How to Watch Instagram Live Videos in a Browser
If you are like me that spend a lot of time on Instagram, you would have with no doubt seen Instagram Live videos. But can you watch those Instagram Live videos directly in a browser? The answer is yes and no.
The first thing that you would need to know is that logging into your Instagram account on a web browser on your Mac or PC won’t be of any help. Instead, you’ll need to download a browser extension.
Chrome Instagram Story used to be the easy and go-to method for watching Instagram Live videos, but it’s no longer available. So, what are the alternatives for Chrome IG Story that you can use instead?
How to Use Desktop for Instagram
If you’re on a Mac or PC, your options for viewing Instagram Live videos are extremely limited. So much so that we actually recommend that you watch Instagram Live videos through the Instagram mobile app. If you want to get more detailed instructions on how to do that, check out the Instagram help page for more information.
However, just because the options to watch Instagram Live on your computer are extremely limited does not mean that there are no browser add-ons for the application. There are tons of Instagram extensions for Chrome that offer increased functionality for the site’s other features.
One of the best applications that we’ve tested is the Desktop for Instagram, by Devanco.
Image Credits: Makeuseof
By using this app, you can search on Instagram for recent pictures and videos. You can watch people’s stories, post your own videos to the Instagram IGTV, and download pictures and videos from Instagram to your desktop.
The developers of the extension claim that this extension lets you do everything that you would normally do on the mobile Instagram app, including watching Instagram Live videos. However, after testing Desktop for Instagram, we don’t think it quite lives up to the hype that was given to it.
Even worse still is the fact that we have tested a lot of different extensions to find out one that will let you watch Instagram Live videos in a browser, and Desktop for Instagram is the best option. So, again, we would recommend using the mobile application for that specific purpose.
Additional Apps That Are Worth Trying
If you’re determined to find out an alternative way of watching Instagram Live videos, there are other applications that are worth trying…
There’s a tool called Loola.tv that lets you stream live videos from your desktop to several platforms. However, Loola is strictly geared towards content creators, not just followers who want to watch Instagram Live on their PC. This means that it’s not suitable for watching Live Videos in a browser.
Image Credits: Makeuseof
Another extension is the Instagram Windows App for PC and MAC, and it also allows you to use Instagram on a desktop. For a while, it was recommended as another go-to option for anyone that is using the social media site through a computer.
Unfortunately, Instagram Windows App does not happen to support Instagram Live on PC devices. The app also has a much lower application rating than Desktop for Instagram. So keep this in mind whenever you decide to check it out.
The Instagram Mobile App Is the Best Option
As we said at the beginning, there is no easy way to watch Instagram Live videos in a web browser. So the Instagram mobile app would be the best option. But if you’re desperate for another solution, try the Desktop for Instagram and see if it works for you.
