- What is it?
- To make
- Start live stream
- Stop live stream
- Contact with viewers
What is Instagram Live Stories?
Instagram has long ceased to be the app that only provides photos with a nice filter. The app has grown into a social network where you can share photos, videos and Instagram Stories and chat with your friends. It is also possible to start a live stream via Instagram, so that your friends can watch what you are doing in real time. This feature is called Instagram Live Stories.
In addition, Instagram offers the possibility to start a Live Room. This is a chat room where you can stream with four friends at the same time.
Create Instagram Live Stories
Instagram has chosen Live Stories to make live streams part of Instagram Stories. That means you can watch other people’s live streams in their Stories list. You also start a Live Story in the same place as where you make a regular Story.
Start Instagram live stream
How to start a live stream in Instagram works like this:
- From your Instagram timeline, swipe left to open the camera.
- The camera then opens in Normal mode. By swiping once to the left you go to Live mode.
- Optionally enter a title for your live stream.
- Click Start Live Video to begin your stream. At that point, Instagram checks your connection and then counts down before the live streaming begins.
- Friends who have push notifications enabled will receive a message that you are streaming. You will also appear in the list of Stories labeled Live.
Stop Instagram live stream
If you want to stop live streaming, click End in the right hand corner. After you have confirmed this action, the stream will stop and you will be able to see who has watched your broadcast.
You can also export Live Story as a video, share it via IGTV or delete it. Friends can watch your live stream for 24 hours as part of your regular Instagram Story.
Good to know: if you have not protected your account, your Instagram Live Stories are visible to everyone. So they can also appear in Instagram’s Explore section or show up in search.
Connect with your viewers
While you are streaming, you can see how many viewers you have at the top left next to the live icon. You can see who they are below the screen, because you will receive a notification as soon as someone starts watching. In the same list the comments come in.
As a viewer of a live stream, you can respond by entering a response at the bottom of the screen. These comments are visible to all viewers. As a creator, you can pin comments by long-tapping on them. Another way of responding to a Live Story is via the heart at the bottom right. You can click on this as many times as you want.
As a maker, do you not want to receive any reactions to your broadcast? Then you can also turn off the comments. If you have set keyword filters with, for example, swear words to remove comments, they will also be applied to the comments on your Live Story.
If you want more Instagram tips, check out our overview. Or view our explanation Instagram with all possibilities.
