How to Watch Instagram Live From a Computer or TV

Catch live Instagram stories on a bigger screen

by
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
our editorial process
Elise Moreau
Updated on July 14, 2020

Instagram Live allows you to watch video streams from people you follow in real-time, but you don't always have to be tuning in from your smartphone.

You can watch Instagram Live videos from any desktop web browser via Instagram.com. If you have a casting/screen mirroring device, you can even watch it on a television screen.

A person looking at Instagram Live on a smartphone.
Unsplash

Why Watch Instagram Live Video on a Larger Screen

Watching Instagram Live videos on a computer or TV is incredibly convenient if you plan on actively following instructions given to you by the host of the live video. For instance, you could follow along to live videos about:

  • Working out
  • Dancing
  • Cooking
  • Craft making
  • Tech tutorials

You can get a hands-free viewing experience by watching Instagram Live on a bigger screen, making it much easier and enjoyable to multitask.

You'll also be able to see the video content from farther away and in greater detail, leaving way more room for you to follow the instructions given and even making it more convenient for multiple people to watch the same screen.

How to Watch Instagram Live via Instagram.com

Sometimes, what you need (or maybe just want if you're stuck at work) is to watch Instagram Live from your computer. You can do that from a web browser using these steps.

The following instructions can be followed for virtually any major OS (Mac, Windows) and on any popular web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc).

  1. Navigate to Instagram.com in your preferred desktop web browser and sign into your Instagram account.

  2. Look at your stories feed at the top of your main feed. If someone is currently live streaming video, their profile picture will appear at the front of the feed labeled with a LIVE icon.

    A screenshot of Instagram.com.

    If multiple users you follow are currently streaming live videos, they'll appear as a collection at the front of your stories feed.

  3. Tap any user's profile picture that has the LIVE icon on it to tune into their live video.

  4. The live video will open showing the video on the left and the comment section on the right. You'll also be able to see the viewer count in the top right corner.

    A screenshot showing the number of live viewers on a live Instagram story.

  5. Use the comment field at the bottom of the comments to type a comment and then click Post to post it.

  6. When you want to stop watching an Instagram Live video, just click the X in the top right corner.

Optimize Your Viewing Experience

If you're more interested in watching the video and less interested in engaging via the comment section, you might want to consider installing a browser extension like IG Stories for Instagram for Google Chrome.

Previously used for tuning into Instagram Live videos on the desktop web before Instagram launched its own built-in desktop viewing solution, IG Stories offers a couple of extra convenient features:

  • Remain anonymous while viewing.
  • Collapse the comment section entirely from view by clicking hide comments on the side of the comment section.

Watch Instagram Live on a TV

If you have a casting or screen mirroring device that connects your computer and/or smartphone to your TV, you can watch Instagram Live videos right from the comfort of your living room (or wherever else you have a TV). You can: