How to Delete a Live on Facebook

Went live by accident? Maybe that big product launch stream was plagued with audio glitches or a choppy internet connection? Whatever the reason, you've got a Facebook Live video that needs to disappear, and you need it gone now. This guide walks you through exactly how to delete a Facebook Live video - whether it's immediately after you end the broadcast or weeks later - from your Page, personal profile, or group, on both desktop and mobile devices.

Why Would You Need to Delete a Facebook Live?

First off, don't feel bad. Deleting a live stream happens more often than you think. Content creators, brands, and casual users alike find themselves needing to remove a video for all sorts of reasons. It's often a smart move for maintaining a professional and polished online presence.

Here are a few common reasons people hit that delete button:

• Technical Nightmares: The most common culprit. Your audio was cutting out, the video kept freezing, the lighting was terrible, or your internet connection decided to take a vacation mid-sentence. Sometimes, it's better to scrap it and start fresh than to leave a poor-quality video on your feed.
• The Accidental Broadcast: You were fumbling with your phone, and suddenly you're live-streaming the ceiling fan to your entire audience. It's the digital equivalent of a pocket dial, and deleting it quickly is the only option.
• Oops, Oversharing: In the unscripted flow of a live stream, it's easy to say something you shouldn't have or accidentally show sensitive information on your screen or in your background. Removing the video protects your privacy and your brand.
• Outdated Information: The video might be promoting an event that has passed, a limited-time offer that has expired, or a product that’s been discontinued. Removing old content keeps your page relevant and prevents confusion.
• A Flop Performance: Let's be honest, not every live stream is a hit. If the engagement was non-existent or the comment section took a negative turn, you might decide it's better to remove the broadcast than to let it represent your brand.
• Content Strategy Pivot: Your brand is evolving, and an old live stream might no longer align with your new messaging or visual identity. Curating your video library is just as important as creating new content.

Deleting Your Facebook Live *Immediately* After It Ends

This is your first and best chance to eliminate a problem video before it even gets a permanent spot on your feed. When you end a live broadcast, Facebook doesn't just auto-post it. Instead, it presents you with a screen of options, giving you full control.

Here’s what typically happens:

1. You tap the "Finish" button to end your live stream.
2. A new screen appears, congratulating you on your broadcast ending.
3. On this screen, you’ll see a few clear choices, usually including "Post," "Post to Story," and, most importantly, "Delete."

All you have to do is tap the "Delete" option (it often has a small trash can icon). Facebook will then show a confirmation pop-up asking, "Are you sure you want to delete this video?" Tap "Delete" one last time, and it's gone for good.

A word of caution: When you delete the video at this stage, it is permanently erased. There's no "undo" button or trash folder. If there's even a tiny part of the video you might want to save, you should download it before choosing to delete.

How to Delete a Previous Facebook Live Video (Desktop)

If the live video is already published on your timeline or page, the process is still simple. Here’s how to track it down and remove it using a desktop browser.

From a Business Facebook Page

Managing content on a Page is a little different than a personal profile. Facebook's creator tools give you a central place to handle all your posts.

1. Navigate to your Facebook Page in your web browser.
2. From the left-hand menu, select "Manage." This will take you to your Page's professional dashboard.
3. In the "Your tools" menu on the left, scroll down and click on "Content."
4. You'll see a feed of all your published and scheduled posts. Find the Live video you want to remove. It will usually have a "Live" icon or label. If you have a lot of content, you can use the filters to narrow your search by post type.
5. Once you've found the video, click the three-dot icon (...) on the right-hand side of that post's summary.
6. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Delete post."
7. A final confirmation box will pop up. Click "Delete" to permanently remove the video and its associated post.

From Your Personal Profile

Tidying up your personal timeline is just as straightforward.

1. Go to your personal Facebook profile.
2. Scroll through your timeline to find the live video post. If you post a lot, it might be easier to click on the "Videos" tab under your profile picture to see only your video content.
3. Once you've located the post, click on the three-dot icon (...) in the top-right corner of the post itself.
4. From the dropdown menu, choose "Move to trash."

