How to Find Instagram Lives

Instagram Live offers a powerful, unfiltered way to connect with an audience, launch a product, or just hang out in real-time. However, finding these live streams isn't always as simple as opening the app. This guide will walk you through every method for discovering Instagram Lives, from the basics on your home feed to pro-level tips for using them as a source of market research and inspiration.

How to Find Active Instagram Lives on Your Feed and Stories Bar

The most common way to find an Instagram Live is right at the top of your home feed, where you see Instagram Stories. It's designed to be front and center, so you're likely to see it without much effort. Here’s what to look for:

The "Live" Ring in the Stories Tray

When someone you follow starts a Live video, their profile picture will appear at the very front of the Stories tray at the top of your feed. Unlike a regular Story, which has a multi-colored ring, a Live video is highlighted with a vivid pink and purple gradient ring and the word “LIVE” at the bottom.

To join, simply tap their profile picture. Once inside, you can watch, leave comments, and see other viewers engaging with the creator. Some Live videos even have guest speakers, which you’ll see in a split-screen format. If you want to leave, just swipe right or hit the 'X' in the top-right corner to return to your feed.

Here’s a quick summary:

• Open the Instagram app and look at the Stories tray at the top.
• Look for a profile picture with a glowing, colorful ring and the word "LIVE."
• Tap the profile picture to immediately join the live broadcast.

Discovering Lives as You Scroll

Occasionally, Instagram will promote an active Live video directly in your main feed as you scroll. It will look like a regular post but appear much larger, showing a real-time preview of the stream with a bold “Join Live Video” icon. This usually happens with accounts that Instagram’s algorithm thinks you’ll be interested in, even if they're not always the first accounts you check for updates.

This method is less predictable because it relies entirely on the algorithm. While helpful for spontaneous discovery, it's not the best way to catch a specific broadcast you don't want to miss. That’s where notifications come in handy.

Never Miss a Live Again: Setting Up Notifications

If you don’t want to leave things to chance, the most reliable way to catch a Live from your favorite creators, brands, or even your competitors is by turning on notifications. This way, your phone will send you a push alert the second they go live, giving you a direct entry into the stream.

Setting this up is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Profile: Go to the Instagram profile of the account you want to get notifications from.
2. Tap the Bell Icon: Look for the bell icon in the top right corner of the screen, next to the "Following" button. Tap it.
3. Customize Your Notifications: A menu will pop up allowing you to choose what content you want to be notified about.
4. Toggle "Live" Notifications: Find the “Live” section in the list and tap on it. From there, select “Get All Notifications.”

That's it! Now, any time that account starts an Instagram Live, you’ll receive an alert on your phone. This is a game-changer for anyone who follows people with irregular streaming schedules or wants to keep a close eye on brands in their industry. When you get the notification, you can tap it to be taken directly into the Live video, no searching required.

Using the Explore Page for Live Video Discovery

What if you want to find new and interesting Live videos from accounts you don't follow? That’s what the Explore page is for. Instagram's algorithm populates the Explore page with content it thinks you might like based on your past activity - posts you’ve liked, accounts you follow, and the type of content you spend time watching.

How to Find Lives on the Explore Page

1. Tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your screen to open the Explore page.
2. Look at the top of the grid. Often, Instagram will have a “Live Now” section or tile that you can tap. When you do, it will open up a vertical-scrolling feed of live videos from a range of accounts the algorithm has selected for you.
3. If you don’t see that explicit button, scroll through the Explore grid. Live streams are often featured within the grid, identifiable by the pink "LIVE" icon in the corner of a video thumbnail.

The Explore page is fantastic for discovering trending broadcasts and seeing what’s popular right now. It's a great tool if you're looking for spontaneous entertainment or want to see content outside of your immediate circle.

Finding Live Replays After the Broadcast Ends

Missed a live stream? Don't worry. Many creators save and share their Live videos so people can watch them later, a feature called Live replay. These replays are accessible long after the live broadcast is over and can be a great way to catch up. Here’s where to find a saved replay of a Live you missed.

1. Check the User's Feed or Profile Grid

After a broadcast, creators have the option to share the replay directly to their main profile grid. When you're on their profile, just look for a normal video post thumbnail that has a small, circular play button icon. Many creators will mention "Live Replay" in the caption so it's easy to spot.

2. Look in the Reels or Video Tab

Instagram is unifying its video formats. For a while, Live replays were sent to a dedicated "IGTV" tab. Now, you’re more likely to find Live replays in the Reels or Video tab on a creator's profile. Tap the tab that looks like a play button or clapperboard. Long-form content, including Live replays, is usually stored there once the creator saves them. Just scroll through their video content, and you should be able to find it.

Watching a replay is almost as good as being there live. You can still see all the comments and reactions that happened in real time, giving you context on how the audience engaged with the content during the original broadcast.

Advanced Strategies for Marketers and Creators

For brands, social media managers, and entrepreneurs, finding Instagram Lives is not just about entertainment - it's about strategy. Here's how you can use the techniques above to gain a competitive edge and build your own brand.

1. Monitor Your Competitors

What are your competitors talking about in their Live broadcasts? By setting up notifications for key players in your industry, you get front-row access to their strategy. Use their Lives to see:

• Audience Q&As: What questions do your shared target customers ask? These are often pain points you can solve or ideas for your next piece of content.
• Product Launches: How do they introduce new products? Pay attention to the benefits they highlight and the reactions they get from viewers.
• Behind-the-Scenes Content: Live is often spontaneous. It's a great way to see a less-polished version of a brand and understand their company culture.
• Guest Collaborations: See who they partner with. That person or brand might be a good fit for you to work with down the line.

2. Discover Potential Collaborators

Spend some time scrolling through the “Live Now” section of your Explore page with an intentional goal. Look for influencers or creators in your niche who get high engagement and command an audience with confidence. Watching someone Live is one of the best ways to vet a potential partner. Are they personable? Does their community trust them? Would their personality align with your brand's voice?

Reaching out to someone you discovered from a Live shows you've done your research. You can even mention a specific point from their broadcast that you liked to make your outreach feel personal and authentic.

3. Generate Content Ideas

Instagram Lives are a goldmine for understanding what people actually care about. Watch broadcasts related to your industry and pay close attention to the comment section. Users will ask hyper-specific questions and share their genuine thoughts in a way they might not in a polished feed post. Every time you see a question reappear across different Live streams, a lightbulb should go off: that’s a topic people are confused about or really care about, and that's an opportunity for you to create content addressing it.

Think of it as free, real-time market research. You’ll hear your audience’s exact language, their biggest problems, and their most heartfelt questions. Use all of that info as fuel to create a more relevant and impactful content strategy.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're looking for entertainment, education, or competitive intelligence, finding Instagram Lives is simple once you know where to look. By checking your Stories tray, enabling notifications for key accounts, using the Explore page for discovery, and catching up with replays, you'll never have to miss out on the action.

We know staying on top of live moments is just one part of a busy social media plan. The chaos of managing live events, engaging with the community, and scheduling posts can get overwhelming. Trust us, we’ve been there. It’s why we built our visual calendar in Postbase to make it simple. It lets you plan all your other content - Reels, videos, stories, and carousels - around those key live sessions without getting lost, helping you keep your strategy organized and your mind clear.