How to Watch Facebook Live on Desktop and Mobile
Watch Facebook Live via the News Feed
If someone with whom you have a connection on Facebook (such as a friend, page, group, or celebrity you’re following) decides to stream on Facebook Live, their video will appear in your News Feed.
However, it’s not a particularly satisfactory way of finding content. The method relies on a few variables:
You need some form of Facebook relationship with the person or entity.
Facebook’s algorithms have to opt to show you the video in your news feed.
You need to be on Facebook at the exact moment that the other person is filming.
How to Watch Facebook Live on Desktop
If you want a more efficient way of tuning into Facebook Live videos from your desktop, you have two options available to you.
1. Use the Navigation Panel
The most common way of accessing Facebook Live videos is to use the dedicated link in the navigation panel on the left-hand side of the Facebook News Feed.
You will find the link titled Live Video in the Explore section. You may need to click on Show More to reveal it.
Clicking the link will take you straight to the Live section of Facebook Watch. Scroll down the page to find sections for popular live videos, live news, and live gaming.
2. Use the URL
You can save time and head straight to the Facebook Live page from anywhere on the web by entering the service’s URL in your browser’s address bar. The URL is facebook.com/live. It will take you to the same page as using the navigation bar method described above.
Sadly, you can no longer see a Facebook Live map. You used to be able to find nearby broadcasts thanks to blue dots on a map of your local region, but Facebook killed the feature in June 2019, citing “low usage.”
How to Watch Facebook Live on Android
If you want to watch Facebook Live on your Android device, you can once again turn to your newsfeed or use the dedicated link.
To find the dedicated link, open Facebook, and follow the instructions below:
- Tap on the More tab (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the app.
- Scroll down and tap on Live Videos.
- Choose the video you want to watch.
- How to Watch Facebook Live on iOS
The process for watching Facebook Live videos on iOS is broadly the same as on Android.
Follow these steps to get started:
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap on the More tab in the lower-right corner.
- Scroll down and tap on Live Videos.
- Choose the video you want to watch.
- Other Ways to Find Facebook Live Videos
If you can’t find what you’re looking for using the Live Video links as described above, there are a few other ways you can find Facebook Live videos to watch.
Enable Live Video Notifications
One of the best ways to make sure you never miss a live stream from someone you follow is to enable live video notifications.
To turn on notifications for Facebook Live, click on the small arrow in the upper-right corner of your Facebook home screen, then head to Settings > Notifications > Video and flip the toggle into the On position.
Use Hashtags
Facebook Live streamers have adopted the #live hashtag to indicate when they are on air. Of course, not every live streamer uses it, but it’s a good way to find specific videos.
You can search for the hashtag using the search bar at the top of the home screen on the desktop. You can even append other words, for example, #live Fortnite would bring up videos of people playing the game.
Ask People to Share Facebook Live Videos With You
Like all content on Facebook, there is an internal Share button which you can use to share the content with other users.
If your friends have similar interests, tell them to share Facebook Live videos with you whenever they find something worthwhile.
