Instagram Adds Live Video Support for Direct Messages - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Instagram Adds Live Video Support for Direct Messages

by

Instagram today announced the addition of live video support for Direct Messages. Instagram users can tap the Direct icon, create a live video, and then send it to a friend or a group of friends. There's also an option to for Instagram users to share a live video they're currently watching with friends.

Live videos sent via Direct Message can only be viewed while the live video is ongoing -i it's not watchable after streaming has concluded.

instagramdirectlive

When you're live, just tap the Direct icon at the bottom of the screen and send your live video to friends. You'll also have this option when going live with a friend. Once sent, the recipient will see your live video in their Direct inbox. Friends can only view your video if you're currently live. If your live video is over, your friend will see a message saying the video has ended.

Those who do not want to send live videos to friends in Direct can disable the option in the stories settings.

Instagram says the new live video feature is designed to make it easier for people to watch and send live videos to friends, and it comes as Instagram tests a standalone direct messaging app with a small number of users in Chile, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, and Uruguay.

Instagram can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

JayJohnPaul Avatar
113 months ago
Wait till they make it a separate app...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lincolntran Avatar
113 months ago
Live video is now being market as the best way to communicate with friends and family while kids lose the ability to make real human connection and to communicate with real humans in the real world and not through a screen....what a sad society we have become.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
machumors90 Avatar
113 months ago
They hit the nail on the head with the promotional photo of the teenager.
I can't see adults (mainly myself) ever using this "feature".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Norwegian_Imposter Avatar
113 months ago
Jesus. Mac rumors forum is grumpy today.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blake2 Avatar
113 months ago
Cool feature but how is this relevant to this website?
Probably because it can be downloaded from the App Store for free...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
Cool feature but how is this relevant to this website?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 Launch This Year

Wednesday August 12, 2026 6:59 am PDT by
Apple supplier Pegatron today indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 model will not be released until next year, according to a new report. Pegatron held an earnings call for the second quarter of 2026 today. On the call, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said Pegatron indicated that one of its customers will be changing its usual smartphone shipment schedule. As widely expected, the...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Tuesday August 11, 2026 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a recent report, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition, the...
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Max's Larger Battery Capacity Allegedly Revealed

Monday August 10, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a nearly 12% larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to an apparent leak. An alleged photo of a battery pack for a Chinese model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max with a SIM card tray lists a capacity of 5,391 mAh, up from 4,823 mAh for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro Max battery. The photo was shared on the Korean platform Naver...