Facebook has recently announced a significant update to its Live Video storage policy, which will significantly impact how long users’ live broadcast recordings are kept on the platform.
Starting February 19, 2025, live videos will only be stored for 30 days before being automatically deleted. This change is part of Facebook’s effort to align its storage practices with industry standards and to reflect user behavior, as most live video views happen within the first few weeks after broadcasting.
This update may seem like a minor technical change, but it has real implications for users who rely on Facebook Live for personal, professional, or creative purposes. Below, we’ll break down the key changes, their impact, and the steps you can take to preserve your live videos.
Key Changes to Live Video Storage
1. 30-Day Retention Period
Starting February 19, 2025, all live videos broadcast on Facebook will be stored for 30 days only. After this period, the videos will be permanently deleted from Facebook’s servers.
If you don’t take action to save your content within 30 days, it will be gone forever.
This change is based on data showing that most live video views occur within the first few weeks after broadcasting. Facebook is optimizing its storage resources by focusing on content that users actively engage with rather than keeping older videos that may no longer be relevant.
2. Impact on Existing Videos
If you’ve been using Facebook Live for a while, your profile might have a library of older live videos. Unfortunately, these videos are also affected by the new policy.
Any live videos recorded before February 19, 2025 that are older than 30 days will also be subject to deletion.
To give users time to adjust, Facebook will send email and app notifications 90 days before deleting these older videos. This provides a three-month window to download or transfer any content you want to keep.
Options for Preserving Your Live Videos
Facebook understands that some live videos may hold sentimental, professional, or creative value, so they’ve provided several options to help users preserve their content:
1. Download Videos
The simplest way to save live videos is to download them directly to your device. You can do this individually for each video or request a bulk download for a custom date range.
This is an excellent option if you want to keep a personal archive of your content on your computer or external hard drive.
2. Transfer to Cloud Services
If you prefer not to store videos locally, Facebook lets you transfer your live videos directly to cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. This ensures your content is backed up and accessible from anywhere without taking up space on your device.
3. Share as Reels
You can edit and share shorter, highlight-worthy moments from your live videos as Reels on your profile.
Reels are Facebook’s short-form video feature, similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels. However, they have a 90-second time limit, so you’ll need to trim longer live videos into smaller clips if you want to preserve them in this format.
Postponing Deletion
If you’re not ready to say goodbye to your live videos, Facebook offers an option to postpone deletion for up to six months. To use this feature, follow these steps:
Look for the notification from Facebook about video deletion.
Click “Learn More.”
Select the “Postpone” option.
This gives you extra time to organize, download, or transfer your content without feeling rushed.
Why Is Facebook Making This Change?
Two main factors drive Facebook’s decision to shorten the storage period for live videos:
User Engagement Trends: Data shows that most live video views happen within the first few weeks after broadcasting. After that, engagement drops significantly, making long-term storage less necessary.
Industry Standards: Many other platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, prioritize short-term storage for live content. By aligning with these practices, Facebook is streamlining its operations and focusing on content users actively engage with.
If you’re a regular Facebook Live user, this policy change means you must be more proactive about managing your content. Here are a few steps you can take to prepare:
Review Your Archives: Review your existing live videos and decide which ones you want to keep.
Download or Transfer: Use Facebook’s tools to download or transfer your videos before they’re deleted.
Plan Ahead: If you frequently use Facebook Live, consider setting a reminder to download your videos within 30 days of broadcasting.
Facebook’s updated Live Video storage policy reflects the platform’s ongoing efforts to adapt to user behavior and industry trends. While the 30-day retention period may feel restrictive, Facebook has provided multiple options to help users preserve their content, from downloading and cloud transfers to postponing deletion.
If you have important live videos, now is the time to take action. By reviewing your archives and using the tools Facebook has provided, you can ensure that your cherished memories, professional content, or creative work are safely stored for the future.
This change reminds us how quickly digital platforms evolve and why it’s always a good idea to back up your content, no matter where it’s hosted.
