To post a story on Facebook, tap Create story at the top of your Feed, choose a story type or a photo or video, add any text or stickers, pick your audience under Privacy and tap Share. On a computer, click Create a story, then Create a photo story, choose your audience and click Share to story. It stays up for 24 hours.
Stories are the low-effort way to stay visible on Facebook without filling your profile with posts. They sit at the top of the Feed, disappear after a day, and let you pick a different audience every time.
Here are the steps from Facebook's help centre for phone and computer, plus the two settings worth checking before you share.
Post a story from the Facebook app
These are Facebook's steps for the iPhone app:
- Tap Create story at the top of your Feed.
- Tap a story type at the top, such as Text, Boomerang or Music, or pick a photo or video from your camera roll. You can also tap Camera to take a new one.
- Tap Aa to add text, Stickers to add a sticker, Draw to draw on it or Effects for filters and other effects.
- Tap Settings, then Privacy in the bottom left, to choose your audience, such as Public or Friends.
- Tap Share.
Post a story from a computer
- Click Create a story at the top of your Feed.
- Click Create a photo story to add a photo or video from your computer.
- Next to Your story, click the audience selector, such as Public or Friends, to choose who can see it.
- Click Share to story.
Who sees your story, and where
This is the part people don't expect. Facebook says that when you add a photo or video to your Facebook story, your selected audience can see it across both Facebook and Messenger. If you've set the audience to Public, that's anyone who comes across it in either app.
| Setting | What Facebook says |
|---|---|
| How long it stays up | 24 hours, to the audience you choose |
| Where it shows | Facebook and Messenger |
| Audience | Chosen for each story, and changeable at any time |
| After 24 hours | You can revisit it in your story archive |
Because you pick the audience per story, you can share something with Friends today and Public tomorrow without changing a global setting.
The camera roll permission catch
On a phone, you can only share photos or videos from your device if you've given Facebook access to your camera roll. Facebook says you can grant access to all of your media or only selected items. It also says that if you give it access, it collects metadata in or about the media, such as the date and time, to power features like reminding you when you have new photos to upload.
If you'd rather keep that access tight, choose selected photos rather than full access. I've also written about whether Facebook removes metadata from photos if you're curious what travels with your pictures, and whether Facebook compresses photos if quality matters.
Posting a story for a Page
Facebook's steps above are for your personal story. If you're an admin or editor of a Page, Facebook has a separate set of instructions for sharing to your Page's story, so switch into the Page first.
Story or post: which to use
| Story | Feed post | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it's visible | 24 hours, then your archive | Stays on your profile |
| Audience | Chosen for each story | Chosen for each post |
| Where it shows | Top of Feed, and on Messenger | In Feed and on your profile |
| Best for | Quick updates, behind the scenes, reminders | Anything you want people to find later |
I use stories for the things that only matter today, like an offer ending tonight or a workshop starting in an hour, and posts for anything I'd want someone to find next month. If a post is doing well, sharing it to your story gives it a second push without writing anything new; Facebook lists sharing a Feed post to your story as its own option.
What makes a good story for a small business
- Use the Text story type for quick announcements when you don't have a photo.
- Add text with Aa so the point lands even with the sound off.
- Set Friends for personal moments and Public for anything you want customers to see.
- Check your archive before re-sharing, so you're not repeating yourself.
A small tip for the computer route: Create a photo story is the option to pick when you're sharing something from your hard drive, such as a product photo or a screenshot of a review. On the phone, the Text, Boomerang and Music story types at the top are the quickest way to post when you don't have a picture ready.
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My verdict
Stories are the easiest post you'll make on Facebook. Pick your audience every single time, remember it shows on Messenger too, and give Facebook access to selected photos rather than your whole camera roll unless you need it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I post a story on Facebook from my phone?
Tap Create story at the top of your Feed, choose a story type or photo or video, add text or stickers, set Privacy and tap Share.
How long does a Facebook story stay up?
Facebook says it's available for 24 hours to the audience you choose. You can revisit it in your story archive.
Does my Facebook story show on Messenger?
Yes. Facebook says your selected audience can see your story across both Facebook and Messenger.
Can I choose who sees my Facebook story?
Yes. You pick the audience for each story, such as Public or Friends, and can change story privacy at any time.
Can I see my old Facebook stories?
Yes. Facebook says you can revisit your stories in your story archive after the 24 hours are up.
Does Facebook need access to all my photos?
No. Facebook says you can grant access to all of your media or only to selected items.
Can I post a story to my Facebook Page?
Yes, but Facebook has separate steps for Page stories. If you're an admin or editor, switch to the Page first.
Why can't I add photos to my Facebook story?
On a phone, Facebook needs access to your camera roll. You can grant it for all photos or only selected ones.
