With live video on Substack, you can engage with an audience in real time by going live right away or scheduling a live session in advance. Currently, scheduling is only available on the Substack iOS app and the Substack website, but is coming soon to the Android Substack app.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to:
- Schedule a live video
- Let your subscribers know about the live stream
- Make changes to your live stream
How to schedule a live video
1. On the Substack iOS app, tap the “+” sign on Home.
2. Tap Live and “Right now” next to Scheduling.
3. Your device’s date and time picker will appear automatically. Select a date and time that can be between 15 minutes or three months from now. Tap “Save”.
4. You’ll see a confirmation message that your live video has been scheduled for a future time.
More information can be found in our Getting Started with Live Video guide here.
Starting your scheduled live video
The window to start your scheduled live video opens 15 minutes before your stream is scheduled to begin. There are three ways you can start your live video within the 15-minute start window:
1. Open your Substack app and start the stream from your reading queue (see image).
2. Tap the bell icon in the bottom right corner, then select "Scheduled Live Videos." Under the "Upcoming" section, choose the Live Video you’ve scheduled to view and start the live video.
3. Go through the regular live stream compose flow.
How to let your subscribers know about your live video
Once you’ve scheduled a live video, you’ll see a confirmation message on your device. Tap on “Share now”.
In your device’s share center, tap on “Copy link”.
Announce your future livestream by pasting the direct link in a note or post. We also recommend using this link to share your live video on social media. You can also share specific details—such as the topic, any collaborators, or what to expect—to build anticipation and encourage subscribers to tune in.
To re-grab the share link for your live video, tap on the Activity notification on the app and then the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen. Tap “Copy link”.
Your subscribers will also receive a push, email, and Activity notification about the upcoming live video. In the email and Activity notification, they’ll see the option to add the reminder to their calendars.
How to make changes to your scheduled live stream
If something’s come up and you need to change the timing of the live video or cancel it, you can easily make changes on the Substack app.
Tap on the “+” sign in Home and select “Live”. In the upper right corner, tap on the calendar icon. Here, you’ll see all the upcoming live videos that you’ve scheduled.
Tap on the event you’d like to make changes to.
- To change the date or time: Select scheduled date and time next to “Scheduling” and pick a new date or time. Tap “Update scheduled time.”
- To cancel your live video: Select “Cancel live video”.
FAQS
How do I share the link to my upcoming Live Video?
After scheduling your Live Video, tap the bell icon in the bottom right corner of the app. A banner titled "Scheduled Live Videos" will appear at the top of your screen—tap this banner to view your upcoming Live Video sessions. To copy the link, tap the three dots (•••) next to the session, then select "Copy Link" from the menu.
Are subscribers or viewers able to confirm if they’ll be attending an upcoming live video?
At this time, you won't be notified or be able to see a list of attendees. Attendees can add the live video event to their calendars as well as see reminder notifications on the app as the live video event nears.
Is there a limit to how many live videos I can schedule in advance?
There are no limits to how many live videos you can schedule in advance on Substack.
How do I add an upcoming live video to my calendar?
On the web, head to your Activity section and click on "Add to Calendar" next to the upcoming live video you'd like to watch. You'll be able to add the event to calendars such as Google, Apple, and Outlook.