Broadcasting

To broadcast a live video, you must first create a LiveVideo object. The LiveVideo object represents the broadcast, and you can manipulate the object's properties to control the broadcast's settings. Upon creation, the API will return the LiveVideo object's ID and a stream URL, which you can pass to your encoder and use to stream data to the LiveVideo object.

Broadcast on a User

To broadcast on a User profile, get a User access token with the publish_video permission and send a request to:

POST /{user-id}/live_videos?status=LIVE_NOW

Refer to the /live_videos edge reference to see additional query string parameters you can include to describe the broadcast, such as a title and description.

Upon success, the API will create a LiveVideo object on the User and return a secure_stream_url and the LiveVideo object's id. The broadcast will appear in a post on the User's profile as soon as you send data to the secure stream URL. You can query the LiveVideo object to monitor the broadcast's health and to end the broadcast.

Sample Request

curl -i -X POST \
 "https://graph.facebook.com/{user-id}/live_videos
   ?status=LIVE_NOW
   &title=Today%27s%20Live%20Video
   &description=This%20is%20the%20live%20video%20for%20today.
   &access_token={access-token}"
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newPostRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/{user-id}/live_videos",
  new JSONObject("{\"title\":\"Today's Live Video\",\"description\":\"This is the live video for today.\"}"),
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/{user-id}/live_videos"
           parameters:@{ @"status": @"LIVE_NOW",@"title": @""Today's Live Video"",@"description": @""This is the live video for today."",}
           HTTPMethod:@"POST"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{user-id}/live_videos',
  'POST',
  {"status":"LIVE_NOW","title":"\"Today's Live Video\"","description":"\"This is the live video for today.\""},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->post(
    '/{user-id}/live_videos',
    array (
      'status' => 'LIVE_NOW',
      'title' => '"Today\'s Live Video"',
      'description' => '"This is the live video for today."'
    ),
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "id": "1953020644813104",
  "stream_url": "rtmp://rtmp-api.facebook...",
  "secure_stream_url":"rtmps://rtmp-api.facebook..."
}

Broadcast on a Page

To broadcast a live video on a Page, get a Page access token of an admin of the Page with the pages_read_engagement and pages_manage_posts permissions, then send a request to:

POST /{page-id}/live_videos?status=LIVE_NOW

Refer to the /live_videos edge reference to see additional query string parameters you can include to describe the broadcast, such as a title and description.

Upon success, the API will create a LiveVideo object on the Page and return a secure_stream_url and the LiveVideo object's id. The broadcast will appear in a post on the Page as soon as you send data to the secure stream URL. You can query the LiveVideo object to monitor the broadcast's health and to end the broadcast.

Sample Request

curl -i -X POST \
  "https://graph.facebook.com/{page-id}/live_videos
    ?status=LIVE_NOW
    &title=Today%27s%20Page%20Live%20Video
    &description=This%20is%20the%20live%20video%20for%20the%20Page%20for%20today
    &access_token=EAAC..."
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newPostRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/{page-id}/live_videos",
  new JSONObject("{\"title\":\"Today's Page Live Video\",\"description\":\"This is the live video for the Page for today.\"}"),
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/{page-id}/live_videos"
           parameters:@{ @"status": @"LIVE_NOW",@"title": @""Today's Page Live Video"",@"description": @""This is the live video for the Page for today."",}
           HTTPMethod:@"POST"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{page-id}/live_videos',
  'POST',
  {"status":"LIVE_NOW","title":"\"Today's Page Live Video\"","description":"\"This is the live video for the Page for today.\""},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->post(
    '/{page-id}/live_videos',
    array (
      'status' => 'LIVE_NOW',
      'title' => '"Today's Page Live Video"',
      'description' => '"This is the live video for the Page for today."'
    ),
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "id": "1953020644813108",
  "stream_url": "rtmp://rtmp-api.facebook...",
  "secure_stream_url":"rtmps://rtmp-api.facebook..."
}

Broadcast on a Group

Before you can broadcast a live video on a Group, the Group must install your app. A Group admin can do this on www.facebook.com by viewing the Group, going to Edit Group Settings > Apps > Add Apps, and adding your app.

To broadcast a live video on a Group that has installed your app, get a User access token of an admin of the Group with the publish_video permission, then send a request to:

POST /{group-id}/live_videos?status=LIVE_NOW

Refer to the /live_videos edge reference to see additional query string parameters you can include to describe the broadcast, such as a title and description.

