Small business owners who leverage Facebook Live for real-time engagement will need to adjust their strategies beginning February 19, 2025, when Facebook implements a significant update to its video storage policy. This change is poised to affect how businesses use live broadcasts to connect with customers and grow their online presence.
As part of this update, Facebook will limit the replay, download, and sharing capabilities of new live broadcast videos to just 30 days. Previously, these videos could be stored indefinitely on user profiles and Pages. With this shift, the platform aims to align its policies with industry standards and enhance the overall live video experience for users.
“Most live video views occur within the first few weeks of broadcasting,” said a Facebook spokesperson, indicating that this decision reflects listening to user engagement patterns. The focus becomes ever more crucial for small businesses that count on timely content to engage their audiences.
Although this policy optimizes storage on Facebook, it presents a challenge for small business owners who rely on archiving valuable content for future marketing efforts or customer engagement. Videos older than 30 days will automatically be deleted from user accounts, and businesses will not have access to them after the fact. Current videos that fall into this category will be removed in waves over the coming months.
To help mitigate any potential losses, Facebook will roll out several new tools. Users will receive notifications when their archived videos are about to be deleted, allowing them a window of 90 days to act. During this period, businesses can choose to download their videos to their devices, transfer them to cloud storage, or convert segments into Facebook Reels—new short-form videos that can be featured on their profiles.
For small business owners, the ability to download old live videos is vital. Facebook has introduced both single and bulk download options. This means that whether a business wants to save one particular broadcast or multiple videos at once, they have the tools to do so.
To download an individual video, users need to find the desired video in the Videos or Live tab on their profiles or Pages, enter full-screen mode, and click on the “Download video” option. Conversely, the bulk download feature lets businesses download all their videos at once based on a specified date range, streamlining the process of preserving valuable content.
For those looking to maintain engagement beyond the 30-day window, Facebook offers the chance to clip shorter segments from live broadcasts and share them as Reels. This feature not only allows businesses to repurpose content but also provides a way to keep their audience engaged with memorable moments from previous live events.
Another consideration for small business owners is the option to postpone the deletion of their videos for an additional six months. This flexibility is crucial for businesses still in the process of determining how best to utilize their archived content or those needing more time for downloads. To postpone, users can follow a simple series of prompts once they receive their notification.
While these changes present new opportunities for engagement and content management, they also necessitate quick actions from small business owners. The limited timeframe to save videos requires proactive planning and consistent monitoring of Facebook notifications. Keeping a regular schedule for reviewing old live videos will be increasingly important.
Facebook’s adjustments appear to cater to the dynamic nature of video consumption, where timely content often drives engagement. By updating its policies, the platform encourages businesses to focus on creating high-impact live events while providing tools for effective content repurposing.
With immediate action required to retain important live broadcasts, small business owners must adapt. Educating themselves on using the new download features and exploring the possibilities of creating Reels will be critical in ensuring they maximize the value of their live video content in this new landscape.
For more details on the updated storage policy and instructions for saving videos, you can access the original press release at https://about.fb.com/news/2025/02/updating-our-facebook-live-video-storage-policy/.
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