Facebook Live allows you to broadcast live videos to your friends and followers on Facebook. It’s a great way to share moments, engage with your audience in real time, and grow your follower base. If someone you follow is broadcasting live, you can join their live video and view the broadcast. Here’s how to request to join a Facebook Live video.
What You Need to Join a Facebook Live Video
To join a Facebook Live video, you’ll need:
- An updated version of the Facebook app on your mobile device or access to Facebook on a desktop browser.
- To be friends or connected with the person broadcasting the live video.
You can only view Facebook Live videos from people you are connected to in some way on Facebook. You must be friends with the broadcaster or following their public page or profile. If you aren’t connected to them yet, you will need to send them a friend request or follow their page first.
How to Find Live Videos on Facebook
There are a couple ways to find live videos from your connections on Facebook:
Notification about a Live Video
If someone you are connected to begins broadcasting live, you may receive a notification alerting you to their live video. The notification will appear at the top of your Facebook feed with the name and profile picture of the person broadcasting. Simply tap on the notification to jump directly to their live video.
Live Video in Your News Feed
Live videos may also show up directly in your news feed while they are happening. They will be labeled “Live” with the name and photo of the broadcaster. Scroll through your news feed and look for live videos from your friends, pages or groups you follow, and public figures. Tapping on any live video will allow you to watch it.
Live Producer at the Top of the App
The Facebook app also has a Live Producer at the top so you can easily see who is broadcasting live videos that you may want to join. Tap the “Live” tab at the top of your mobile app and swipe through the list of live videos. Tap on any video to view the live broadcast.
Profile or Page of the Broadcaster
If there is someone you follow who goes live frequently, you can visit their profile or page to check if they are broadcasting. Their profile photo will have a red “Live” indicator on it if they are live. You can then tap on their photo to join their live broadcast.
Notification of When Someone is Broadcasting
If you enable notifications from a person, page, or group, you will be notified when they start broadcasting live. This lets you join their live videos as soon as they begin.
To enable live notifications:
- Go to their profile or page
- Tap Following/Like below their cover photo
- Tap the Turn on Notifications toggle and select Live Videos
Once you enable this, you’ll get an alert when they start broadcasting so you don’t miss it!
How to Request to Join a Live Video
Once you find a live video you want to watch, joining it is simple. Here is the process:
- Tap on the live video from your news feed, notifications, Live Producer, or a profile/page.
- A preview of the live video will appear. Tap on the Request to Join button.
- The broadcaster will receive your request. Wait for them to approve it.
- Once approved, the live video will start streaming for you! Interact and enjoy the broadcast.
The person broadcasting the live video has full control over who can view it. When you request to join, they will receive your request and can choose to add you to the audience or deny your request.
Public vs Private Live Videos
Live videos can be either public or private. For public live videos, you won’t need to request to join. Anyone on Facebook can view public live broadcasts. Private live videos require the broadcaster to approve each viewer who wants to watch.
Interacting with Facebook Live Videos
Part of the fun of Facebook Live is interacting with the broadcaster and other viewers in real time. Here are some ways you can interact with a live video you’ve joined:
- Like or react to the video – Tap the like button just as you would on a normal Facebook post.
- Comment – Viewers can comment on the broadcast for everyone to see.
- Share – You can share the live video to your own timeline or in a group.
- Ask questions – Many broadcasters monitor comments and questions during their videos.
The more you interact, the more fun it is for both viewers and broadcasters! The broadcaster will be notified of your likes, comments, and when you start viewing which helps them gauge engagement.
Why You May Be Unable to Join a Live Video
In some cases, you may run into issues joining a Facebook Live video. Here are some potential reasons and how to fix them:
Private Video
If the live video is private, the broadcaster will have to approve your request to join before you can view it. Be patient and wait for them to add you or switch the broadcast to public.
Not Connected to the Broadcaster
To view someone’s live video, you must be connected with them on Facebook in some way – either friends, following a page they manage, etc. If you aren’t connected, send them a friend request and try again once they accept.
