Facebook updated its live video storage policy on February 19, 2025. It has modified its rules to keep recordings for only 30 days instead of maintaining them without limits previously. Unless the user decides otherwise, all live videos remain on Facebook for 30 days before automatic deletion occurs. The new policy for live video storage starts today and applies to every recording that has already exceeded the 30-day limit.
All Facebook users will receive advance alerts when their streaming videos face deletion. Users will obtain 90-day authority to determine what should happen to their content. Users can decide whether to download their videos for device storage. They can also transfer videos to Dropbox or Google Drive and convert them to Reels to preserve Facebook page storage. The system lets users postpone deletion for six months when they require additional time. All remaining videos will be eliminated following this duration.
The platform provides users with new management tools to help them handle their previous content. Users can now manage their video downloads from their deletion notification through a new tool directly provided by Facebook. The tool lets users keep their upcoming deleted live broadcasts accessible during the specified window. Facebook users who choose cloud storage can utilize their linked providers to receive their content.
The changes Facebook makes to live video storage correspond with established practices in the industry. Twitch, a leading competitor in live streaming, stores past broadcasts for 60 days for Twitch Partners, Affiliates and Prime streamers. Regular Twitch streamers must retrieve their live videos within 14 days because past broadcast access ends 14 days after the stream completes. YouTube enables indefinite storage for live broadcasts that turn into standard videos unless users disable the archiving system.
With its 30-day storage limit, Facebook represents one of the fastest deletion periods among social media platforms which may shape user interaction with live video content. The new data management system at Facebook optimizes the platform while delivering fresh live videos across it.
One of the key aspects of Facebook’s new policy is its push for Reels. The platform encourages users to convert their favorite moments from live videos into Reels. This move aligns with Facebook's broader strategy to promote Reels as a more permanent format for users to share content. Users can choose to highlight key moments from their broadcasts, preserving them for longer periods on their profiles.
Facebook introduced new features to extend user control over their content storage despite changes restricting video length retention. Through its combination of cloud storage and video conversion tools, Facebook gives users the means to manage their video archives according to their needs.