Instagram now lets you save your live video after you've finished broadcasting to the world. This means that should something unexpected happen during a live stream, you can save the video for posterity. Which brings Instagram up to par with both Periscope and Facebook Live.

In December 2016, Instagram users gained the ability to livestream video using Instagram Stories. This let people interact with their followers in a new and exciting way. Unfortunately, live videos disappeared as soon as a broadcast ended, with users unable to save them. Until now.

How to Save Your Live Instagram Videos

With its latest update, Instagram is adding the ability for users to save their live videos [Broken URL Removed]. This will be just the video too, with "the comments, likes, number of viewers or any live interactions" remaining an ephemeral part of the experience.

To save your live video after you've finished broadcasting, just click Save in the top-right-hand corner of the screen. After saving, click Done. The video will then disappear from the Instagram app, but be saved to the camera roll on your phone.

Live videos will not be saved by default, and only the person broadcasting will have the option to save it. Unfortunately, this means you have to remember to save it as soon as you finish broadcasting or that particular video will be lost forever. However good it may be.

A Small But Significant Improvement

This is a small but significant improvement to the way Instagram handles live video. Some users clearly want to save their live streams, so giving them that option is a no-brainer. However, by making it an optional extra rather than the default, Instagram is putting the power in the hands of its users. Which is always welcome.

The ability to save your live video streams is rolling out right now as part of Instagram v10.12 on Android and on iOS.

Do you use Instagram? Have you ever streamed live using the app? If so, have you wanted the ability to save your live video after broadcast? Should Instagram save live videos by default? Should anyone have the ability to save videos? Please let us know in the comments below!