Facebook live videos will now disappear after a month

FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Facebook live streams allow people to share their experiences with their communities in real time which foster instant engagement and interaction. After the live stream ends, it can still be stored and viewed later allowing those who missed it to catch up and engage with the content at their convenience.

However, that’s about to change.

Meta has announced a major update to its Facebook Live video policy, limiting the storage of livestream broadcasts to just 30 days before automatic removal. This change, effective Feb. 19, applies to both personal profiles and Facebook pages.

According to Meta, the update aligns with how users typically engage with live content, as “most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting.” Previously, Facebook stored livestream videos indefinitely, but this new policy brings it in line with industry standards while also reducing data storage costs.

For users with existing live videos uploaded before this change, Meta confirmed that these will not be immediately deleted. Instead, older videos will be gradually phased out over the coming months, with affected users receiving notifications via email and in-app alerts.

Meta will provide a 90-day window for users to download or transfer their archived livestreams before they are permanently deleted.

This change significantly impacts content creators, businesses and organizations that rely on Facebook Live for engagement, promotions and long-term content strategies.

To help ease the transition, Meta is introducing new tools that will allow users to easily download and preserve their past live broadcasts. 

However, moving forward, users will need to be more proactive in saving their livestreams before they disappear permanently.

“Before your archival live videos are deleted, you will receive a notification. Once received, you will have 90 days to choose what to do with your old live content: download to your device, transfer to your cloud storage or convert to a new reel,” Meta said. 

With this shift, creators may need to explore alternative platforms or adjust their content strategies to ensure their live videos remain accessible beyond Facebook’s 30-day limit.