Social media giant, Facebook, has begun deleting old live videos from its platform, following a policy change announced earlier in the year by its parent company, Meta.
The new rule, which took effect on February 19, 2025, limits how long live broadcasts can remain on Facebook. Under the updated system, live videos will now be automatically removed 30 days after they are posted.
In addition to new videos, the company has also started removing older live broadcasts that were previously stored without a time limit.
According to Meta, the deletion process is happening in phases, with affected users being notified through emails and in-app alerts. Once notified, users have 90 days to download or transfer their videos before they are permanently deleted.
Previously, users could keep their live broadcasts indefinitely. But with this update, even older archived live videos are now being removed in batches. Meta said the deletion process is ongoing, and affected users are being notified via email and in-app messages.
In a blog post published earlier this year, the company said, “Because most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting, we’re updating how long live videos can be stored on Facebook.
“These changes will align our storage policies with industry standards and help ensure we are providing the most up-to-date live video experiences for everyone on Facebook,” the statement read
“The deletion process will take place in waves over the coming months, and we are providing new tools for people to download their old live videos before they are gradually deleted,” Facebook stated.
“Once received, you will have 90 days to choose what to do with your old live content: download to your device, transfer to your cloud storage, or convert to a new reel,” Facebook stated.
What Facebook Users Should Do
Users who want to keep their content have several options available:
- Download single videos through their Facebook profile, Page, or Meta Business Suite.
- Download multiple videos using the Activity Log. Simply select “Your live videos,” pick a date range, and click “Create File.”
- Transfer videos to cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Convert clips into Reels for permanent display on their profile.
“If you would like to keep your favourite moments from your live videos on your page for more than 30 days, you can clip shorter moments from your live video and share them as reels on Facebook, giving them a home on your profile page for friends, family, and community to enjoy,” Facebook stated.
Meta has also provided a one-time Six-month extension, which users can activate by tapping on the deletion notification, selecting “Postpone the deletion,” and confirming the request.
