How to Broadcast Pre-Recorded Video on Facebook Live

Broadcasting a pre-recorded video as a Facebook Live session gives you the professional polish of a produced video with the audience engagement of a live event. It's the perfect way to sidestep the stress of live-streaming tech issues while still tapping into the platform's algorithm, which notifies your followers and boosts visibility. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do it, step by step.

Why Broadcast a Pre-Recorded Video as a Facebook Live?

You might wonder why you wouldn't just upload the video as a regular post. Going live, even with a pre-recorded file, triggers a different set of benefits on Facebook that a standard video upload simply doesn't offer. It combines the best of both worlds.

Get Higher Production Quality Without Live Streaming Jitters

Live streams are unpredictable. Internet connections drop, mics fail, and you might stumble over your words. By pre-recording, you control the entire production process. You can edit out mistakes, add professional graphics and text overlays, slice in B-roll footage, and perfect the audio. Your audience gets a smooth, high-quality viewing experience, and you get to present your best work without the anxiety of a one-take performance.

Engage Your Audience in Real-Time (While the Video Plays)

The "live" element isn't just about the video stream, it's about the real-time community interaction. While your flawless, pre-recorded video plays, you are free to be fully present in the comments section. You can welcome viewers by name, answer questions as they come in, and react to comments live. This turns a passive viewing experience into an active, engaging community event and frees you from the dual task of presenting and managing comments simultaneously.

Leverage the Facebook Live Algorithm

When you go live on Facebook, the platform takes notice. It sends notifications to your followers, pushing your content to the top of their news feeds. Live videos often receive significantly higher organic reach and engagement than regular video uploads. By using a pre-recorded video, you unlock this powerful algorithmic advantage for content you've already perfected.

Schedule Content for Peak Engagement Times

Your audience might be most active at 8 PM on a Tuesday, but you might be busy. Pre-recorded broadcasts solve this scheduling conflict. You can schedule your perfectly edited video presentation, product demo, or Q&A to go live at the exact time your audience is most likely to be online, no matter where you are or what you're doing. It’s strategic content delivery without being chained to your desk.

What You'll Need to Get Started

Before you can go live, you’ll need a few things in place. Getting these sorted out first will make the entire process much smoother.

• A Pre-Recorded Video File: This should be a finished, edited video saved in a common format like MP4 or MOV. For the best results on Facebook, aim for a resolution of at least 720p (1280x720) or, even better, 1080p (1920x1080).
• A Facebook Business Page, Group, or Event: While you can technically go live from a personal profile, you get access to more robust analytics and professional tools when broadcasting from a Business Page. This is the recommended approach for any brand, creator, or business.
• Broadcasting Software: This is the key piece of technology that connects your video file to Facebook Live. It acts as a middleman, "streaming" your video file as if it were a live camera feed. There are two main types:
  • Desktop Software: OBS Studio is the most popular, powerful, and completely free option. It has a bit of a learning curve but offers total control.
  • Web-Based Tools: Services like StreamYard or Restream are incredibly user-friendly and great for beginners. They manage the technical side for you, often with just a few clicks, but usually come with a paid subscription for full features.
• A Stable Internet Connection: Even though the video is pre-recorded, you are still actively streaming data to Facebook's servers. A reliable internet connection, preferably a wired one, is essential to prevent your broadcast from dropping or lagging.

Method 1: Stream Pre-Recorded Video with OBS Studio (The Free & Powerful Route)

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is a fantastic, open-source tool used by streamers all over the world. It’s powerful and free but requires a few configuration steps. Follow this guide carefully, and you’ll be set.

Step 1: Download and Configure OBS Studio

First, head to the official OBS Project website and download the installer for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Once installed, open the application. You might see a configuration wizard pop up, for this purpose, you can just click through it and select "Optimize just for streaming."

Step 2: Set Up Your Video Source

This is where you tell OBS what video to play.

1. In the main OBS window, look for the "Sources" box (usually at the bottom).
2. Click the "+" icon and select "Media Source" from the menu.
3. Give your source a name, like "My Recorded Live Video," and click "OK."
4. In the properties window that appears, click "Browse" and locate the video file on your computer.
5. Important: Make sure the box for "Loop" is unchecked. Otherwise, your video will repeat once it finishes. Check the box for "Close file when inactive" to have it removed from the scene view once it is done.
6. Click "OK." You should now see your video appear in the main preview window. You can resize it to fit the screen if needed.

To prepare for the broadcast, you might want to press pause on the preview of the video so it doesn’t start before you are ready for it to go live.

Step 3: Go to Facebook Live Producer to Get Your Stream Key

Now, let's connect Facebook. This is less complicated than it sounds.

