To watch Facebook Live, click or tap the live video when it appears in your Feed and it plays right there. For an online event, open Events, go to Your events, choose the event and click Watch live video. If you miss it, the broadcast is uploaded to the host's profile, Page or group when it ends, so you can watch the replay.
You don't need anything special to watch someone's live video on Facebook. It plays in the normal Facebook app or on facebook.com. The tricky parts are knowing when someone's live, and catching the replay before it's gone, so that's what most of this guide covers.
Watch a live video from your Feed
When someone you follow goes live, the broadcast shows up as a post in your Feed. Tap or click the video and you're watching. You can react and leave comments while it's running, and the host can reply in the chat or answer you on camera.
If someone in the comments is causing trouble, that's for the host to deal with: Facebook lets the broadcaster block a viewer during the broadcast by tapping the profile picture next to their comment. As a viewer, your options are simply to watch, react, comment, or leave.
Watch Facebook Live from an online event
Lots of workshops and talks are run as online events. Facebook's steps for joining one on a computer are:
- From your Feed, click Events in the left menu. You may have to click See more first.
- Click Your events, then click Going in the left menu.
- Select the event, then click Watch live video.
When the host goes live, Facebook also puts a post with the live video in your Feed, so you can watch it there instead. If the event uses an external link rather than Facebook Live, you'll see Go to link instead of Watch live video, and the host's instructions should be in the event description.
Get told when a Page goes live
If you don't want to miss a broadcast, follow the Page and choose what you're notified about:
- Go to the Page and click Follow.
- Click Following.
- Below Notifications, select the types of posts you want to be notified about.
- Click Update.
For a friend, Facebook's route is adding them to your Close Friends list, which turns on notifications when they post.
How long can you watch a Facebook Live replay?
This is the part most people don't expect. When a broadcast ends, Facebook uploads it to the host's profile, Page or group as a post. But Facebook's live-streaming guidelines say live videos are available for replay for up to 30 days after the broadcast, and live content that the host hasn't saved, downloaded or turned into reels is deleted automatically 30 days after the live session ended.
| When | What you can watch |
|---|---|
| During the broadcast | The live video in your Feed, on the host's profile, Page or group, or from the event |
| After it ends | The replay, posted where the broadcast happened |
| After 30 days | Only what the host kept: a saved or downloaded copy, or clips turned into reels |
So if a friend tells you about a great live session, watch the replay sooner rather than later.
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How long can a Facebook Live be?
Up to eight hours per stream, whether it's broadcast from a phone, a computer or streaming software. Facebook says some premium partners, gaming creators and media organisations can be approved for longer streams, typically up to 12 hours. Streams end automatically when they hit their limit, with no grace period, so a very long event may restart partway through. If the video suddenly stops, that's often why.
Watching on a bigger screen
If you'd rather watch on your television, you can cast a Facebook video from your phone. I've explained how in my guide to watching Facebook on TV. And if a live video won't load at all, the checks in why Facebook videos won't play are worth working through.
My take
For a broadcast you care about, follow the Page and set its notifications so the alert finds you. For everything else, the replay is your safety net, but only for about a month. If you're the one going live rather than watching, the 30 day rule matters even more, because your own replay can disappear unless you download it.
Related guides live in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an app to watch Facebook Live?
No. Live videos play in the Facebook app or on facebook.com. Tap or click the live video in your Feed, or open it from the event or the host's Page.
Can I watch a Facebook Live after it ends?
Yes. Facebook uploads the broadcast to the host's profile, Page or group when it ends, and says live videos are available for replay for up to 30 days.
How do I know when someone goes live on Facebook?
Follow their Page, click Following and choose the types of posts you want notifications for. For friends, Facebook suggests adding them to your Close Friends list.
Why did a Facebook Live stop suddenly?
One reason is the time limit. Facebook ends streams automatically when they reach their limit, usually eight hours, with no grace period.
