How to Upload a Facebook Live Video to YouTube

Repurposing your Facebook Live broadcasts for YouTube is one of the smartest ways to squeeze more value out of the content you already have. You’re not just archiving old streams, you’re giving them a second life on a platform built for search and long-term discovery. This guide will walk you through every step: downloading your video from Facebook, prepping it for a new audience, and optimizing it for success on YouTube.

Why Repurpose Your Facebook Live Videos for YouTube?

Before jumping into the "how," it helps to understand the "why." You went live for a reason - to connect with your audience, share expertise, or launch a product. Letting that video disappear into the Facebook feed after a day or two is a huge missed opportunity. Shifting it to YouTube unlocks a new level of potential.

• Expanded Reach: You tap into an entirely new audience. People on YouTube are actively searching for information, tutorials, and entertainment. They might not follow you on Facebook, but they can discover your content in a YouTube search a year from now.
• Long-Term Value: A Facebook Live video has a very short lifespan. A YouTube video is an evergreen asset. It can gain views, build your authority, and attract subscribers for months or even years, thanks to YouTube’s powerful search and recommendation engine.
• Build a Central Video Library: YouTube acts as a definitive hub for all your brand’s video content. It’s organized, searchable, and professional, making it easy for potential customers or followers to binge-watch your best stuff.
• Monetization Opportunities: As your channel grows, your repurposed videos can generate ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program, creating another income stream from content you've already created.

Part 1: How to Download Your Facebook Live Video

First things first, you need to get the source video file from Facebook. There are a couple of ways to do this, depending on the quality you need.

Method 1: The Official Facebook Download (Standard Quality)

This is the most straightforward way to get your video. It’s quick, easy, and doesn’t require any weird workarounds. The downside is that it typically gives you a standard-definition (SD) version of the video, which might not be ideal for a platform like YouTube where quality matters.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to your Facebook Page, Group, or Profile where you went live.
2. Find the video you want to download. You may need to go to the "Videos" or "Live" tab.
3. Click on the video to open it in a larger view.
4. Click the three-dot menu (...) in the top right corner of the video post.
5. From the dropdown menu, select "Download video."

Your browser will start downloading the video file, usually as an .MP4. That's it! Simple, but if you need higher quality, check out the next method.

Method 2: Grabbing a High-Quality (HD) Version

If you want the best possible version of your video, you’ll need a slightly more technical method. This little trick forces Facebook to give you the highest quality file it has stored. It seems a bit strange, but it works consistently.

1. Find your live video on Facebook and click on it to open it.
2. In your browser's address bar, you’ll see the URL. It will look something like this: https://www.facebook.com/YourPage/videos/1234567890/
3. Change the "www" at the beginning of the URL to "mbasic" so it looks like this: https://mbasic.facebook.com/YourPage/videos/1234567890/
4. Hit Enter. This will load a simplified, mobile version of the Facebook page.
5. Click to play the video. It will open in a new tab with a black background and nothing else - just the video player.
6. Now, right-click on the video itself and select "Save video as..."

This will download the .MP4 file in the highest resolution available. For the effort of a few extra clicks, you get a much crisper video that will look far better on YouTube.

Part 2: Editing and Prepping Your Video for YouTube

Simply re-uploading the raw Facebook Live is a mistake. The formats, audience expectations, and pacing are completely different. A little bit of editing can transform your off-the-cuff stream into a polished, professional YouTube video that holds viewers' attention.

Trim the Fluff at the Beginning and End

Almost every Facebook Live has a slow start. You spend the first couple of minutes saying things like, "Hey everyone, we'll get started in just a minute," or, "Can you hear me okay?" This is fine for a live setting, but it’s a recipe for disaster on YouTube, where viewer attention is everything.

• Cut the waiting period. Start the video right where you begin delivering real value. Get straight to the point.
• Trim the ending. Likewise, cut out the lengthy goodbyes and lingering moments after the main content is over. End your video cleanly, perhaps after a final call to action.

Add Brand Elements and Visuals

Since YouTube is a highly visual platform, adding some simple branding and on-screen graphics can make a big difference.

