How to Share a Post on Facebook (Feed, Story, Group, Messenger)

Sharing is the quickest way to pass something useful along on Facebook. A friend's fundraiser, a local business you love, a job advert, a post from your own Page that you want your personal friends to see. The Share button gives you several destinations, and the one you pick changes who sees it. As a small business owner, I'd say understanding those options is the easiest free reach you'll find on the platform.

Facebook's help pages don't load in full outside the app, so these steps follow summaries of Facebook's help content and the share menu as it's widely described. Menus vary by app version, so your list of options might be in a different order.

Share a Facebook post from the phone app

1. Find the post you want to pass on.
2. Tap Share under the post.
3. Choose where it goes: your feed, your story, a Messenger chat, a group or a Page you manage.
4. Add your own words if you want to say why you're sharing it.
5. Check the audience and tap Share or Post.

Some versions of the app show a quick Share now option that posts straight to your feed with no comment. It's fast, but adding a line of your own makes people far more likely to stop and read.

Share a Facebook post from a computer

1. Click Share under the post.
2. Pick an option such as share to feed, share to your story, send in Messenger, share to a group or share to a Page.
3. Write a comment if you'd like one.
4. Choose your audience and click Post or Send.

Where you can share a Facebook post, and who sees it

Destination	Who sees it	Good for
Your feed	The audience you choose	Things your friends will care about
Your story	Your story viewers, for a short time	Quick, casual shares
Messenger	Only the people or chat you pick	Sending to one person or a small group
A group	Members of that group	Posts that fit the group's topic
A Page you manage	People who follow the Page	Content your customers will value

Why the Facebook share button is sometimes missing

You can only share a post if the original poster's privacy allows it. If someone shares something with Friends only, you won't be able to share it to a wider audience, and in some cases the Share button won't show at all. Here's what to check:

• The post may be friends-only or limited to a small list, so it can't be passed on.
• The post may be in a private group, where sharing outside the group is restricted.
• The original post may have been deleted or had its audience changed.
• Your app may be out of date. Update it and look again.

If the button's missing, you can still send someone a link where Facebook offers a copy link option. My guide to copying a link from a Facebook reel walks through that approach for video posts.

Sharing posts from your Facebook Page to your profile and groups

This is where sharing pulls its weight for a business. A post on your Page only reaches people who follow the Page, so sharing it to your personal profile puts it in front of your friends as well. A few tips from me:

• Add a personal line on top. Friends respond to you, not to a reposted advert.
• Only share to groups that welcome that kind of post, and read the group rules first.
• Don't share the same post to lots of groups in one go. It looks like spam and group admins may remove it.
• Credit the original poster and, where it's natural, tag the person who made it.

If you regularly post the same update to several of your own groups, my walk-through on posting one update to multiple Facebook groups explains what Facebook allows.

What the original poster sees when you share their Facebook post

The help summaries I could find don't spell out exactly what the original poster is told, so I won't promise either way. What you'll notice on most posts is a share count under the post, which means a public share isn't private. Sending it in a Messenger chat keeps it between you and the people in that chat. Your share also stays linked to the original, so if the original's deleted or its audience changes, your share may stop showing the content.

Adding your own words to a shared Facebook post

The comment you add on top of a share is what your friends read first, so it's worth a moment's thought. A share with no words looks like you scrolled past and tapped a button. A share with one honest sentence, such as why you think it's useful or who it might help, gives people a reason to stop. I keep it short and personal: what the post's about, why I'm sharing it and who should look.

If you're sharing a friend's business, say what you liked about them. A personal recommendation does more for a small business than any number of silent shares.

Sharing a Facebook post safely

• Check the source before you share news or warnings. If you can't confirm it, don't pass it on.
• Be careful sharing posts that show children, addresses or other personal details.
• Watch for posts asking you to share in return for a prize. Many are scams collecting likes.
• If you share something by mistake, delete your share from your feed or story. It won't affect the original post.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no Share button on a Facebook post?

Usually the original poster limited the audience, or it's in a private group. You can only share as widely as their privacy allows.

Does someone know if I share their Facebook post?

Often they can see the share count, and a public share may be visible to them. A Messenger share is private to the chat.

Can I share a Facebook post to a group?

Yes. Tap Share and choose the option to share to a group, then pick the group. Check the rules first.

How do I share a post to my Facebook story?

Tap Share under the post and choose share to your story. Menus vary by app version.

Can I delete a post I shared?

Yes. Delete your share from your feed or story with the three dots. The original post isn't affected.