Upon success, the API will create a LiveVideo object on the Group and return a secure_stream_url and the LiveVideo object's id. The broadcast will appear in a post on the Group as soon as you send data to the secure stream URL. You can query the LiveVideo object to monitor your broadcast's health and to end the broadcast.

Sample Request

curl -i -X POST \
  "https://graph.facebook.com/{group-id}/live_videos
    ?status=LIVE_NOW
    &title=Today%27s%20Group%20Live%20Video
    &description=This%20is%20the%20live%20video%20for%20the%20group%20for%20today
    &access_token={access-token}"
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newPostRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/{group-id}/live_videos",
  new JSONObject("{\"title\":\"Today's Group Live Video\",\"description\":\"This is the live video for the Group for today.\"}"),
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/{group-id}/live_videos"
           parameters:@{ @"status": @"LIVE_NOW",@"title": @""Today's Group Live Video"",@"description": @""This is the live video for the Group for today."",}
           HTTPMethod:@"POST"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{group-id}/live_videos',
  'POST',
  {"status":"LIVE_NOW","title":"\"Today's Groups Live Video\"","description":"\"This is the live video for the Group for today.\""},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->post(
    '/{group-id}/live_videos',
    array (
      'status' => 'LIVE_NOW',
      'title' => '"Today's Group Live Video"',
      'description' => '"This is the live video for the Group for today."'
    ),
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "id": "1953020644813108",
  "stream_url": "rtmp://rtmp-api.facebook...",
  "secure_stream_url":"rtmps://rtmp-api.facebook..."
}

Get Broadcast Stream Data

You can read a LiveVideo object to get the broadcast stream's preview URLs and data on streaming health, such as bitrates and framerates. Stream health data refreshes every 2 seconds, so limit queries to no more than once every 2 seconds. A stream timeout will be detected and reported after 4 seconds of no data being received.

To read a LiveVideo object, get an appropriate User or Page access token with the publish_video permission, then send a query to:

GET /{live-video-id}?fields={fields}

Use the {fields} parameter to specify the LiveVideo object fields you want returned. For example, here's a request to get the ingest_streams on the LiveVideo object, which includes data about stream health:

Sample Request

curl -i -X GET \
  "https://graph.facebook.com/{live-video-id}
    ?fields=ingest_streams
    &access_token={access-token}"
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newGraphPathRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/{live-video-id}",  
  new JSONObject("{\"fields\":\"ingest_streams\"}"),
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});

Bundle parameters = new Bundle();
parameters.putString("fields", "ingest_streams");
request.setParameters(parameters);
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/{live-video-id}"     
           parameters:@{ @"fields": @"ingest_streams",}
           HTTPMethod:@"GET"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{live-video-id}',     
  'GET',
  {"fields":"ingest_streams"},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->get(
    '/{live-video-id}',      
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "ingest_streams": [
    {
      "stream_id": "0",
      "stream_url": "rtmp://rtmp-api.facebook...",
      "secure_stream_url": "rtmps://rtmp-api.facebook...",
      "is_master": true,
      "stream_health": {
        "video_bitrate": 4024116,
        "video_framerate": 60,
        "video_gop_size": 2000,
        "video_height": 720,
        "video_width": 1280,
        "audio_bitrate": 128745.4921875
      },
      "id": "1914910145231512"  // Ingest stream ID
    }
  ],
  "id": "{your-live-video-id}" 
}

Response Properties

Field NameDescription
audio_bitrate

Bits per second of the incoming audio stream.

is_master

true if the Live Video ID being queried is the video being delivered to an audience.

secure_stream_url

The secure RTMPS ingest URL for the Live Video ID being queried.

stream_url

The RTMP ingest URL for the Live Video ID being queried.

video_bitrate

Bits per second of the incoming video stream.

video_framerate

Frames per second of the incoming video stream.

video_gop_size

GOP (group of pictures) size in milliseconds.

video_height

Height in pixels of the incoming video frame.

video_width

Width in pixels of the incoming video frame.

End a Broadcast

To end a broadcast, stop streaming live video data from your encoder to the stream URL or send a request to:

POST /{live-video-id}?end_live_video=true

This sets the LiveVideo object's status to VOD and saves it as a video-on-demand (VOD) so it can be viewed later.

Upon success, the API will return the LiveVideo object's ID.

