Can You Watch Instagram Lives After They End?
Usually not. Instagram deletes a live broadcast the moment it ends unless the creator chooses to share a replay, and shared replays are removed automatically after 30 days. Once that window closes the video is gone from Instagram permanently, and only an external archive that recorded it can still show it.
The 30-day replay window
When a broadcast ends, the creator is asked whether to share the replay to their profile. Choosing to share puts it in their profile grid for 30 days.
The countdown is fixed. There is no way to extend it, and once it lapses Instagram deletes the video.
What this means for viewers
As a viewer you have no control and no recourse. You cannot request a copy, and the creator generally cannot retrieve one either once it has expired.
This is why archives exist: a broadcast that was not recorded while it was running is unrecoverable by anyone.
Common questions
- How long is an Instagram live replay available?
- 30 days from the end of the broadcast, and only if the creator chose to share it. Otherwise it is deleted immediately.
- Can a creator recover a deleted live?
- No. Once the replay expires or was never shared, Instagram does not retain a copy the creator can restore.
Browse the archive
IGLiveStream preserves both Instagram live broadcasts and stories from public figure accounts. Browse every celebrity or see the most recently archived videos.