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How to Download Facebook Live Videos

Learning how to download a Facebook Live video is easy once the broadcast has ended: a finished Live becomes a normal video on the page, so you copy its link and paste it into a free, web-based downloader to save it as an MP4. This works for your own Live broadcasts and for public Live replays you are allowed to save. You do not need an app, an account, or any special software - just a browser.

Below you will learn how to save a Facebook Live video to your computer or phone, when you can do it, and how to handle a replay that is still processing right after the stream ends.

Quick tip: Skip the manual steps - paste any public Facebook link into our free Facebook video downloader and save it in HD MP4 in seconds. No app, no login, no watermark.

Can you download a Facebook Live video?

Yes - with two conditions. First, the Live should be finished, because a completed broadcast is stored as a regular video you can link to. Second, it must be content you have the right to save: your own Live videos, or a public Live replay that is openly shared and allowed for personal viewing. Saving your own streams is the most common use - it is the simplest way to keep a backup of a broadcast you created.

What this guide does not cover is downloading private streams or anything behind a login or paywall. Only public replays (or your own content) are fair game, and you should always respect copyright and Facebook's terms.

How to download a Facebook Live video (step by step)

Wait until the broadcast has ended and the replay is available on the timeline, then follow these steps.

  1. Open the finished Live video on the Page or profile that posted it.
  2. Copy the link. Click the three dots (...) on the post, or click the post's date/timestamp, and copy the URL from your browser's address bar. In the app, tap the three dots and choose Copy link.
  3. Open the downloader. Go to our Facebook Video Downloader in a new tab.
  4. Paste the link and press download.
  5. Choose HD for the best quality, or a smaller size if the stream was long and you want a lighter file.
  6. Save the MP4. It goes to your Downloads folder on a computer, or your gallery/Files app on a phone.

That is how to download a Facebook Live replay in a couple of minutes - no recording software needed.

Save a Facebook Live video to your computer

Desktop is often the best choice for Lives because they tend to be long, and a computer handles big HD files and storage more comfortably than a phone. After you paste the link and save, the MP4 appears in your Downloads folder. For where files land on each operating system and a few handy shortcuts, see our walkthrough on how to download Facebook videos on PC and Mac.

Backing up your own Live broadcasts

If you are a creator or run a Page, downloading your own Lives is the smartest way to archive them - you can re-edit highlights, repost clips, or simply keep a copy off-platform. Because it is your content, you have full rights to save it. For a complete approach to archiving everything you have posted, read how to download (back up) your own Facebook videos, which pairs perfectly with saving Lives.

What if the replay isn't ready yet?

Right after a stream ends, Facebook needs a little time to process the replay into a standard video. If you try too soon, the link may not resolve or HD may be missing. A few tips:

  • Give it a few minutes. Long broadcasts take longer to finalize; refresh the post until the full replay plays smoothly.
  • Confirm it is public. Open the link in a private/incognito window - if you can watch it logged out, the downloader can fetch it.
  • Re-copy the link after processing finishes so you grab the final video URL, not the live placeholder.

Troubleshooting Facebook Live downloads

  • "Video not found": The replay may still be processing, or the Live is private/restricted. Only public replays and your own content can be saved.
  • No HD option: Some Lives are streamed at lower quality, so HD may not exist. Pick the best available.
  • Huge file size: Multi-hour Lives create large MP4s - download on Wi-Fi and prefer a computer for storage.
  • Wrong link: Use the three-dot Copy link option rather than the share sheet.

If you want the basic flow summarized in one place, our How to Use page covers paste-and-save with examples.

Permission, copyright, and staying on the right side of the rules

Only download Live videos you own, have permission to use, or that are public and allowed for personal viewing. Do not re-upload someone else's broadcast or use it commercially without consent, and always respect copyright and Facebook's terms. A browser-based tool like ours never asks for your password and does not access private streams - we only read public pages. See our Terms and Privacy Policy for how requests and data are handled. For everything beyond Live, our main guide to downloading Facebook videos walks through every scenario.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download a Facebook Live video after it ends?

Once the broadcast finishes and the replay is processed, open the video, copy its link, paste it into our Facebook Video Downloader, choose HD, and save the MP4. The finished Live behaves like any regular video.

Can I save a Facebook Live video to my computer?

Yes. Paste the public replay's link into the downloader on your PC or Mac, pick a quality, and the MP4 saves to your Downloads folder. Desktop is best for long Lives because of file size.

How do I download my own Facebook Live broadcast?

Open your finished Live on your profile or Page, copy the link, and run it through the downloader. Because it is your own content, you have full rights to back it up. See our guide on downloading your own Facebook videos for a full archive workflow.

Why can't I download a Facebook Live replay?

Usually the replay is still processing right after the stream, or the Live is private. Wait a few minutes and re-copy the link. If you cannot view it logged out, it is not public and cannot be downloaded.

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