Turn Recorded Videos Into Facebook Live Streams For Free (Step-By-Step Guide)

Live Stream Recorded Videos

Video content dominates social media engagement today. Businesses, creators, and marketers are using video to build trust, increase reach, and generate leads. However, creating fresh live videos every day can be difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes stressful. The good news is that you can live stream recorded videos to your Facebook page and still enjoy the benefits of live video reach and engagement.

In this guide, you will learn:

  • What prerecorded live streaming is

  • Why it works better than normal video posting

  • Best free tools available

  • Step-by-step setup guide

  • Real-world examples

  • Pro tips and common mistakes

  • Frequently asked questions

Letโ€™s dive in.


What Does Live Stream Recorded Videos Mean?

Live streaming recorded videos means broadcasting an already created video as if it were live. Your audience watches the video in real-time and can interact through comments, reactions, and shares.

This strategy combines:

  • The engagement of live streaming

  • The quality and control of pre-recorded content


Why Facebook Live Still Works Better Than Normal Video Uploads

Facebookโ€™s algorithm prioritizes live videos because they encourage user interaction.

Benefits of Live Streaming Recorded Videos

  • Higher organic reach

  • Real-time audience engagement

  • More watch time

  • Builds brand authority

  • Saves content creation time

  • Allows scheduled automation


Top Free Tools To Live Stream Recorded Videos

Below is a comparison table of popular tools that allow you to live stream recorded videos.

Tool Name Free Plan Best For Key Features
OBS Studio Yes Beginners & Professionals Completely free, customizable
OneStream Live Limited Free Plan Marketers & Agencies Cloud streaming, scheduling
Restream Free Plan Multi-platform streaming Broadcast to multiple platforms
LiveReacting Free Trial Interactive streams Polls, quizzes, overlays
Ecamm Live Free Trial Mac Users Professional streaming features

Real-World Example: How Brands Use This Strategy

Example 1: Online Course Creators

Course creators record training sessions once and live stream them weekly to attract new students. This increases course enrollment without recording new content.

Example 2: E-commerce Businesses

Online stores live stream product demos that were pre-recorded earlier. They respond to customer queries live in comments while the video plays.

Example 3: Bloggers & Influencers

Bloggers convert their YouTube tutorials into live Facebook sessions to reach a different audience and increase traffic.


Step-By-Step Guide To Live Stream Recorded Videos Using OBS (Free Method)

OBS Studio is one of the most powerful free tools for streaming. Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Get Facebook Stream Key

The stream key connects Facebook with streaming software.

How To Get It

  1. Go to your Facebook Page

  2. Click Live Video

  3. Select Streaming Software

  4. Copy your Stream Key

  5. Keep this key private

Step 2: Download And Install OBS Studio

  • Visit official OBS website

  • Download software for your operating system

  • Install and open OBS

Step 3: Connect OBS With Facebook

  1. Open OBS

  2. Click Settings

  3. Select Stream

  4. Choose Facebook Live as service

  5. Paste Stream Key

  6. Click Apply

Step 4: Add Your Recorded Video

  1. In OBS dashboard, click Sources + icon

  2. Select Media Source

  3. Add your video file

  4. Enable loop if needed

  5. Adjust video resolution and audio

Step 5: Start Streaming

  1. Click Start Streaming in OBS

  2. Go back to Facebook

  3. Preview your stream

  4. Click Go Live

Your recorded video will now play as a live stream.


Advanced OBS Settings For Better Streaming

Recommended Video Settings

  • Resolution: 1080p or 720p

  • Bitrate: 2500-4500 kbps

  • Frame Rate: 30 FPS

Audio Settings

  • Use clear microphone if speaking live

  • Remove background noise

  • Keep audio balanced


Best Practices To Make Recorded Live Streams Look Authentic

โœ” Interact With Audience

Reply to comments while video plays.

โœ” Add Countdown Timer

Build anticipation before stream begins.

โœ” Use Branding Elements

Add logo, overlays, or watermark.

โœ” Schedule Streams

Helps audience prepare and increases attendance.

โœ” Promote Before Going Live

Share teaser posts or reminders.


Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Using low quality video

  • Ignoring audience comments

  • Forgetting to end live stream

  • Streaming too long videos

  • Using copyrighted content


When Should You Use Recorded Live Streaming?

This strategy works best when:

  • You want consistent posting schedule

  • You want to repurpose old content

  • You are managing multiple social accounts

  • You want professional video quality


Free vs Paid Streaming Tools โ€“ Which One Should You Choose?

Feature Free Tools Paid Tools
Cost Zero Monthly subscription
Automation Limited Advanced scheduling
Branding Basic Custom overlays
Multi-Streaming Limited Available
Support Community based Dedicated support

For beginners, OBS is more than enough. Agencies and businesses often choose paid tools for automation.


Pro Growth Tip

Repurpose your content smartly. A single video can be used for:

  • Facebook Live

  • YouTube Upload

  • Instagram Reels

  • Blog Embedding

  • Email Marketing

This maximizes content ROI.


Estimated Results You Can Expect

Many marketers report:

  • 2x higher engagement

  • 30-50% increase in reach

  • More audience interaction

  • Increased brand trust


Final Thoughts

Learning how to live stream recorded videos is one of the smartest social media marketing strategies today. It saves time, increases reach, and allows you to maintain consistent audience engagement without creating new content daily.

If you are just starting, OBS Studio is the best free solution. Once you grow, you can explore advanced tools like OneStream or Restream.

Start experimenting today and you will quickly see how powerful prerecorded live streaming can be for your brand growth.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it allowed to live stream recorded videos on Facebook?

Yes, Facebook allows prerecorded live streaming as long as you follow platform guidelines and do not mislead viewers.

2. Is OBS completely free?

Yes, OBS Studio is 100% free and open-source streaming software.

3. Can viewers know if my live video is recorded?

Usually not, unless you mention it. However, transparency is recommended for audience trust.

4. Can I schedule recorded live streams?

Yes, tools like OneStream and Restream allow scheduling. OBS requires manual start.

5. Do prerecorded live streams get good engagement?

Yes, live streams typically receive more reach and engagement than regular uploaded videos.

6. Can I stream to multiple platforms at once?

Yes, multi-streaming is possible using tools like Restream.


4 thoughts on “Turn Recorded Videos Into Facebook Live Streams For Free (Step-By-Step Guide)

  1. Jay says:

    This is honestly one of the clearest guides Iโ€™ve read about live streaming recorded videos. The step-by-step explanation of OBS setup made it much easier to understand. I always thought Facebook Live required real-time streaming, but this method looks much more practical for maintaining consistency. Thanks for sharing such a detailed tutorial.

  2. wardbrayden says:

    Great article! I liked how you explained both free tools and real-world usage examples. The comparison between normal video uploads and live streaming was very helpful. Iโ€™m planning to test prerecorded live streams for my content strategy after reading this. Really informative post.

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