To save a live video on Instagram, tap Download Video on the screen that appears straight after you end your broadcast, and it goes to your camera roll. Instagram only offers this right after the live ends, only to the host, and it saves the video without the comments or likes.
The save button appears once, on the screen you see the moment you end your live. Tap it there and the video goes to your phone. Miss it and you're relying on the Live archive, which Instagram's help describes for sharing your broadcast as a reel rather than downloading it.
This guide is about getting the video onto your phone. How long a live stays in your archive is a separate question, and the steps below work whatever the answer.
Save your live to your camera roll
- Go live as normal and run your broadcast.
- End the live when you're ready.
- On the screen that appears straight afterwards, tap Download Video.
- Wait for it to finish. Instagram says it may take a minute, especially for longer videos, so don't close the app straight away.
- Open your phone's photo gallery to check it's there.
Instagram is clear that you can only save a live right after you've ended it, and only you see the option. That's why I'd tap download first, before you do anything else on that end screen.
What the saved file includes
| Part of the live | In the downloaded video? |
|---|---|
| Your video and sound | Yes |
| Comments | No |
| Likes | No |
| Viewer list and count | No |
| Guests who joined you | Instagram's help doesn't say, so check the file before you rely on it |
If the comments were the best part, take screenshots during the broadcast or jot down the questions people asked. The download won't keep them.
Keep it on Instagram as a reel
On the same end screen you'll see Share as reel. This posts a replay to your profile and Feed, and you get the usual reels screen for a caption and tags. Before you tap it, know the trade-offs Instagram lists:
- The replay won't include likes or comments from the original live.
- The viewer count starts again from zero once you share it.
- You can't edit or trim the live before sharing it as a replay.
Instagram also says the viewer number on the replay in your grid only counts people who watched after you shared it. If you need proof of how many people turned up live, note the number before you end.
Missed the download button?
If your live has ended and you didn't save it, open your Live archive. Here's the route Instagram gives:
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Tap Archive.
- Tap Stories archive at the top and switch to Live archive.
- Tap the broadcast, then tap Share to post it as a reel.
Instagram's help for the archive talks about sharing, not downloading, so treat the end screen as your one reliable chance to get a file. If you share the replay as a reel, you'll at least have it on your profile.
Can you save someone else's live?
Not with Instagram's own tools. The help page says only you will see the option to save your live video, meaning the host. If a friend went live and you want a copy, ask them to download it or share it as a reel. I'd steer clear of websites that promise to grab other people's lives: you're handing a stranger your login or someone else's content, and neither is worth it.
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Getting more from the saved file
A downloaded live is raw material. It's usually long, with a slow start while people join and a few minutes of chat at the end, so it rarely works as a finished piece on its own. Here's what I'd do with it:
- Cut short clips. Pull out the moments where you answered a good question or made one clear point, and post those as separate reels.
- Trim before sharing again. Because Instagram won't let you trim a live before sharing it as a replay, editing the downloaded file is the only way to post a tighter version.
- Keep a master copy. Store the full file somewhere other than your phone, so a full camera roll or a lost phone doesn't take it with it.
- Note the questions. The comments aren't in the file, so write down what people asked while it's fresh. They make great ideas for future posts.
Why you might not see Download Video
- You can't go live yet. Instagram says only public accounts with 1,000 followers or more can start a live video, so there's nothing to save until you can broadcast.
- You left the end screen. The option appears right after you end, so closing that screen loses it.
- You weren't the host. Guests and viewers don't get the save option.
- The app needs an update. Button names change, so update Instagram if the end screen looks different.
If you're still building towards that follower number, my guide on getting Instagram followers without posting every day is a good place to start, and finding people on Instagram helps you invite the right guests once you're live.
My advice
Make downloading part of ending the live. End, tap Download Video, wait for it to finish, then decide whether to share it as a reel. I've seen too many good lives lost because someone tapped away from that screen. Once it's on your phone, you can cut clips, post them later, or keep it as a record, and you're not depending on the archive.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download an Instagram live after it's ended?
Instagram says you can only save a live broadcast right after you've ended it, using Download Video on the end screen.
Does saving a live keep the comments?
No. Only the video is saved, not comments, likes or viewers.
Can I save someone else's Instagram live?
No. Only the host sees the option to save a live video, so ask them to download or share it.
Where do I find my old Instagram lives?
Go to Profile, Menu, Archive, then switch Stories archive to Live archive. From there you can share a broadcast as a reel.
Can I trim a live before sharing it as a reel?
No. Instagram says you can't edit or trim a live video before sharing it as a replay, so download it and trim the file instead.
