How to Watch Instagram Live Videos on Your PC or Mac
What Is IG Stories for Instagram?
If you are on a MAC or PC, the options to watch Instagram Live on computers is limited. In most cases, we actually recommend that you watch Instagram Live through the mobile app. If you want detailed instructions on how to do so, check out the Instagram help page for more information.
However, just because your options are limited does not mean that they don’t exist. You can watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac by using a Chrome extension.
One extension that allows you to view Instagram Live on PC is IG Stories for Instagram (not to be confused with Chrome IG Story).
IG Stories for Instagram is an extension that allows you to watch Instagram Live videos on a desktop computer. It also allows you to watch stories and download finished Live videos.
Another recently added feature includes the ability to upload images to your Instagram Story through the app.
How to Watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac
How to Watch Instagram Live on PC IG Stories
To watch Instagram Live desktop videos:
1. Install the Chrome extension IG Stories for Instagram.
2. Next, log in to your Instagram account through a Chrome browser.
3. Click on the app’s icon at the top of your screen.
4. Choose Go to IG Stories.
5. Once you click on Go to IG Stories, you’ll be taken to an extended version of your Instagram page.
On the IG Stories for Instagram page, you should see four categories along your search bar:
1. Friends
2. Location
3. Search
4, Upload
The section you see upon logging in is usually Friends.
On this page, there will be a list of your friends who have recently posted images or videos to their stories.
At the top of the Friends section if your friends are currently broadcasting a live video you will see that person’s username with a Live icon beside them. Click on the icon to start watching the live video:
If there are no live videos playing, you can click on your friend’s “eye” icon to view their previously ended live videos that have been added to the Stories section.
This app is really handy if you want to watch Instagram Live on PC or Mac. However, you’ll want to use it in tandem with another app to access the full functionality of Instagram, as its focus is on live videos.
Additional Considerations
We also want to issue a caveat for this extension before you try it.
While checking the reviews, we noticed multiple complaints where users were prompted to download a .exe file when downloading a live video. It was a .exe that some found to be unnecessary and/or suspicious. Some users even reported the .exe being flagged as malware.
Although the developer has done their best to address these concerns in the comments, and we were personally not prompted to download a .exe while testing, there were enough complaints that we felt a caveat was warranted. As always, use common sense when using any app.
Additional Live Instagram PC Apps Worth Trying
If you’re not satisfied with the recommendation above, but still want to watch Instagram Live on computers or other devices, there are some other apps worth trying.
There’s a tool called Loola.tv that allows you to stream live videos from your desktop to multiple platforms, including Instagram. However, Loola is strictly geared towards content creators, not followers who want to watch Instagram Live on PC. This means it isn’t suitable for watching videos in a browser, at least for the average user.
One of the best extensions we’ve tested is Desktop for Instagram, by Devanco.
With this app, you can search for Instagram for recent videos and pictures. You can watch people’s Stories, post your own videos to IGTV, and download videos and pictures from Instagram to your desktop.
The Instagram Mobile App Is the Best Option
While all the extensions listed above are good, there is no seamless, bug-free way to watch Instagram Live on a PC or Mac. As such, the Instagram mobile app remains the best option if that’s what you want to do.
That said, you should still try IG Stories for Instagram, as it’s a good extension for watching live videos at this moment. In the meantime, if you’re new to Instagram, you should read our guide to IGTV and how it works in order to get yourself acquainted with the platform.