1. On your Facebook Page or Group, navigate to where you’d normally create a post and select the "Live video" option. This will open the Facebook Live Producer.
2. When it asks you to select a video source, choose "Streaming Software."
3. The "Streaming Software Setup" box will appear. You'll see two key pieces of information: the Server URL and the all-important Stream Key. The stream key is like a unique password for your broadcast. Click the "Copy" button next to your stream key. Do not share this key with anyone.

Step 4: Connect OBS to Your Facebook Stream

Bring the Stream Key back to OBS.

1. In OBS, click on "Settings" (usually in the bottom-right corner).
2. Go to the "Stream" tab.
3. For the "Service," select "Facebook Live." Leave "Server" set to "Default."
4. In the "Stream Key" field, paste the key you copied from the Facebook Live Producer.
5. Click "Apply," then "OK."

Step 5: Start the Stream and Go Live

This is the final two-part process to launch your broadcast.

1. Back on the main screen of OBS, first unmute your video in the audio inspector, then press pause to have your media at the beginning. Once you are properly set up on Facebook, unpause your video from the playback toolbar and click "Start Streaming." THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE LIVE YET. This action simply sends the feed from OBS to Facebook.
2. Switch back to the Facebook Live Producer window in your web browser. After a few seconds, you’ll see the preview of your video appear. This is your confirmation that OBS is successfully connected.
3. On the left side of the Facebook dashboard, add your post details. Write a compelling title and description for your broadcast. Let people know what the session is about to hook their interest.
4. When you're ready, click the big, blue "Go Live" button at the bottom of the Facebook page. Now, and only now, are you actually live!

While your video is broadcasting, your computer will need to keep OBS and your browser running. You can jump into the comments on a separate tab and start engaging with your audience.

Method 2: Using a Web-Based Streaming Tool (The Easiest Route)

If OBS feels too complex, a web-based tool like StreamYard or Restream simplifies this whole process down to a few clicks. These services are designed for user-friendliness but typically require a monthly subscription. Here's the general workflow, which is similar across most platforms.

Step 1: Sign Up and Connect Your Facebook Account

Create an account with the service of your choice. During onboarding, you'll be prompted to connect your social media destinations. Authorize the tool to post to your desired Facebook Page, Group, or Profile.

Step 2: Upload Your Pre-Recorded Video

Look for an option called "Broadcast a pre-recorded video," "Schedule a Stream," or something similar. Most of these platforms have a dedicated library or storage area where you can upload your video files directly from your computer.

Step 3: Schedule and Customize the Broadcast

Once your video is uploaded, you can select it for broadcast. You'll be presented with options to schedule it for a specific date and time or to go live immediately. At this stage, you will also add your Title and Description for the Facebook post, all from within the tool's interface. No stream keys or complicated settings are needed.

Step 4: Go Live

When the scheduled time arrives, the service will automatically start streaming your video to Facebook. You don't have to do anything except show up in the comments on your Facebook page and engage with your community as they watch.

Tips for a Knockout Pre-Recorded Live Broadcast

You’ve got the technical workflow down. Now, let’s make sure your broadcast is a success.

• Promote Your Broadcast Ahead of Time: Don't leave it to chance. Treat your pre-recorded live session exactly like a real one. Create graphics, post reminders on your Stories, create a Facebook Event page, and mention it in your newsletter. Build anticipation so people are ready and waiting when the notification hits.
• Hang Out in the Comments: This is the single most important thing you can do to make a pre-recorded session feel genuinely live. As your video plays, be in the comments on your phone or another computer. Thank people for joining, answer their questions, and react with emojis. It shows you're there with them.
• Add a Brief Countdown Timer to Your Video: Edit a 10-15 second countdown timer and some intro music to the very beginning of your video file. This small addition acts as a buffer, giving people time to see the "is now live" notification and join the stream before your main content begins.
• Double-Check Your Video Export Settings: Ensure your video is exported with settings that Facebook likes. A common setup is MP4 format, H.264 codec, AAC audio, and a frame rate of 30 FPS. Sticking to standards prevents upload errors or playback issues.
• Repurpose After the Broadcast: After your live stream ends, the video lives on your page as a regular post. But don't stop there. Download footage, pull out key moments to share as short-form video clips to Reels, or write a blog post summarizing the main points and embedding the Facebook video. Make your great content work for you long after the broadcast is over.

Final Thoughts

Using a pre-recorded video for your Facebook Live broadcast is a powerful strategy that offers the flawless look of a produced video with the reach and engagement of a live event. It's a low-stress, high-impact way to connect with your audience and create a professional presentation every time.

Planning these polished broadcasts alongside all your other social content can sometimes feel chaotic. We built Postbase to solve this by providing a simple, visual calendar where you can see your entire content plan at a glance. Because our tool was designed for a video-first world, you can organize and schedule your Reels, Shorts, and other essential video content with the confidence that everything will publish reliably, just as you planned.