Go live on Instagram: This is how it works

Going live on Instagram is just a few clicks away. The test run function is particularly practical

How to go live on Instagram

Going live on Instagram means broadcasting what you are recording to the platform in real time. This makes it all the more important to be aware beforehand that everything you show and say during the livestream will immediately end up on the internet. How to go live on Instagram:

• Open the Instagram app. You can now access the live stream in two ways. Swipe from left to right across the screen to open the Instagram camera for Stories. There you can choose between different formats at the bottom of the screen. Swipe from left to right until you reach “Live”
• Alternatively, after opening the app, navigate to your profile by clicking on your own profile picture at the bottom right. There, click on the plus sign at the top of the screen and then select “Live” from the list.

• Before you go live, you can now give the livestream a title by clicking on “Add title” and then entering your desired title. You can also switch between your cameras using the switch circle symbol. This allows you to decide whether you want to start with the front or main camera. You can switch again and again while you are live

• When you are ready, click on the round button at the bottom of the screen. A countdown from three will appear, after which the stability of your Internet connection will be tested briefly. Then you are live. You can see who is watching you at the top left of the screen. On the right-hand side of the screen you have various operating options, for example to change the camera or to switch the microphone and camera on and off.

• As soon as you no longer wish to be live, click on the cross in the top right-hand corner and end the live stream. Confirm that you want to end the stream. You can then decide whether you want to discard or save the video

Instagram-Live: Test run for practicing

Going live is often an obstacle to overcome. To make the hurdle a little smaller, you can go live without any risk by doing a test run.

• Open the Instagram app and navigate to “Live” just as you would for a normal livestream. You can also enter the title and change the camera as you wish

• Before you go live, click on “Share with followers” at the top of the screen. A selection menu will appear. Here you can select “Close friends” or “Test run” in addition to the default setting “Follower”, where all followers can see the livestream.

• Select the test run to try out how Insta-Live works without viewers. You will then see at the top that you are in the test run (not shared, private). Then proceed in exactly the same way as with a real livestream. Start with the round button at the bottom of the screen and try out the features a little to gain confidence. The test run is also suitable for trying out new gadgets.