Sample Request

curl -i -X POST \
  "https://graph.facebook.com/{live-video-id}
    ?end_live_video=true
    &access_token={access-token}"
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newPostRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/live-video-id",
  new JSONObject("{\"end_live_video\":\"true\"}\"),
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/{live-video-id}"
           parameters:@{ @"end_live_video": @"true",}
           HTTPMethod:@"POST"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{live-video-id}',
  'POST',
  {"end_live_video":"true"},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->post(
    '/{live-video-id}',
    array (
      'end_live_video' => 'true'
    ),
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "id": "10213570560993813"
}

You can perform a GET operation on the LiveVideo ID to confirm that its status has been set to VOD:

GET /{live-video-id}?fields=status

Sample Response

{
  "status": "VOD",  // Broadcast ended, saved as VOD
  "id": "10213570560993813"
}

Delete a Broadcast

To delete a broadcast that has ended and saved as a VOD, send a request to:

DELETE /{live-video-id}

Sample Request

curl -i -X DELETE \
 "https://graph.facebook.com/{live-video-id}?access_token={access-token}"
Bundle parameters = new Bundle();

GraphRequest request = new GraphRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/{live-video-id}",
  parameters,
  HttpMethod.DELETE,
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});

request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"{live-video-id}"
           parameters:nil
           HTTPMethod:@"DELETE"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/{live-video-id}',
  'DELETE',
  {},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->delete(
    '/{live-video-id}',
    array (),
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  success: true
}

Get Error Code Data

To get error code data associated with a broadcast, send a request to:

GET /{live-video-id}?fields=errors

The API will respond with the error code, type, message, and a timestamp.

Sample Response

curl -i -X GET \
 "https://graph.facebook.com/{live-video-id}
   ?fields=errors
   &access_token={access-token}"
GraphRequest request = GraphRequest.newGraphPathRequest(
  accessToken,
  "/1951440638245129",
  new GraphRequest.Callback() {
    @Override
    public void onCompleted(GraphResponse response) {
      // Insert your code here
    }
});

Bundle parameters = new Bundle();
parameters.putString("fields", "errors");
request.setParameters(parameters);
request.executeAsync();
FBSDKGraphRequest *request = [[FBSDKGraphRequest alloc]
    initWithGraphPath:@"/1951440638245129"
           parameters:@{ @"fields": @"errors",}
           HTTPMethod:@"GET"];
[request startWithCompletionHandler:^(FBSDKGraphRequestConnection *connection, id result, NSError *error) {
    // Insert your code here
}];
FB.api(
  '/1951440638245129',
  'GET',
  {"fields":"errors"},
  function(response) {
      // Insert your code here
  }
);
try {
  // Returns a `FacebookFacebookResponse` object
  $response = $fb->get(
    '/1951440638245129',
    '{access-token}'
  );
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
} catch(FacebookExceptionsFacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
  exit;
}
$graphNode = $response->getGraphNode();

Sample Response

{
  "errors": {
    "data": [
      {
        "error_code": 1969004,
        "error_type": "stream",
        "error_message": "Video signal lost",
        "creation_time": "2018-12-05T23:58:52+0000"
      },
      {
        "error_code": 1969004,
        "error_type": "stream",
        "error_message": "Video signal lost",
        "creation_time": "2018-12-05T23:58:52+0000"
      },
      {
        "error_code": 0,
        "error_type": "info",
        "error_message": "Live Service received the video signal",
        "creation_time": "2018-12-05T23:58:02+0000"
      },
      {
        "error_code": 0,
        "error_type": "info",
        "error_message": "Live Service received the video signal",
        "creation_time": "2018-12-05T23:58:02+0000"
      }
    ]
  },
  "id": "{your-live-video-id}"
}
error_subcodeError SummaryDescription
COPYRIGHT__LIVE_COPYRIGHT_VIOLATION

Live Copyright Violation

Your live video has been stopped because it may contain audio or visual content that belongs to a different Page.

VIDEO__CREATE_FAILED

Upload Problem

There was a problem and your video was not uploaded. Please try again.

LIVE_VIDEO__DELETE_FAILED

Live Video Not Deleted

There was a problem and we were not able to delete your live video. Please try again.

LIVE_VIDEO__EDIT_API_NOT_ALLOWED

Editing Via Video API Is Not Allowed While Live

Editing a live video using the Video Edit API is not allowed. Use the live video ID.

LIVE_VIDEO__LIVE_STREAM_ERROR

Generic Stream

There was an error during the stream

LIVE_VIDEO__NOT_EXIST

Live Video Does Not Exist

The live video you are trying to access does not exist in the system any more.

LIVE_VIDEO__PRIVACY_REQUIRED

Privacy Setting Required

You need to set a privacy before going live.