Going live on Facebook accidentally can be embarrassing and problematic. Here are some tips to help prevent unintended Facebook Live streams from happening.
Understand How Facebook Live Works
Facebook Live allows you to broadcast video in real-time to your Facebook friends or followers. When you go live, a notification is sent out and people can tune in to watch your live video broadcast.
There are a few ways you can accidentally trigger a Facebook Live stream:
- Tapping the Live button at the top of the Facebook app or Facebook.com. This will immediately start broadcasting live.
- Swiping right from News Feed to access the camera and accidentally tapping “Go Live.”
- Starting a pre-scheduled live video at the wrong time.
Understanding how Facebook Live works and the main ways it can be accidentally triggered is the first step to avoiding unwanted streams.
Adjust Your Facebook Camera Settings
You can adjust your Facebook camera settings to make it harder to accidentally go live:
- Open the Facebook app and tap on the three-line “hamburger” menu icon in the top right.
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap on Media and Contacts.
- Under Camera, toggle off “Open Camera in Main Menu.”
This will remove the camera icon from the main menu, making it one less place you can mistakenly tap and start broadcasting live video.
Turn Off Notifications for Live Videos
Another precaution you can take is turning off notifications when you or friends go live. This prevents accidental clicks on live video notifications from taking you into an unintended broadcast.
To disable Facebook Live notifications:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Click on Notifications on the left side.
- Under the Live Videos section, toggle notifications off.
With notifications turned off, you won’t get distracted by a friend’s live stream and accidentally start your own.
Use Camera Covers and Tape
If you want to completely prevent the possibility of accidental Facebook Live streams, you can place a cover over your device’s camera lens or use tape to block it when not in use.
Some options include:
- Camera lens covers – Slide over your camera when not using it.
- Sticky tape – Use a small piece to obscure the lens.
- Camera stickers – Stick over the lens when not in use.
With the camera physically covered up, you eliminate the risk of accidentally tapping buttons that initiate a live stream.
Be Mindful When Accessing the Camera
One of the easiest ways to avoid accidental Facebook Live streams is simply being mindful when accessing your camera.
Here are some tips:
- Double check that you are in Photo mode, not Live mode.
- Look for the red “Live” indicator at the top to confirm you are not broadcasting.
- Read prompts carefully before tapping buttons.
- Tap cautiously and avoid swiping over the Live area.
Taking a few extra seconds to pay attention when opening your camera can prevent many unintended live streams.
Disable Access to Facebook Live
If accidental live streams are an ongoing issue, you can disable access to Facebook Live completely:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Click on Media and Contacts.
- Toggle off “Go Live” under the Live Videos section.
This will remove the Go Live button from your account. To go live again, you will have to re-enable it in your settings.
Use Extra Precautions When Scheduling Live Streams
Accidentally going live is more common when you have pre-scheduled live stream set up. Take extra precautions when scheduling live video:
- Double check the date and time before scheduling.
- Set a calendar reminder for a few minutes before it starts.
- Name your stream something obvious like “My Scheduled Stream.”
Being extra diligent when scheduling live video will help avoid premature streams.
Immediately End Unintended Broadcasts
If you do accidentally start broadcasting live, end the video right away:
- Tap “Finish” on the Live screen.
- Tap “End Broadcast.”
- Delete the video from your Timeline or Page to remove any traces.
Promptly stopping unintended live streams limits their potential reach and impact.
Adjust Your Privacy Settings
Another precaution is limiting who can view your live videos in your default privacy settings:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Click on Privacy Shortcuts.
- Under Who Can See Your Future Posts, choose Friends instead of Public.
This ensures only people you know can view your live streams if one does accidentally start.
Conclusion
Accidental Facebook Live streams can happen surprisingly easily. But there are many precautions you can take to avoid unintended broadcasts:
- Adjust your camera and notification settings.
- Physically cover up your camera lens.
- Be extra mindful when accessing your camera.
- Disable Facebook Live as needed.
- Take extra care when scheduling live video.
- Act fast to delete unintentional streams.
- Limit your privacy settings.
Staying aware of where live mode is accessed, taping over your camera, and immediately stopping mistaken streams can help you prevent embarrassing accidents on Facebook Live.