Going live without properly testing your stream may result in technical difficulties, poor viewing experience, and unlikely surprises that you do not want in your live stream. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or 1000th live stream. If you want to avoid any potential issues, especially for big streams, it’s crucial to run a couple of tests.
Depending on what you need, there are a few ways to test your live stream without actually going live:
Doing a Test Stream on Facebook
One method for going live on Facebook as a test is to change the settings of your stream so that only you can see it. Alternatively, you can use a private Facebook group, which allows you to test your stream privately without revealing it to your friends or followers.
To create a private group for your Facebook private live stream, go to your Facebook page, click “Groups,” and then “Create Group.” Give your group a name and set the privacy settings to “Private.”
You can use your newly created group for your Facebook Live stream test by going live and selecting the group as your destination. This way you can ensure that your stream is working properly and make any necessary adjustments before broadcasting it to your audience.
Doing a Test Stream on YouTube
In order to ensure a smooth streaming experience, make sure you test your YouTube Live stream before broadcasting it to your audience. Thankfully, YouTube allows you to test your stream without doing a public live stream by selecting “Private” or “Unlisted” as your stream privacy.
To access those options, go to your Be.Live studio and then to your Destination window. After connecting your YouTube channel to the destination and allowing all permissions, scroll down and change the privacy settings from “Public” to “Private” or “Unlisted”.
Note: A Private live stream can only be accessed by a specific audience while an Unlisted one can be accessed by anyone that has the link.
Doing a Test Stream via Be.Live (Offline)
One way to do a test stream without going live (and offline) is to use the Be.Live Studio, which allows you to privately test your stream before broadcasting it to your audience. Simply create a Be.Live account, create a new broadcast and select “Offline Recording” as a destination to get started.
This will allow you to test your internet connection and stream quality, as well as your camera and microphone settings. Invite guests to your test broadcast to ensure that the audio and video are in sync. If you are streaming for the first time, check out our step-by-step article here.
Other Platforms
LinkedIn Live
While LinkedIn Live doesn’t offer a built-in test mode, you can still practice using the following steps:
How to Test:
- Create a private LinkedIn group and add only your test team members.
- Set your live stream destination to this group to check everything from audio and video quality.
Instagram Live
Instagram doesn’t have a built-in test feature, but you can use a workaround:
How to Test:
- Create a second private Instagram account or use the “Close Friends” feature to stream exclusively to a small audience.
- Adjust your settings, check camera angles, and test overlays or pinned comments before going live on your main account.
Best Practices for Testing Your Stream
Now that you know how to do a test stream without actually going live, here are the list of things you need to check.
- Check your internet connection:
For a 720p resolution stream, a minimum upload speed of 5 Mbps is recommended, and a minimum upload speed of 10 Mbps for a 1080p resolution stream. You can test your internet speed using online tools such as speedtest.net. - Review your playback:
After recording a test stream, take some time to listen and watch the playback. This will help you identify any issues with sound quality, video quality, or any other technical problems that you may need to address before going live. - Check your camera angles and lighting:
Make sure your camera is positioned correctly and provides the desired frame. Also, ensure that the lighting is sufficient, and you are well lit, and the colors are to your liking or aesthetic. - Conduct a dry run of your show: Perform a dry run of your live stream, including everything from setting up your equipment to ending the stream. Doing a dry run will help you identify any potential issues (not just technical but also your own run of show) before going live and give you the confidence to deliver a great live stream.
While it may not be necessary to do extensive testing before every stream, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Taking the time to test your stream beforehand can help you avoid any unexpected technical difficulties and ensure that your audience has a great viewing experience. With the various methods available, including private streams on social media platforms and offline testing through Be.Live, you can test your stream without actually going live.
Note: This article was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated recently in December 2024.
FAQ
Why should I test a live stream before going public?
Testing helps you identify and resolve technical issues—like unstable internet, audio/video quality, encoder settings, or hardware glitches—before your audience sees them, ensuring a smooth and professional broadcast while boosting your confidence going live.
How do I privately test on Facebook Live?
You can either set the stream privacy to “Only me” so you’re the sole viewer or create a private Facebook Group, then go live to that group to check everything in a low-stakes, hidden environment.
How can I test a YouTube Live stream privately?
In your streaming tool (like Be.Live), connect to YouTube and set privacy to “Private” (invited users only) or “Unlisted” (anyone with link), then run a test broadcast and review the playback before going public.
How do I perform an offline or local test using Be.Live or other tools?
Be.Live and similar platforms let you record an offline broadcast—create a new show, choose “Offline Recording,” test mic, camera, overlays, and guest sync, then download and review the recording for issues
What are the best general practices to check during a test?
Ensure your upload bandwidth meets platform requirements (e.g., ~5 Mbps for 720p, ~10 Mbps for 1080p), then review a recorded test for audio sync, framing, lighting, overlays, and complete run-through of your show to catch any technical or flow issues
