Facebook doesn't let you read live videos while they're streaming, but you can save them after the broadcast ends
Once a Facebook live video finishes broadcasting, it becomes a regular video on the platform. At that point, you have a few ways to save it: you can use Facebook's built-in read feature if the video owner allowed it, use a third-party downloader, or record the screen while it plays. The method that works depends on whether the video is public, whether the original poster enabled downloads, and what device you're using.
If you're the one who posted the live video, you have the most control — you can read your own video directly from Facebook. If someone else posted it, you'll need their permission or you'll need to use a screen recording tool, which captures what's on your screen as a video file.
Key Takeaways
- Live videos must finish broadcasting before you can read them; Facebook doesn't allow downloads of videos still being streamed.
- If you posted the video yourself, go to your video, click the three dots, and select read to save it as an MP4 file to your computer.
- If someone else posted the video and didn't enable downloads, screen recording is the most straightforward legal method to capture it.
- Third-party downloader websites exist but may violate Facebook's terms of service and don't always work reliably as Facebook updates its system.
- The easiest way to may support you can read a video later is to ask the person who posted it to enable the read option before they go live.
Downloading your own Facebook live video
If you broadcast the live video yourself, Facebook stores it on your timeline after the stream ends. Open the video, click the three dots in the top right corner of the video player, and select read. The video will save to your computer as an MP4 file, usually in your Downloads folder. This works on both desktop and mobile, though the menu location differs slightly.
On mobile, tap the three dots above the video, scroll down, and tap read. On desktop, the same three-dot menu appears in the upper right of the video. The read starts when ready and the file size depends on the video length and quality — a one-hour live stream typically ranges from 500 MB to 2 GB.
You can also control whether other people can read your live videos. When you're setting up a live broadcast, look for privacy and sharing settings. If you want to prevent downloads, set the video to private or disable the read option in the video settings after it finishes streaming.
Asking the original poster to enable downloads
If someone else posted the live video and you want to read it, the simplest approach is to ask them directly. The person who posted the video can go to their video, click the three dots, and select Edit Video or Video Settings. They can then enable downloads for that specific video, which will allow you and anyone else viewing it to use the read button.
This works best when the video is public or shared with you. If the video is private and you don't have access to it, you won't be able to read it through any method without the poster's permission. Explain to the person why you need the video — whether it's for archival, accessibility, or offline viewing — and most people will enable downloads if they're comfortable sharing it that way.
Using screen recording to capture the video
If the video owner hasn't enabled downloads and won't change the setting, screen recording is a legal way to save the video on your own device. Every major operating system has a built-in screen recorder: Windows has the Game Bar (press Windows key + G), macOS has Screenshot (press Shift + Command + 5), and most Android and iPhone devices have native screen recording in the control center.
Open the Facebook video in full screen, start the screen recorder, and play the video from beginning to end. The recording will save as a video file on your device. The file size will be similar to a direct read, and the quality depends on your screen resolution and the original video quality. This method works for any video you can view, regardless of the poster's read settings.
Screen recording does have drawbacks: it captures everything on your screen, including notifications and browser tabs, so close other windows first. It also takes up as much time as the video itself — a one-hour video requires one hour of recording time. But it's reliable and doesn't depend on third-party tools or Facebook's policies.
Why third-party downloaders are unreliable
Many websites claim to read Facebook videos by pasting a video link into their tool. These services work inconsistently because Facebook regularly changes how it stores and serves videos, and these tools must be updated constantly to keep working. A downloader that works today may fail next week.
These tools also exist in a gray area with Facebook's terms of service. Facebook doesn't officially endorse them, and using them may violate the platform's rules, depending on the video's copyright status and the poster's wishes. If the video contains copyrighted music or content, downloading it through an unofficial tool could expose you to copyright claims.
For these reasons, using the official Facebook read button, asking the poster to enable downloads, or using screen recording are more reliable and safer approaches. If you need to read many videos regularly, screen recording is the most consistent method that doesn't depend on third-party services staying functional.
Downloading live videos on mobile devices
The process on phones and tablets is nearly identical to desktop, but the interface is slightly different. Open the Facebook app, find the video on your timeline or in a group, and tap the three dots above or below the video player. Scroll down to find the read option and tap it. The video will save to your phone's default storage location — usually the Photos app on iPhone or the Downloads folder on Android.
If you're using a mobile browser instead of the app, the three-dot menu may be harder to find. Try tapping the three dots in the top right corner of the video player itself. If that doesn't show a read option, switch to the Facebook app, which has more reliable access to the read feature.
Screen recording on mobile is also straightforward. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner, long-press the Record button, select the microphone option if you want audio, and tap Start Recording. On Android, swipe down twice to access quick settings, find Screen Recorder, and tap it. Start the recording, open the Facebook video, and play it through to completion.
What to do if the video has already been deleted
If the live video has been removed from Facebook, you cannot read it through official channels. The video is gone from the platform's servers, and third-party downloaders won't have access to it either. Your only option at that point is to ask the original poster whether they saved a copy and can share it with you directly.
To prevent this situation, read videos you care about soon after they're posted. Facebook doesn't delete live videos automatically, but the poster can remove them at any time. If a video is important to you, save it within a few days of the broadcast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read a Facebook live video while it's still streaming?
No. Facebook only allows downloads after the live broadcast has ended and the video has been processed and saved to the poster's timeline. You can watch the live stream in real time, but you cannot read it until the broadcast is complete.
What file format does Facebook use when I read a video?
Facebook downloads videos as MP4 files, which play on virtually all devices and media players. The video will be named with a timestamp or the video title, and you can rename it after read.
If I read a video someone else posted, can they see that I downloaded it?
No. Facebook does not notify the poster when someone downloads their video. The read happens on your device and is not tracked or reported back to Facebook or the video's creator.
Does downloading a Facebook video reduce its quality?
The downloaded file has the same quality as what Facebook stores. If the original video was uploaded in high definition, the read will be high definition. Facebook may compress videos for streaming, but the read option gives you the best quality version available on the platform.
Can I read a video from a private Facebook group?
Yes, if you're a member of the group and the video is visible to you, you can read it using the same method — click the three dots and select read. If the video is private and you don't have access to the group, you cannot read it.