How to Go Live on Instagram: Steps, Guests and Settings

Instagram's Help Center currently says that only users with a public account and 1,000 followers or more can start a live video. A private account, or a public one below that threshold, will not be able to start a broadcast, although it can still watch other people's lives. Check the help page again if your situation is borderline, because eligibility rules can change.

There are further limits. Live is off by default for Teen Accounts: teens under 16 need a parent's or guardian's permission to turn it on, while teens aged 16 to 17 can enable it themselves. Instagram also says newly created accounts may not be able to go live, and accounts that previously posted content removed under the Community Standards may be blocked from starting one.

The steps below follow Instagram's current help article for iPhone, and the Android flow is similar. Button names and positions can differ by app version and region, so if a label does not match, look for the same option in the camera screen rather than following an old screenshot. Make sure you have a stable connection before starting, because the broadcast begins as soon as you tap Go live.

Once live, the viewer count appears at the top and comments at the bottom. You can add your own comment, and tapping any comment lets you pin it so viewers see it more easily, which is useful for a topic or a question you want answered. When you are finished, tap Close in the top right and confirm with End Now.

Instagram supports desktop broadcasting through Live Producer on instagram.com, using streaming software that accepts a custom RTMP destination. Click Create, choose Live video, enter a title and pick an audience. Practice does not broadcast to anyone, which makes it a safe way to test the setup, while Public takes you live to your followers. The same eligibility rules apply as on the app.

Instagram then shows a stream URL and a stream key. Paste both into your streaming software's custom RTMP settings, start the stream there, and wait for the preview to appear in Live Producer. Click Go live to start. The key refreshes each session, so copy it again each time and never share it. To finish, click End live video in Live Producer first, then stop the software.

Instagram's help page says you can invite up to three guests to join a live using Live Rooms, and that a guest must follow the host account to be invited. After going live, open the guest controls in the bottom bar. There you will see requests from viewers who asked to join and a list of followers you can invite. Tap Invite, and the guest appears in the room if they accept.

To remove someone who has joined, tap the X in the top right of their video frame. Viewers can also ask to join a live they are watching by tapping the join option and choosing Send Request. If you would rather not receive requests, open Options at the bottom of the screen and tap Turn off requests to go live before they start arriving.

Scheduling lets followers set a reminder before you start. Instagram allows a scheduled live anywhere from 1 hour to 90 days ahead, and the 1,000-follower rule still applies. Open the camera, go to Live, tap Schedule on the left, enter a title and start time, tap Done, then tap Schedule live video. You can share the scheduled live to a post or story with a reminder option.

Your soonest scheduled live appears on your profile below your profile picture, where you can tap it to share, edit or cancel. Instagram sends you a reminder 24 hours and 15 minutes before the start time. To manage it, return to the Schedule screen and tap the event. Instagram says the start time can be changed until 45 minutes before the scheduled time.

Comment controls sit under Options at the bottom of the live screen. Tap Turn off commenting to stop comments entirely, which can help during a performance or a sensitive announcement. Any keyword filters you have already set for your account also apply to live comments, so review your hidden words list before a broadcast that might attract spam or hostile replies.

For busier streams, assign a moderator. Instagram allows one moderator per live, chosen from viewers who are watching and different from any co-host. Open Options, tap Add Moderator, choose the account and confirm; they must accept the invitation. A moderator can report comments, remove a viewer from the live and turn off one account's comments. Afterward, Review moderator actions lets you block or remove viewers.

A missing Live option almost always comes down to eligibility rather than a bug. Work through the checks below in order, starting with the account's privacy and follower count, before reinstalling anything. If every condition is met and the option is still missing, report the problem in the app with your app version, device and region so the issue can be traced.

When the broadcast ends, Instagram offers Share as reel, which opens the reels publish screen so you can add a caption and tags before posting the replay to your profile and Feed. You can also share it later from your Live Archive. Instagram notes that replays do not carry the original likes or comments, the viewer count restarts, and the video cannot be trimmed before sharing.

You can tap Download to save the broadcast to your camera roll. Saved or downloaded copies contain only the video, not comments, likes or viewer lists, so take screenshots of useful questions before closing if you plan to answer them later. A longer video can take a minute or more to save, so keep the app open until it finishes.

Good lives are planned like short shows. Pick one clear topic that fits a title, schedule it a few days ahead and share the reminder, then outline the first few minutes so you have something useful to say while viewers trickle in. Brief any guests on the topic, the order of speakers and how long each segment runs, and agree who watches comments.

Test lighting, sound and connection beforehand, using Practice in Live Producer if you broadcast from a computer. Repeat the topic every few minutes for late arrivals, answer questions by name, and end with one simple next step, such as watching the replay or following for the next session. If you also stream on TikTok, our TikTok live guide covers its separate requirements.

Some hosts add a visible starting viewer count to a live so the room does not look empty in the first minutes. That changes the number on screen only. Supplied viewers do not ask questions, join as guests or come back for the next broadcast.

If you consider it, keep the quantity modest and plan the live as if no one extra will arrive. Paid engagement can conflict with Instagram's rules, and no provider can guarantee safety, retention or added reach for the stream.