How to download a Facebook Live video after it ends

Facebook deletes Lives after 30 days

Since 19 February 2025, Meta says new Facebook Live videos can be replayed, downloaded or shared for 30 days and are then removed automatically. For older Lives, Meta said it would notify owners and give them 90 days to download them, move them to cloud storage or turn moments into Reels, with an option to postpone deletion by six months.

Turning a Live into a Reel keeps a short clip on your profile. To keep the whole broadcast, download it.

Your own Lives: use Facebook’s download options

1. One video: open the Live in full-screen view and tap Download video, or find it in your Activity Log under Your live videos.
2. Many videos: use the bulk download option Meta offers, choosing a date range and a save location.
3. To cloud storage: transfer videos to a linked provider such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

These options give you your own recording at the quality Facebook stored, without any third-party tool.

Someone else’s public Live: use the replay link

1. Wait until the broadcast has ended and the replay appears on the Page or profile.
2. Tap Share on the replay, then Copy link, or copy the address from your browser.
3. Paste it into the Facebook video downloader and tap Get video.
4. Check the preview’s length and size, then tap Download video within 30 minutes.

VidiDown detects long replays automatically and accepts recordings up to 120 minutes and 2 GiB. It cannot record a broadcast that is still on air; if you try, it says the stream is still live or its replay is processing. Replays in private groups, friends-only posts and replays Facebook has already deleted cannot be downloaded.

Big files: use Wi-Fi and a computer if you can

An hour-long replay can be several hundred megabytes or more. On a phone, use Wi-Fi and keep the browser open until the download finishes. On iPhone the file lands in the Files app’s Downloads folder; open it there and use Share → Save Video to add it to Photos.

Saving just the audio

For talks, sermons and podcasts streamed live, the sound may be all you need. Choose MP3 audio under Save as, or use Facebook to MP3. The MP3 is much smaller than the video.

Questions

Can I download a Facebook Live while it is still live?

No. Wait for the broadcast to end and the replay to be posted, then use its link.

How long does Facebook keep Live videos?

Since February 2025, Meta says new Live videos are kept for 30 days and then removed, unless the owner keeps them as Reels or downloads them.

Can I get back a Live that Facebook already deleted?

No. Once Facebook removes a replay, no downloader can retrieve it.

Can I download a Live from a private group?

No. VidiDown only reaches public videos and never asks for your Facebook login.