Save Facebook Live videos before they disappear

June 4, 2025

Save Facebook Live videos before they disappear ! Attention content creators and social media managers! Starting July 1, Facebook will no longer store your Facebook Live videos older than 30 days. What does this mean for you? If you’ve been relying on Facebook Live to engage your audience, drive traffic, or save replays for future use, this policy change could leave you scrambling to safeguard your valuable content.

This blog post explores exactly what this new policy entails, its potential consequences, and actionable steps you can take to ensure you don’t lose important videos. Whether you’re a small business owner, a marketer, or a live-streaming enthusiast, we’ve got your backup plan covered!

What is Changing with Facebook Live Video Storage?

Facebook announced that starting July 1, all Facebook Live videos over 30 days old will automatically be removed from the platform. This update is part of Facebook’s efforts to optimize storage and improve its platform efficiency.

Previously, creators could rely on Facebook to archive their Live content indefinitely unless they manually removed it. This change means that archived sessions, Q&As, webinars, and other Live memories will now have a strict 30-day expiration date.

Key points about the policy change:

Videos are deleted automatically on day 31 unless they are downloaded or manually saved elsewhere.
No exceptions or extensions will be provided to overwrite this policy.
New videos created after July 1 will also adhere to this rule.

If you’re a creator who regularly hosts live streams on Facebook, the clock is ticking!

Why is Facebook making this change?

Facebook hasn’t explicitly stated why they’re implementing a 30-day limit, but there are a few likely reasons:

Server Space Optimization

Storing large amounts of video data from billions of users requires massive server capabilities. By adding a time limit, Facebook can reclaim storage space.

Encouraging New Content

The new policy could nudge users to focus on creating fresh, timely content instead of revisiting older Live sessions.

Simplifying User Management

Removing content after 30 days could streamline account management for businesses and users alike.

Regardless of Facebook’s motives, the new 30-day time cap is a reality all creators must adapt to.

Who is Affected by the New Policy?

Creators across industries will feel the effects of this shift.

Individuals

If you use Facebook Live as a casual user to document personal events like birthdays or milestones, this change can result in the loss of cherished memories unless you proactively save your content.

Small Businesses

Facebook Live has become a go-to tool for small businesses. Many use it to broadcast promotions, live tutorials, or product launches. Losing these assets after just 30 days could make it harder to recap past events for marketing purposes or provide evergreen content for new followers.

Marketers and Advertisers

Marketers leveraging content as part of their campaigns may find this policy particularly frustrating. Previously, brands could re-share valuable content across platforms over time. Now they’ll need to prioritize archiving strategies immediately after streaming.

Streamers and Creators

Live-streaming professionals, from fitness instructors to musicians, depend on Facebook Live to build their audience. This update demands that they re-think their strategy for growing and engaging followers.

Steps to Safeguard Your Facebook Live Content

Losing video content is avoidable—but you need to act fast and implement a clear content strategy if you want to prevent disappearing Facebook Live videos from hindering your work.

1. Download Your Videos Immediately After Streaming

After every live session, download your Facebook Live video onto your desktop or cloud storage. By downloading them, you avoid any chance of deletion by Facebook after those 30 days. Here’s how to do it:

Navigate to your video archive under Videos on Your Page.
Select the Live video, click More Actions, and choose Download Video.

2. Back Up Videos to External Platforms

Platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive are ideal for archiving videos. If you’re managing dozens of videos, label them by date and event type for easy access later.

3. Repurpose Your Content Across Channels

One of the best ways to extend the lifespan of Live videos is to repurpose them for other platforms. Consider the following:

Share highlights or edits of your Live sessions on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
Transcribe your videos into blog posts or newsletters.
Create video snippets for future promotional materials.

This approach not only preserves your content but also allows you to maximize its value.

4. Adopt Video Editing Software for Enhanced Replay Creation

If your Live streams include valuable lessons or Q&A sessions, editing the recorded video into a polished format can help you re-share it as professional evergreen content. Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or simple software like Canva Video can do the job easily.

5. Experiment with Other Streaming Platforms

While Facebook Live remains a dominant platform, consider diversifying your streaming approach. Twitch, YouTube Live, and LinkedIn Live are other platforms offering more permanent video storage options. This strategy also expands your audience base!

6. Keep Followers Updated

If you’re transitioning away from Live or repurposing your content regularly—as this new limit demands—keep your followers informed. Regular communication ensures they won’t miss out if your older streams disappear from Facebook.

The Benefits and Opportunities of the 30 Day Change

While this might feel like a major inconvenience, think of this as an opportunity to rethink the way you approach live streams. Shorter storage timeframes push creators to develop a strategic posting schedule, ensuring that everything produced is timely, fresh, and engaging.

This also forces companies to extend the shelf life of their live videos by taking smarter actions like repurposing content, improving its quality, and making key moments available across platforms.

Creators who adapt quickly to this change will ensure their audience engagement thrives despite the deletion timeline.

What You Need to Do Next

The countdown starts now. If your Facebook Live videos are critical to your business or personal brand, start taking measures to protect and repurpose them today.

No matter how this policy impacts you, there’s no better time than now to explore creative new avenues for sharing content with your audience. When paired with proactive strategies, these adjustments can help you retain control over your valuable content (and possibly improve it for future use).

Don’t take chances with your videos. Start saving, archiving, and growing your audience with a smarter content strategy today!