Banned from Viewing
The broadcaster has the ability to ban you from viewing their videos. You won’t be able to join if you’ve been banned.
Internet Connection Issues
Check that your device has a steady internet connection. Live videos require a strong connection to broadcast and view properly. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network or switch to mobile data if needed.
The Broadcast Ended
You can only view live videos while they are still broadcasting. If the broadcast has already ended, you won’t be able to watch. But broadcasters can save their live videos to view later on their profile or page.
App Needs to Be Updated
Make sure you have the latest version of the Facebook app. Older versions may not support viewing live videos.
Feature Isn’t Available in Your Country
Facebook Live may be restricted in some countries. You’ll need to use a VPN to view live videos if the feature isn’t available where you live.
Troubleshooting Tips
Follow these basic troubleshooting tips if you’re having any issues joining Facebook Live videos:
- Force quit and relaunch the Facebook app
- Check your internet connection
- Update the Facebook app
- Restart your device
- Clear the app cache and data
- Report issues to Facebook
The majority of joining issues can be fixed by restarting the app, refreshing your internet connection, or updating the app to the latest version. For persistent problems, report the issues directly to Facebook.
Joining Live Videos on Desktop
You can also join Facebook Live broadcasts right from your computer on the desktop site. Here’s how:
- Log into Facebook in your desktop browser
- Click on the Live icon in the left menu bar
- Browse live videos from your current feed
- Click on any live video to view it
The process works the same as on mobile. You’ll have to be connected to the broadcaster and have your join request accepted if it is a private live video.
Conclusion
Joining Facebook Live videos is a fun way to engage with the people and pages you follow. Look for live broadcasts happening across Facebook and interact with them in real time. Just be sure you’re connected to the broadcaster, have a good internet signal, and have the latest Facebook app version installed. With the tap of a button, you can become part of a live audience and join in on the fun!
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Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. It allows people to connect with friends and family, share updates, photos, videos, and more. Facebook Live launched in 2016 as a way for people to broadcast live video streams to their followers.
Since its launch, Facebook Live has become increasingly popular. It provides a powerful way for brands, businesses, organizations, and public figures to engage an audience in real time. Live video allows for two-way communication between broadcaster and viewer through comments and reactions.
Facebook Live can be accessed through the Facebook mobile apps, Facebook website, and Facebook Pages. Any profile or Page can go live, giving them access to a built-in audience. The potential reach is massive, especially for public figures, brands, and verified accounts.
To start a live broadcast on Facebook, simply tap the “Live” option from News Feed. You can add titles, descriptions, and location tags before going live. The video will appear on your profile, Page, or in followers’ feeds while broadcasting.
A major benefit of Facebook Live is the convenience and portability. You can broadcast from anywhere at any time using just a mobile device. No fancy equipment is required. Simply hold up your phone and start streaming.
Using Facebook Live effectively requires planning the content and promotion ahead of time. Best practices include:
- Informing your audience of upcoming broadcasts across other channels
- Interacting with viewers through comments and questions
- Keeping the video stream entertaining and informative
- Sharing the broadcast widely once it ends
Videos can be downloaded and reused after the live broadcast ends. Broadcasts are also saved to the Videos section of a profile or Page.
Facebook Live provides valuable data and feedback through comments, reactions, shares, and viewer demographics. This helps measure the success and reach of the live stream.
Overall, Facebook Live is an excellent tool for engagement when used strategically and consistently. Brands of all sizes can leverage it to connect with target audiences in real time from anywhere.
Some additional key things to know about Facebook Live include:
- Broadcasts can be scheduled ahead of time from Pages
- Private and public privacy options are available
- Live videos appear higher in News Feed while streaming
- The audience can be geotargeted and age gated
Facebook is constantly updating its live video features. Options like adding guests, going live with a partner, live chat, VR live streaming, and more continue to improve the experience.
As video becomes increasingly central to social media, Facebook Live provides a built-in tool on the world’s largest social platform. It enables interactive, real-time broadcasting to engage both small and enormous audiences.