Watching Facebook Live streams directly on your TV is possible, but requires a few extra steps compared to watching on your phone or computer. There are a couple main options for getting Facebook Live videos up on the big screen: using a streaming device like Roku or Apple TV, casting your phone’s screen to your TV, or connecting your computer to your TV.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can watch Facebook Live streams on your TV using a streaming device like Roku or Apple TV, casting from your phone with Chromecast/Airplay, or connecting your computer to your TV with an HDMI cable. Facebook does not have a native app for most smart TV platforms so you need an intermediary device.
Overview of Ways to Watch Facebook Live on TV
Here is a quick overview of the main methods for watching Facebook Live content on a TV screen:
- Streaming Device – Use Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Android TV box with Facebook app installed to stream to your TV.
- Screen Casting – Cast or mirror your Android or iOS device’s screen directly to your TV using Chromecast, Roku screen mirroring, Airplay, etc.
- HDMI Cable – Connect your laptop to your TV via HDMI cable to display Facebook on the big screen.
- Screen Mirroring Apps – Use apps like Airscreen to wirelessly mirror your mobile device or computer to compatible smart TVs.
- Web Browser – Pull up Facebook on your smart TV’s web browser (limitations apply based on TV platform and browser)
The easiest options that work across all TVs are using a streaming device or casting your mobile screen. But the right method will depend on your TV setup and preferences. The rest of this article will provide more details on each method.
Using Streaming Devices to Watch Facebook Live
One of the most straightforward ways to get Facebook Live streams up on your television is by using a streaming device like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Android TV boxes.
These devices connect to your TV via HDMI and allow you to install streaming apps and games. Luckily most major streaming platforms have official Facebook apps that allow you to view both traditional video content as well as live streams.
Pros
- Dedicated apps tailored for TV viewing
- Intuitive interfaces and controllers for navigating
- Support for 4K/HDR video on supported devices
Cons
- Need to purchase streaming device if you don’t already have one
- Maybe limited app availability on some cheaper/older devices
Setup Process
To use a streaming device to watch Facebook Live:
- Connect your Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or other streamer to your TV using an HDMI cable.
- Turn on the device and connect to your home WiFi network.
- Open the platform’s app store and download the Facebook app.
- Log in to the Facebook app with your account credentials.
- Navigate to a live stream you want to watch and start viewing!
It’s a very quick and painless process. The Facebook apps on these platforms are designed specifically for TV usage, with large fonts and intuitive controls. Just find the live video you want and tap to start watching right away.
Casting Your Mobile Device’s Screen
If you don’t have a streaming device setup, another easy way to get Facebook Live streams on your TV is by casting or mirroring your mobile device’s screen directly to your television.
Pros
- Don’t need any extra hardware other than a smart TV
- Mirrors everything on your phone or tablet
- Supports interactive viewing for liking, commenting, etc.
Cons
- Quality dependent on your mobile device’s screen
- Can be laggy if your WiFi connection is slow
Setup Process
There are a few different protocols for casting your screen depending on your devices:
- Chromecast – For Android devices and Chrome browser, use Google Home app or Chromecast built-in button to cast your screen.
- AirPlay – For iOS devices and Macs, use AirPlay to mirror your display to Apple TV.
- Miracast – For Windows PCs, use Miracast with compatible TVs like Samsung and LG.
- Roku – Use Roku app to mirror Android or Windows screen to Roku streaming players.
Once you connect, you can simply open the Facebook app on your phone or tablet and navigate to a live stream. Whatever is on your mobile display will be mirrored directly on your TV. Interacting works normally as well.
Connecting Your Computer via HDMI
If your TV and computer are reasonably close together, one of the simplest solutions is to just directly connect them with an HDMI cable.
Pros
- Very inexpensive since HDMI cables are cheap
- Lag-free high quality feed
- Allows computer multitasking while streaming
Cons
- Need close physical proximity between TV and computer
- Bit clunky navigating Facebook on a TV
- Fixed in place, limits flexible viewing
Setup Process
Connecting your laptop or desktop computer to your TV via HDMI is very simple:
- Use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to an available HDMI port on your TV.
- Switch your TV input to the HDMI source your computer is now connected to.
- On your computer, mirror or extend your display to show on the TV screen as well.
- Open Facebook in your computer’s browser and navigate to a live stream.
- Fullscreen the video and it will display directly on your TV.
HDMI cables these days support up to 4K resolution so you can get excellent quality. Just note that anything you display on your computer will also show on the TV screen.
Using Screen Mirroring Apps
Another way you can wirelessly mirror your phone or computer’s display to a larger screen is by using a dedicated screen mirroring app.
Options like AirScreen allow you to mirror your Android, iOS, Windows or Mac device to compatible smart TVs like Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio models.