• Add a simple intro card or B-roll. A quick branded intro (3-5 seconds) gives your video a professional touch.
• Incorporate on-screen text or graphics. If you mentioned a specific resource, URL, or key takeaway, pop it up on the screen as a text overlay. This helps reinforce your points and makes the video more dynamic.
• Consider adding a clear call-to-action (CTA) outro. Finish your video with an outro screen that asks viewers to subscribe, watch your next video, or check out your website.

Create a Compelling Custom Thumbnail

Your thumbnail is arguably the most important element for getting clicks on YouTube. A low-resolution screenshot from your live video won't cut it. You need to design an engaging, custom thumbnail.

Elements of a great thumbnail:

• High-quality image: Use a clear, expressive photo of your face if it's relevant to the topic. Human faces draw attention.
• Bold, readable text: Add a short, punchy title on the thumbnail that grabs attention and sparks curiosity. Use a font that’s easy to read even on a small phone screen.
• High contrast and bright colors: Make your thumbnail pop out against the visually busy YouTube homepage.

Part 3: Uploading and Optimizing for YouTube Success

With your edited video file and custom thumbnail ready, it’s time to upload. But don't just hit "publish." Optimizing your video’s title, description, and tags is what tells YouTube’s algorithm what your content is about and who should see it.

Step-by-Step Upload Guide:

1. Sign in to your YouTube account and go to YouTube Studio.
2. In the top right corner, click the "CREATE" button and select "Upload videos."
3. Drag and drop your edited video file, or select it from your computer.
4. While the video is uploading, it's time to fill in the details. This is where the magic happens.

Writing a Searchable Title

Your Facebook Live title might have been something like, "Going live to chat about our new features!" Your YouTube title needs to be search-friendly.

• Think like a searcher. What words would someone type into YouTube to find the information in your video?
• Poor Title: We're LIVE! Q&,A Session
• Good Title: Social Media Marketing Q&,A (Content Strategy, Analytics, &, Growth Tips)
• Pro Tip: Include relevant keywords at the beginning of your title. Use tools like Google Trends or YouTube’s own search autocomplete to see what people are looking for.

Crafting a Value-Packed Description

The description box is incredibly valuable real estate. Don't leave it blank!

• Start with a hook. Write a sentence or two summarizing the video and include your main keywords. This first section is what viewers see before clicking "Show more."
• Add timestamps (Chapters). This is huge for long videos. Break your video into logical sections and list the timestamps in the description. For example: (0:00) Introduction
(1:25) Tip #1: Choosing Your Platforms
(5:40) Tip #2: Planning Your Content Calendar
... YouTube will automatically turn these into clickable chapters, helping viewers find exactly what they’re looking for.
• Include relevant links. Link to your website, other social media profiles, and any resources you mentioned in the video.

Using Tags Effectively

Tags help YouTube understand the context and category of your video. Think of them as supplemental keywords.

• Specific Tags: "how to download facebook live video," "repurpose video content"
• Broad Tags: "social media marketing," "content creation," "YouTube strategy"
• Branded Tags: Your channel name, your name, or your company's name.

Final Touches: Thumbnail, End Screens, and Cards

Finally, complete the upload process with these finishing touches.

• Upload a custom thumbnail: Under the "Thumbnail" section, upload the amazing graphic you created earlier.
• Add an End Screen: At the very end of your video (in the last 5-20 seconds), you can add an End Screen. Use it to recommend another video or playlist, and add a subscribe button. This is a powerful way to keep people watching your content.
• Add Cards: Cards are small, clickable pop-ups you can place throughout your video. Use them to link to a relevant video, playlist, or external site.

Once you’ve filled everything out, set your video’s visibility to "Public" and either publish it immediately or schedule it for a later date and time.

Final Thoughts

Transforming your Facebook Live streams into polished YouTube videos is a game-changing content strategy. It allows you to maximize your effort, reach a wider audience, and build a lasting library of valuable content that serves your brand for years to come. By following these steps, you're not just archiving content, you're multiplying its impact.

Creating great content is the essential first step, and scheduling it consistently is what keeps the momentum going. At Postbase, we handle everything from scheduling YouTube Shorts cut from your long-form videos to planning a full month's content calendar at a glance. We built Postbase to make managing modern, video-first social media feel organized and effortless, not chaotic.