Unlike with a Business Page, Facebook gives you a 30-day grace period. The video will be moved to your profile's trash, where it will be permanently deleted after 30 days. If you want it gone immediately, you can go to your "Trash" folder (found in your Activity Log) and delete it from there permanently.

From a Facebook Group

If you're an admin or member who went live in a group, you also have control over your posts.

1. Navigate to the Facebook Group where the Live took place.
2. Scroll through the group feed to find your live stream post.
3. Click the three-dot icon (...) located at the top right of your post.
4. Select "Delete."
5. Confirm the deletion in the pop-up window, and the post will be removed from the group feed.

How to Delete a Previous Facebook Live Video (Mobile App)

Let's face it, most of us manage social media from our phones. Here’s how to delete a Live video using the Facebook or Meta Business Suite apps.

From a Business Facebook Page (Meta Business Suite App)

The Meta Business Suite app is the command center for your Page on mobile.

1. Open the Meta Business Suite app and make sure you've selected the correct Facebook Page.
2. Tap the "Content" menu icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll through your list of published posts to find the Live video. You should see a "Live" label on the content.
4. Tap the three-dot icon (...) to the right of the post.
5. From the menu that appears, select "Delete."
6. Confirm your decision by tapping "Delete" one final time.

From Your Personal Profile

The process on the mobile app mirrors the desktop experience for personal profiles.

1. Open the Facebook app and navigate to your profile by tapping your profile picture.
2. Scroll down your timeline to find the video you want to delete.
3. Tap the three-dot icon (...) in the top-right corner of the video post.
4. Select "Move to trash" from the options.
5. Again, the post will be moved to your trash and permanently deleted after 30 days unless you manually clear it.

What to Do *After* Deleting Your Live Video

Removing the video is just step one. An expert social media manager knows that what comes next is just as important for maintaining a healthy relationship with your audience and improving your strategy.

1. Communicate with Your Audience (If Necessary)

If the live stream was a scheduled event with a waiting audience, or if it had quite a few viewers before you took it down, don't just leave them hanging. Post a quick update. Something simple like, "Hey everyone, we've taken down our recent broadcast due to some pesky technical issues! We’re working on it and will be back soon with a much better experience. Thanks for your patience!" This shows transparency and respect for your followers' time.

2. Recover and Repurpose What You Can

Before you hastily delete a video with a few minor flaws, consider if any of it is salvageable. You can download your videos from Facebook before deleting them. Perhaps the first five minutes were great before the audio failed? Download the video, use a simple editing tool to trim out the problematic sections, and post the high-quality clips as a regular video, a Short, or a Reel. Turning one mistake into several solid pieces of content is a smart move.

3. Conduct a Quick Post-Mortem

Every mistake is a learning opportunity. Ask yourself why the video needed to be deleted.

• Was it a technical issue? Create a pre-flight checklist for your next live stream. Test your mic, check your internet speed, get your lighting right, and close unnecessary browser tabs before you hit "Go Live."
• Was it a content issue? Maybe the topic didn't resonate, or your presentation was a bit disorganized. Use it as feedback to craft a tighter, more engaging script or outline for your next attempt.
• Was it an accident? Review your process for handling your social accounts to reduce future slip-ups.

Final Thoughts

Deleting a Facebook Live video is a simple fix, whether you're catching a mistake right after ending the stream or cleaning up older content from your Page, Profile, or Group. By following the quick steps for desktop or mobile, you can easily remove any unwanted broadcasts and keep your social media presence looking sharp and professional.

Keeping track of a live stream strategy and all the moving parts of a content calendar can feel complicated. At Postbase, we believe in making social media management a lot easier, especially for creators who rely on video. Our visual calendar helps you schedule all your posts - including the promos for your upcoming live streams - in one intuitive dashboard. Better planning means fewer mistakes, helping you build a consistent and high-quality feed without the stress.