OS.
   
3. If you’re ready to start streaming, tap Go Live at the bottom of the screen.
   

Going Live on Facebook is really quick and easy. But, there are a lot of options to customize your Live video too. Let’s review them:

• Manage Privacy – At the very top of the screen you can manage who can see your Live feed. If there are some friends or family members you’d like to exclude, you can do so by tapping To: [People icon].
• Add Filters – In the upper left-hand corner you will see magic wand. Tap it to add filters. Filters make your Live feed more fun and engaging.
• Turn on the lights – Centered at the top is the lightning bolt icon. This icon provides illumination if it’s lighting is poor.
• Flip the camera – The upper right-hand corner holds the camera flip icon. Use this to toggle between the rear-facing and selfie camera on your phone.
• Add Friends – Beneath the Go Live button you will see a person icon with a ‘+’ next to it. Tap here to invite friends to join your Live on their Facebook accounts.
• Sell your stuff – Also at the bottom, the second icon from the left, you will see a shopping bag. If you’re hosting a virtual shopping party you can list your products here. Note: You will need to post them to your page before this feature becomes available.
• Host a fund raiser – The third icon at the bottom of the screen let’s you add a charity. This is perfect for those philanthropists who want to hold virtual fund raisers.
• More Settings – Lastly, you will see the More icon (three horizontal lines). Tap here to add descriptions and tags, check in somewhere, or invite friends.
  

Now that we’ve covered the app version of Facebook Live, let’s move on to the browser.

How to Go Live on Facebook – Web Browser

If you prefer using a desktop for your Live stream, you’re in luck. Similar to the instructions above, going Live on Facebook is pretty simple on a web browser. Here’s how:

1. Visit the Facebook website and login. From the home page click Live Video.
   
2. If you want to go Live right now, check the menu on the right to ensure your Live video is streaming in the right place. Then, tap Set Up Live Video.
   
3. On this page you can choose to use your web cam or you can upload a Live stream from another platform (Discord, Twitch, YouTube, etc.). Click Web Cam to go Live on Facebook. Or, copy your Stream Key to go live on another platform and stream to Facebook.
   
4. If you chose the Web Cam option, the web browser will need permission to access your camera and microphone. Tap Allow.
   
5. Tap Go Live when you’re ready to start streaming.
   
6. When you’re finished recording, tap the option to end your Live stream.

Note: If you plan on streaming to Facebook from another platform, you will need to paste the Stream Key into that platform’s interface to get started.

You can also set up a Live Event. This is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to maximize the viewers on their friends’ list or host a party of sorts. Scheduling a Live Event is simple. All you need to do is use the menu on the left to select a date, time, cover photo, caption, etc. Then, invite members. Other users can RSVP or let you know they won’t make it when an invite is sent.

You will receive reminders and updates leading up to your Live Event.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of cool features to learn about with Facebook Live. Keep reading while we answer some of your most frequently asked questions.

Can I live stream pre-recorded content?

While Facebook does have policies against streaming pre-recorded content, the company does make exceptions if the content is properly labled as “pre-recorded.”

How do I download my Facebook Live video?

If you’ve posted a Facebook Live video you can download it to your computer or phone to keep forever. All you need to do is go to your timeline, open the video to full screen, and tap on three dot icon in the upper right-hand corner. Then, click on Download Video.

The video will download to your device where you can watch it, or repost it if you’d like.

How do I boost my Facebook Live video?

There are a lot of things you can do to ensure that your Facebook Live stream reaches as many people as possible. First, make sure that your Facebook Live video is more than 3 minutes long. Facebook prioritizes its videos by length, so a video under three minutes long won’t float to the top of the list.

Next, schedule your live during a time that works for your target audience or use the Invite feature we mentioned above to attract more users.

Another trick to boosting your views is using hashtags and a enticing captions. For example, if you’re goal is to sell your products, a free giveaway in the captions may attract more users.

Lastly, adding more friends to your Live stream can help boost your viewers. If you want to share great memories with your friends, this is definitely the way to go.

How do I add auto-generated captions to my Facebook Live video?

Closed captioning is a great way to reach more viewers. While some Facebook users need the captions to watch the content, others prefer to watch it in silence. If you’re on a web browser, all you need to do is click Settings and tap Viewer. Toggle the switch next to Turn on auto-generated captions so that it turns blue. Now, you have captions.