Pros
- Works wirelessly without cables or Chromecast/Fire TV stick
- Supports casting from a wide variety of devices and platforms
- Allows remote control of your device from the TV
Cons
- Need app installed on both your device and the TV
- Limited to supported TV models
- Can be laggy depending on WiFi connection
Setup Process
To use a wireless screen mirroring app to view Facebook Live on your TV:
- Download the mirroring app on both your phone/tablet/computer and smart TV.
- Connect both devices to the same local WiFi network.
- Open the app on your device and select your TV as the target to mirror to.
- Allow the connection request on your TV.
- Your device screen will now be cast to your TV display wirelessly.
- Open Facebook and navigate to a live video to view it on the big screen.
These apps work by creating a form of wireless HDMI connection between your devices. Quality can vary but it’s a handy cable-free option.
Using Smart TV Web Browser
If all else fails and your TV has onboard web browsing capabilities, you may be able to directly load Facebook in your television’s browser to view live videos.
Pros
- No extra equipment required
- TV remote works for basic browsing
Cons
- Very clunky and limited interface
- Lacks many features only available in apps
- Not supported on all TV platforms
Setup Process
The process for watching Facebook Live in your smart TV web browser is:
- On your TV’s home screen, locate and open the web browser app.
- Navigate to www.facebook.com in the browser.
- Use your TV remote to interact with Facebook’s interface.
- Locate a live video and select it to start watching.
This is really only practical for occasional viewing as the browsers are very limited. But it can work in a pinch if the TV is WebOS, Android TV, Samsung Tizen, etc.
Recommendations for Watching Facebook Live on TV
Based on the various methods and pros and cons, here are my recommendations for the best options to watch Facebook Live streams on your television:
| Method | Cost | Quality | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Device | $$ | Excellent | Very Easy |
| Screen Casting | Free | Good | Easy |
| HDMI | $ | Excellent | Moderate |
| Screen Mirroring App | Free | Okay | Moderate |
| Smart TV Browser | Free | Poor | Difficult |
A dedicated streaming device provides the best overall experience but requires purchasing additional equipment. If you already have something like a Roku or Firestick, that’s your best bet.
Screen casting is a great free option from your phone or tablet if your TV supports it. HDMI works very well too for a direct wired connection. I only recommend using the TV browser itself as a complete last resort.
Conclusion
While Facebook doesn’t offer an official TV app, getting live streams up on the big screen is very doable. Streaming devices probably provide the smoothest viewing experience but both screen casting and HDMI are solid options too. Choose the method that best fits your budget, technical proficiency and equipment constraints.
At the end of the day there are enough workarounds where anyone can figure out some way to watch Facebook Live on their television. It just requires getting a little creative based on what devices you have available to make the connection.
Hopefully this guide gave you some ideas on how to view Facebook streams on your TV using a Roku, Chromecast, HDMI cable or one of the other methods detailed here. Just decide which option works best for you and soon you’ll be watching Facebook Live events, videos, and shows on the biggest screen in your home!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Facebook Live on my smart TV?
You can watch Facebook Live on smart TVs, but will need an intermediary device or app in most cases. Options include using a streaming device, screen mirroring from your mobile device, an HDMI cable from your computer, or direct web browsing if your TV model supports it.
Is there a Facebook TV app?
No, Facebook does not offer an official app for television platforms like webOS, Tizen, etc. But many TV streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV do have Facebook apps that allow viewing live videos.
Can I cast Facebook Live from my phone to Roku?
Yes, you can cast or screen mirror Facebook Live from your Android or iOS device to a Roku player. Enable screen mirroring in the Roku mobile app and it will display your phone’s screen, including Facebook Live streams.
Does Facebook Live work with Chromecast?
Chromecast allows you to cast your entire Android or Chrome browser screen to a TV. So you can stream Facebook Live to TV using Chromecast as long as you mirror your full device or browser screen.
Can I use HDMI to connect Facebook from computer to TV?
Yes, using an HDMI cable to directly connect your Windows/Mac computer to your television will allow you to view Facebook Live streams on the TV via the computer’s browser.
Other Options for Streaming Facebook Videos to TV
Airpin Pro
Airpin Pro is an app for iOS and Android that lets you wirelessly stream videos from your phone to devices like Apple TV and Fire TV without needing Airplay or Chromecast built in.
Medianet
Some LG TVs support Medianet which allows WiFi streaming of media from iOS or Android straight to the TV.
Miracast
Miracast is a standard for wirelessly mirroring from Windows PCs to compatible TVs and dongles, similar to Chromecast.
AirBeamTV
AirBeamTV is an app that wirelessly beams your Android device’s screen to smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, and more.