What is instagram Live?

Instagram's help centre says only users with a public account and 1,000 followers or more can start a live video. Newly created accounts may not be able to go live, and an account that has had posts removed for breaking the Community Standards may lose access. You can check this under Account Status in your settings.

Live is off by default for Teen Accounts. Anyone can watch a live video they have access to; the limits apply to starting one.

These are the steps in the Instagram app on a phone.

1. Swipe right anywhere in Feed, then scroll to Live at the bottom.
2. To add a title, tap Add a title, type it and tap Done.
3. Tap Go live. The number of viewers shows at the top and comments appear at the bottom.
4. Tap a comment and choose Pin comment to keep an important message on screen.
5. When you've finished, tap Close in the top right, then End Now. You can then share the video to your profile.

You can invite up to three guests to join your live using Live Rooms, which works well for interviews or a session with a supplier or partner business. You can also schedule a live from 1 hour up to 90 days ahead, so followers can set a reminder.

Under Options you can turn off comments or stop requests to join you. Any keyword filters you've set for comments also apply to your live video, and you can assign a moderator to help.

A live video can keep working after it finishes. Share the replay to your profile so people who missed it can watch, and keep an eye on comments on the replay as well.

Note the questions people asked: they make good ideas for future posts, reels and FAQs. If a product sold well during the live, mention it in a story the next day. And if very few people joined, try a different day or time, tell followers earlier, or invite a guest who will bring their own audience.

• Tell people when you'll go live a day or two before, in a story or post.
• Have a simple plan: an opening line, three points or products, and an ending with one clear next step.
• Say hello to viewers by name and answer questions as they come in.
• Use a stable connection and good light, and prop the phone up rather than holding it.
• Share the replay so people who missed it can watch later.