As you all know I’ve been really getting in to my Facebook Live’s recently. Something that has been bugging me since I started was that everything was the wrong way round when I did a FB Live with the front-facing camera. Well I have just figured out how to fix that!
What happens
I, like many others, use the front facing camera so I can see myself. You get everything setup just right, lighting, sound, tripod.
Then you realise you have something with text on in the background and it looks like this…
In case you didn’t notice… all the writing is the wrong way round!
How to fix it
This only happens when using the front facing camera so the obvious fix is to use the back camera, but then you lose all of the convenience of being able to see yourself and any engagement you are getting, so here is how you flip the mirror image back to standard.
Start your Facebook Live as usual
When you start one from your page, you need to press “Publish”
Then you press “Live Video”
Now press the tiny wand in the top right
This will bring up all the silly filters, ignore those and
Press the Tools icon in the bottom row
Then press the “Horizontal Flip” icon
Then just press the white backed close icon
and that’s it!
You will now be able to broadcast your lovely Facebook Live with everything round the right way, whilst still being able to see yourself. Just hit that “Go Live” button as usual and go create some awesome content!
One more thing though!
You have to do this every single time that you do a Facebook Live, it does not remember your settings!
One other thing…
See it action on my Facebook Live’s, every Wednesday at 12:00 GMT where I talk about WordPress, just like my page and you’ll never miss one.
Ali Heathfield Jan 25, 2017 at 10:48 am
Great tips and thanks for sharing – so easy when you know how :)
Chris Wharton Jan 25, 2017 at 10:49 am
My pleasure Ali :)
Marcia Clarke Jan 25, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Really use tip Chris, thanks very much.
Chris Wharton Jan 25, 2017 at 1:17 pm
No problem at all Marcia!
Kim Dee Jan 25, 2017 at 11:14 pm
When I open up he window to start a live I don’t see the wand, just the button to flip to the back camera. What am I doing wrong?
Chris Wharton Jan 27, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Hi Kim, at a guess you may be on an old version of the Facebook app? You haven’t told me what device you’re on so that’s about all I could guess at!
Travis Doecke Jan 27, 2017 at 2:59 am
Chris, this helpful, but I don’t seem to have the ‘tool’ icon available to me. Any ideas why this might be? Thanks, Travis.
Chris Wharton Jan 27, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Hi Travis, at a guess you may be on an old version of the Facebook app?
Travis Feb 1, 2017 at 10:31 am
Sorry Chris, I just saw this…nope I have the most up to date version 63.0. Any other ideas? It is super frustrating!!!
Chris Wharton Feb 1, 2017 at 10:38 am
iOS/Android version up to date too? Catherine below says that some people don’t have it yet, I need to see if I can find a resource that explains that and I’ll link it in the article above. But yes, very frustrating :(
Travis Feb 1, 2017 at 11:18 am
Yep, everything up to date. Pretty annoying. Maybe I’ll send something direct to Facebook and ask them to let me in…it’s worked for me in the past!
Chris Wharton Feb 1, 2017 at 1:15 pm
That’s interesting, please let me know if you get in!
Catherine Jan 29, 2017 at 10:21 pm
I have the most up to date version of the Facebook Pages App! I use my Facebook Business page to do most of my live video. I’ve followed your instructions exactly and when I get to “Press the Tool Icon”…….IT IS NOT THERE?????……could it be that just certain TYPES of Facebook pages have this option……because THAT OPTION IS NOT THERE for me…..and evidently several others….Call me FRUSTRATED!
Catherine Jan 29, 2017 at 10:23 pm
That option is available if I use my personal profile for Facebook Live……just not the business page! When Do you think it will be available for my business page?
Chris Wharton Jan 30, 2017 at 9:41 am
Hi Catherine, how strange! What device are you using? I’m using an iPhone 6 with the latest iOS and the latest version of Facebook app.
Catherine Tatum Jan 30, 2017 at 2:54 pm
I am using an iPhone 6s……I just made sure the Facebook pages ap is updated….which it is and I just updated to ios 10.2.1….which according to Apple it says my Software is up to date. I can follow all your steps and do it on my personal page but on my BUSINESS PAGE…..that tool box icon option is NOT THERE. I did more research and read a strand on the Facebook help center……according to them “this option is not available to everyone at this time.”
Chris Wharton Jan 31, 2017 at 2:35 pm
How frustrating Catherine! Can you send me the link to the thread and I’ll update this article?