How to See Comments on Facebook Live

Struggling to find the comment section on a Facebook Live stream? You aren't alone. Whether you're a viewer trying to join the conversation or a creator trying to manage it, knowing where to look is half the battle. This guide will show you exactly how to find, see, and interact with comments during a live broadcast, on a replay, and from both a viewer's and a streamer's perspective.

Watching a Live Stream? Here's How to Find the Comments

Participating in a Facebook Live is one of the best ways to connect directly with a creator, brand, or community. The feed of real-time comments and reactions is what makes the experience dynamic and engaging. But where you find these comments depends on the device you're using.

On Your Phone or Tablet (iOS & Android)

When you're watching a live video on the Facebook mobile app, the interface is designed to keep the video front and center while still letting you see the conversation.

• Live Comments: Comments appear in a continuous, flowing stream at the bottom of your screen. They scroll upwards in real-time as people post them. New comments appear at the bottom and push older ones up.
• Add Your Own Comment: To write a comment, simply tap the "Comment" bar located at the very bottom of the screen. This will bring up your keyboard, allowing you to type your message and send it into the feed for the streamer and other viewers to see.
• Reactions: You can also send live reactions (Like, Love, Haha, Wow, etc.) by tapping the like button. The selected emoji will float across the screen, adding a visual burst of feedback.

If the comments are distracting you from the video, you can typically swipe right on the screen to temporarily hide them. A swipe back to the left should bring them back into view.

On a Desktop Computer

The desktop viewing experience provides a much different layout, offering more screen real estate to display both the video and the comments side-by-side.

• Comment Feed: On a computer, the live video player appears on the left side of the screen. The entire real-time comment feed is displayed in a dedicated column on the right.
• Real-Time Updates: This feed automatically updates with new comments and reactions as they happen, so you won’t have to manually refresh the page.
• Adding a Comment: At the bottom of the comment column on the right, you'll find a text box that says "Write a comment..." Just click in that box, type your message, and hit Enter to post it.

This side-by-side layout is ideal for live events where the conversation is just as important as the video content itself, such as Q&A sessions, workshops, or community discussions.

Watching a Replay? Comments are Still There

Once a Facebook Live broadcast ends, the video is usually posted as a regular video on the creator’s page or profile. The good news is that all the original comments are preserved with the replay, but they are displayed differently.

Instead of appearing in real-time, the comments are stored along with the timestamps of when they were posted during the live broadcast. As you watch the replay, you'll see comments from the original stream pop up at the bottom of the video, synced to the moment they were first written. You can also view all the comments at once in the standard comment section below the video, just like any other Facebook post.

Going Live? A Streamer's Guide to Managing Comments

For brands and creators, managing the comments during a live stream is just as important as the content you're presenting. This interaction is what builds community, drives engagement, and makes your audience feel seen and heard. If you ignore the comments, you're missing the whole point of going live.

Why Live Comments are a Goldmine for Engagement

Live comments aren't just messages, they are direct lines of communication and valuable feedback. When you see a question, answer it. When someone offers a compliment, thank them by name. Reading comments aloud makes your viewers feel like they are part of a real conversation, not just passively watching a broadcast.

This level of engagement also signals to the Facebook algorithm that your content is valuable, which can lead to your stream being shown to a wider audience. The more comments, reactions, and shares your video gets, the more likely Facebook is to feature it. Encouraging comments isn't just good for community-building - it's good for reach.

The Best Setup for Seeing Comments While Streaming

Trying to read tiny, fast-scrolling comments on the same phone you're using to stream is a recipe for a headache. If you're serious about interacting with your audience, you need a setup that makes it easy.

• Use a Second Device: This is the simplest and most effective solution. Film your Live on your phone (mounted on a tripod, of course!) and open the same stream on a laptop, tablet, or another computer placed nearby. Use this second screen exclusively to monitor and read the comment feed at a comfortable size. On a desktop or laptop, the comment feed appears on the right column and is far easier to follow than the mobile stream.
• Recruit a Moderator: For bigger events or busy streams, have a team member act as a community manager. They can be in charge of monitoring the comment feed, feeding you the best questions, pinning important comments, and removing any disruptive users. This frees you up to focus on your presentation without missing key interactions.

How to Highlight and Pin Important Comments

Did a viewer ask an excellent question that everyone can benefit from? Or maybe you want a specific link or call-to-action to stay visible. Facebook allows you to "pin" a comment, which keeps it fixed at the top of the comment feed for everyone to see.

To pin a comment while live:

1. Long-press on the comment you want to feature.
2. A menu with a few options should appear.
3. Tap "Pin Comment."

You can only pin one comment at a time, but this feature is fantastic for highlighting testimonials, answering a Frequently Asked Question, or keeping a promotional link visible throughout your broadcast.

Dealing with Spam and Trolls: Your Moderation Toolkit

Unfortunately, not all comments will be positive. It’s smart to prepare for trolls, spam, or inappropriate language ahead of time so you can handle it smoothly without disrupting your stream.

• Block Foul Language: Before you even go live, go to your Page’s settings. Under "General," you’ll find the "Profanity Filter." You can set this to Medium or Strong to automatically block posts containing commonly reported offensive words. You can also manually add a list of keywords to block.
• Hiding or Deleting Comments Live: If an inappropriate comment gets through, you can moderate it in real-time. Simply press and hold the specific comment. You’ll be given the option to "Delete" it, which removes it for everyone, or "Hide" it, which makes it invisible to everyone except the person who posted it and their friends.
• Ban Disruptive Users: If a user is persistently spamming or being disruptive, you can ban them from your Page entirely. When you press and hold their comment, you'll also see an option to "Hide comments from [Username]" or "Ban [Username]". Banning them prevents them from commenting on any of your future posts or live streams.

The Conversation Doesn't End When the Camera's Off

Your work isn't done just because the live stream is over. The video replay continues to gather views, comments, and engagement for hours, days, and even weeks after the broadcast. Continuing the conversation in the comments section of the replay is a powerful way to maximize the value of your content.

Reviewing Your Comments Post-Stream

After your stream ends, set aside some time to go back to the video post. Scroll through the comment section and respond to any questions or comments you might have missed while you were live. "Liking" or replying to these comments breathes new life into the post and sends notifications to the commenters, bringing them back to your Page.

If you're managing a brand Page, you can find a more organized view of your comments and messages within Meta Business Suite, where you can reply directly, create tasks, and manage all your engagement from one place.

Turn Today's Comments into Tomorrow's Content

Finally, treat your comment section as a source of market research. What questions did people keep asking? What topics sparked the most excitement or confusion? These are powerful clues telling you exactly what content your audience wants to see next. Use these insights to plan your next Facebook Live, blog post, or Reel. A question from one person in the comments often represents a question many more people have but didn't ask.

Final Thoughts

Seeing and engaging with comments on Facebook Live is fundamental to the experience. For viewers, it’s about connection and participation, for creators, it’s a powerful tool for building community and gaining valuable audience insights. By understanding how the feature works and having a clear strategy, you can transform a simple broadcast into a truly interactive and impactful event.

Managing this stream of engagement can feel like a lot, especially when you’re live. At Postbase, we wanted to make this part easier. That's why we built our unified inbox to bring the comments and DMs from all your platforms - including Facebook - into one simple, organized feed. Instead of frantically switching between apps and tabs, you can see and reply to everything in one place, so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your community.