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How to go live on Facebook

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Facebook Live lets you livestream video directly from your Android or iOS device. Creating and streaming live content might sound like a challenge, but setting up a livestream within Facebook’s mobile app is a fairly straightforward process. Here’s how to go live.

Getting started

Step 1: The first step to setting up a livestream is to launch the Facebook app as you would normally. From the News Feed tab, locate the Live button just below the What’s on Your Mind? section at the top of your display. (Note: The screenshots below are from the iOS version, but the steps also apply to Android.)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Next, tap either the Live button or the What’s on Your Mind? field at the top, the latter of which will bring up a host of additional options, including a Live Video button.

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Step 3: If this is your first time livestreaming content on Facebook, the app will ask for permission to access your device’s camera and microphone. You’ll want to grant permission. Otherwise, you won’t be able to stream video from your device. Once done, watch the brief introduction video to see how the feature actually works.

Step 4: Once the introduction has concluded, it’s time to get started. Describe your video at the bottom of your screen and, if desired, geotag your location or tag other Facebook users in your livestream. Here, you can also add other information to your livestream, including your mood, masks, and special effects.

This is also where you can adjust your livestream’s privacy settings, as you can choose who can view your video. You can even choose the Only Me option if you want to test a recording of a livestream and don’t want anyone to watch just yet.
How to go live on Facebook
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Go live

When everything is set up and ready to go, press the blue Start Live Video button to share your scene with the world — or at least your friends, family, and followers. When you’re ready to sign off, simply tap Finish to end the stream. Facebook will automatically save and publish the video on your profile page so that anyone who missed it can watch it later. You can also change privacy settings to control who can see the video or remove it entirely if you no longer want it to appear in your feed.

There you have it — you’ve just made your first livestream to Facebook! Not too shabby. Going live on Facebook is actually pretty easy, but if you’re interested in taking your content further, you may want to consider upping the quality of your audio with an external microphone. Improving stabilization with a smartphone gimbal, like the DJI Osmo Mobile, is another way to stand out from the crowd. These accessories certainly aren’t required, but they will let you take your streams to the next level if you’re interested in doing so.

Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
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