Facebook Live allows users to broadcast live video streams to their followers on the platform. These live streams allow for real-time engagement between broadcasters and viewers through comments, reactions, and shares. However, once a Facebook Live broadcast ends, what happens to the video? Does Facebook archive live streams after they finish?
The Short Answer
Yes, Facebook does archive live streams after they end. The videos remain viewable on the broadcaster’s profile and Page for posterity. However, the availability of archived live videos depends on certain factors.
Availability of Archived Live Videos
When a Facebook Live broadcast ends, the video remains viewable on the broadcaster’s profile or Page. Followers who missed the live broadcast can still watch the full video as a VOD (video on demand).
However, the archived video’s availability depends on the following factors:
- Privacy settings: If the live video was shared to the public, it will remain public as a VOD. If it was limited to certain friends or groups, the privacy settings carry over.
- Length of availability: Facebook Live videos remain available for replay on the platform for a limited period. The exact duration varies, but may range from several hours to a few weeks.
- Deletion: Broadcasters have the option to delete their live videos at any time after the broadcast ends. This permanently removes the archived video.
- Copyright violations: Facebook will remove archived live videos if they receive copyright complaints or if the content violates their community standards.
So while Facebook does archive live streams, they do not necessarily remain available forever. Broadcasters have control over the privacy and longevity of their archived videos.
Where to Find Archived Live Videos
When a Facebook Live broadcast ends, the video will remain visible in the same place the original live stream was hosted. Users can find archived live videos in the following locations:
- On a personal profile: Videos will be saved on the user’s timeline under their live videos section.
- On a Facebook Page: Videos will be archived under the Page’s videos tab in the live videos section.
- In Groups: Live streams in Groups can be found under the Videos tab in the Group.
The video will be marked as “Live” while streaming, then switch to “Video” once the broadcast has ended. This denotes the change from live broadcast to archived VOD.
Who Can View Archived Live Streams
The privacy settings of an archived live video depend on the original broadcast’s configurations. Here is who can view a video after a Facebook Live stream ends:
| Original Privacy Setting | Who Can View Archived Video |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone on or off Facebook |
| Friends | The broadcaster’s friends only |
| Specific groups | Only members of the selected groups |
Changing the privacy setting of the archived video later on will affect who can view it as a VOD. Broadcasters can limit access to the post-live video if they choose to.
How Long Are Archived Live Videos Available
Facebook does delete archived live stream videos after a certain period of time. However, the platform does not provide an exact timeframe for how long VODs of live broadcasts last.
In general, most archived Facebook Live videos seem to remain for:
- 12-24 hours: For regular users’ streams
- 1-2 weeks: For verified Pages and popular creators
- Several months: For very high-profile live streams from public figures
So regular live streams have a much shorter shelf life compared to those from public personalities. The more popular the account, the longer their live broadcast archives tend to last on Facebook’s servers.
Facebook likely deletes older live VODs to clear up storage space on their servers. But popular live streams bring traffic to the platform, so Facebook keeps those available longer.
Do Deleted Live Videos Disappear Forever?
If a user deletes their live video from Facebook after the broadcast ends, it is permanently erased. The archived version will no longer be available for replay.
Deleted Facebook videos cannot be recovered. When users remove their live stream VOD, it is gone for good from Facebook’s servers.
However, even if the broadcaster deletes their live video, viewers may have recorded or downloaded the footage during or after the stream. So copies of the video could still exist off of Facebook’s platform even if the original disappears.
Ways Broadcasters Can Download Live Streams
If Facebook Live users want to save copies of their broadcasts before they get deleted, there are options to download archived live videos:
- Video downloader browser extensions – Browser plug-ins like Video Downloader Professional can be used to save Facebook videos.
- Third-party apps – Services like 4K Video Downloader and KeepVid allow users to download videos from Facebook.
- Screen recording software – Broadcasters can use screen recorders to capture their live video playback.
- Facebook’s Creator Studio – Creators with access can download their Facebook Live videos through Creator Studio.
Using one of these methods, broadcasters can save a copy of their live video before it disappears from Facebook’s archive. This grants them control and ownership over the content.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- Facebook does archive live streams as VODs when broadcasts end.
- Archived live videos remain visible on the broadcaster’s profile or Page.
- Privacy settings, copyright issues, and deletion can affect archived video availability.
- VODs of regular live streams last 12-24 hours typically.
- Deleted live videos are permanently erased from Facebook.
- Broadcasters can download archived streams using third-party tools.
So while Facebook Live videos do not last forever by default, broadcasters have options to preserve their live streams if desired. The archives give creators a window to replay and re-share their videos after the live broadcast.