Facebook’s video streaming broadcast tool known as Facebook Live has been rapidly evolving since its debut. Now that some of the more broad features and capabilities have stabilized, Facebook has been rolling out ways to enhance the quality of your Facebook Live videos, including providing a ‘fix’ for that backwards text.
If you are new to Facebook Live, you can find out everything you need to know about going live in this post. If you are familiar with Facebook Live and want to learn some cool hacks to improve your video, keep reading.
How to Edit your Facebook Live View
When you click to start your next Facebook Live stream on your smartphone, notice the magic wand icon in the bottom left corner. Tap on that to bring you to some video editing and customization tools.
The hack I’m most excited about I learned in Molly Mahoney’s Facebook group, and member Sara Campbell. Have you ever watched a video where you see the person on camera holding up a sign that’s backwards to you as a viewer? There’s a way to fix that backwards text on your Facebook Live videos. You can now horizontally flip the screen for your Facebook Live stream so that doesn’t happen when people watch your videos.
The horizontal and vertical flip functions – plus the brightness button – are located under the Tools icon (screwdriver and wrench) located at the bottom of your screen. Granted these particular photos are with a forward-facing camera, but both flip features work when you have your camera in selfie mode, too.
If you’re in a creative – or funny – mood when you go live, you might check out the frames, masks, and other design features Facebook provides to you. All options are accessed from the menu on the bottom of your screen.
You can choose a color of ink and use your finger to write or draw on your screen, too. This feature is found by tapping on the pencil icon.
The icon at the bottom left that looks like a donut provides you with several filter options for your screen.
Given the importance & focus of live video for Facebook, I’d expect these features and functionalities to continue to grow.
Going Live in your Facebook Group on Mobile
If you’ve connected your Facebook Group to your Facebook Page, there’s now an extra step required for going Live inside as your Group as yourself (instead of as your Page). Here’s what you need to do if you are going Live on mobile. Click on the down arrow located next to your Page name. You’ll then be taken to a screen where you choose if you are going to publish your Live as yourself or as your Page.
The longer Facebook Live is around, the more it will evolve. What other Facebook Live hacks do you use?
What about Android?
Hey Joe! Sorry, I don’t have an Android so I can’t help. Thanks!
Thank you for showing me how to ‘horizontally flip’ my FB Live videos! I just ordered and put up new signs with my logos and discovered my first video had them showing backwards—aaahhh! Now I’ve got the note to self to fix that in my set up before I go Live. Much appreciated!
For some reason, I don’t seem to have the tool icon on my screen. I have the magic wand and when I press that it brings up the other icons but the tool icon is off my screen and I can’t get to it. Any help you can give me to find that would be greatly appreciated
Hi Judy,
Facebook made a few layout changes recently, now that they are trying to incorporate branded (Snapchat-like) filters into their Lives. If you tap on the star wand located in the bottom left corner, it will reveal a row of options, including the wrench/screwdriver tool which lets you flip the text. Thanks!
Unfortunately, I still do not have the wrench tool you are describing. I have the latest update on both my Google Pixel phone and my Facebook App. I click on the wand, then get a row of those goofy mask options, but no wrench. Nothing in the settings either. Any other ideas?
Hi Amy,
I’m not sure about the Google Pixel phone and how the FB app may work on that phone. Do you see the magic wand icon? Try tapping that and see if you can locate additional icons/features within that area. Also, when you are looking at the icons at the bottom, can you scroll either to the right or left? I went live on my phone as recently as yesterday, and I still had the wrench as one of my icons, but I also could scroll over to the right for more icons. Hope this helps!
I have the same issues. Tap the wand, have all the other icons but no tool icon. I am unable to flip the screen for my business Lives. Keep googling but everyone says the wrench tool icon. Doesn’t do any good if I don’t have any.
Hi Claudia! What smart phone do you have? Also, do you have the latest update for your Facebook app? Can you take a screenshot of what your choices look like and email me at Info(at)EliRose.com? I’m curious to see what it is that’s on your screen. Thanks!
I have the Samsung note9. I got it especially for doing Lives for my business lol. I did all Facebook updates. Then finally deleted and reinstalled Facebook. Still nothing. Someone said it was an Android issue right now.
Facebook is very anti-Android for some reason. As of now, I have found NOTHING to fix the issue. I have a Samsung Galaxy 9+ and LOVE IT. I just wish I could get rid of that FRUSTRATING mirror image issue from my videos.