How to go live with a friend on Instagram

In this brief tutorial, we’ll show you how simple it is to go live with a friend on Instagram for a cool hangout session.

Instagram app icon with a Live icon under it

In addition to going live alone on Instagram, you can also add up to three guests, and then you all will be the host of that single live stream. This is a handy way to collaborate with friends and fellow creators.

Before you begin, make sure the guest with whom you want to co-host is following you (the original broadcaster). Secondly, all the hosts must have a fast and reliable internet connection, or else the experience gets laggy.

How to live stream with friends on Instagram

1) Open the Instagram app on your phone and tap the plus button from the bottom row.

2) Select LIVE.

3) Add a title for your live stream and tap the camera shutter button to start the live broadcast.

Start a Live video on Instagram

4) While you’re broadcasting, tap the icon near the bottom-right corner of the screen that looks like a pair of people with a plus icon.

5) Enter the person’s name or username in the search box to find them and tap Invite.

Invite another person as co-host for your Instagram Live

6) That person will receive an alert on their phone saying, “Your username invited you to co-host their live video: live video name you set in step 3.” They will tap this and then tap Go live with your username.

Accept request to become a co-host on Instagram

Another way to co-host with a person on Instagram: This method works if the person with whom you want to co-host is already watching your live broadcast. In that case, tap the eye icon from the top right. After that, hit the co-cost icon or tap the three dots icon and choose Go live with that person.

Another way to invite a co-host on Instagram

Once they join, the screen splits into two, and your friend pops up right below you (you’ll see if they’ve chosen to decline). Anyone who follows your friend on Instagram will be able to watch.

Your viewers can like and comment as they follow along. Like before, the number of viewers appears at the top of the screen, and comments appear at the bottom.

Your co-host can choose to leave the broadcast at any time.

Additionally, at any time during the broadcast, you can remove a friend by tapping the live stream name in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting Remove.

Remove a person as co-host from your Instagram live

After the broadcast has ended, you can optionally share it to a Story/Post or discard the video recording.

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