---
title: "How to Start a Live Video on Instagram"
description: "Going live on Instagram is one of the best ways to connect with your followers. Here’s how to start a live video on Instagram."
datePublished: "2020-04-02"
dateUpdated: "2020-06-22"
author: "Alexandra Ceambur"
authorImage: "/img/blog/authors/profile-pic-alexandra-allebusinesscoach.webp"
postType: "learn"
image: "/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/main.jpg"
imageWidth: 1200
imageHeight: 816
tags: ["live videos"]
---

Going live on Instagram is one of the best ways to connect with your followers in real-time. 

When you start a live video Instagram will prompt all your followers to watch your video with a notification, and your video will get bumped to the front of their Instagram Stories feed.

You can share a live stream video on Instagram for up to one hour. Once your live video has ended, you’ll have the option to download it to your camera roll or share a replay of it to your story.

## Here’s how to start a live video on Instagram

### Step 1: Tap the camera icon at the top left of your screen.

![How to start a live video on instagram](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-282-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

### Step 2: Scroll to the “Live” option at the bottom of the screen and tap the record button.

![Scroll to the live option at the bottom of screen and tap the record button](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-284-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

### Step 3: Manage your live video. Here are some tips:

**Tip #1:** The number of viewers appears at the top of the screen.

![The number of viewers of your live video appears at the top of the screen](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-283-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

**Tip #2:** The comments are shown at the bottom of the screen on the left side. You can add a comment by typing into the “Comment” box.

![Comments are shown on the screen at the bottom left, you can comment by tapping the comment box.](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-285-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

**Tip #3:** Answer questions from viewers by tapping the “?” icon next to the comments box.

![Answer questions on your live video by tapping the question mark icon](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-286-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

![View the questions your followers have asked on your live video](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-287-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

**Tip #4:** You can invite a co-host to your Live video by tapping the “duet” icon at the bottom of the screen.

![Invite a co-host to your live video by clicking the duet (smiley faces) icon in bottom bar](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-289-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

**Tip #5:** If you tap the smiley face icon, you can add an Instagram Story filter to your live video.

![Tap the smiley face ion to add an Instagram story filter to your live video](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-2810-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

### Step 4: When you're done, tap “End” in the top right then tap again to confirm.

![Click end in the top right when you're finished recording your video](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-2811-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

### Step 5: From there, you have the choice to save a recording of your live video to your camera roll or share it to your stories immediately.

![After recording you can save your video or share it to your stories](/img/blog/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram/how-to-start-a-live-video-on-instagram-2812-29.webp){width="750" height="1333"}

Keep in mind that your live video will disappear after you’ve ended it. 

So it’s always good to save a copy to your camera roll. 

Also, when you save a live video to your phone, only the video is saved. The comments, likes and viewers info are not saved.