Facebook does not show you a list of who shared your post
When someone shares your post on Facebook, you cannot pull up a complete list of their names the way you can see who liked or commented. Facebook removed this feature years ago and has not brought it back. You will see a share count on your post — a number telling you how many times it was shared — but not the identities of the people who did it.
What you can do instead is search for your own post in the feeds of people you suspect shared it, or ask them directly. You can also adjust your privacy settings so fewer people can share your posts in the first place, or turn off sharing entirely for posts you want to keep private.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook shows you how many times a post was shared but not who shared it, and this information is not available anywhere in your settings or activity log.
- You can see shares from your own friends by visiting their profiles and scrolling through their posts, or by asking them directly.
- Turning off sharing for a specific post prevents anyone from resharing it, and you can change this setting after you publish.
- Adjusting your default privacy settings lets you control whether friends, friends of friends, or only you can share your posts going forward.
Where the share count appears on your post
When you publish a post, Facebook displays engagement metrics below it: the number of reactions, comments, and shares. The share count looks like a small icon with two arrows or a box, followed by a number. Clicking on that number or icon does not open a list of names — it straightforward shows you the total count has increased.
If you want to find out who shared your post, you have to do the work yourself. Start by checking the profiles of people you know well or people who engage with your posts regularly. Visit their profile, scroll through their recent posts, and look for your content. If they shared it, it will appear on their timeline with a note saying something like "Shared a post from [Your Name]."
Asking people directly if they shared your post
The most straightforward way to know who shared something is to ask. If you notice your post got a lot of engagement or reached people you do not normally connect with, you can message someone you think might have shared it and ask directly. Most people will tell you if they did.
This approach also gives you a chance to thank them if they shared something you wanted to spread, or to ask them to take it down if they shared something you later regretted posting. Facebook does not give you the power to remove someone else's share of your post, but you can ask them to delete it, and most people will if you explain why.
Turning off sharing for posts you want to keep private
When you create a post, you can disable sharing before you publish it. Click on the privacy icon (usually a globe, lock, or people icon) at the top of the compose box. A menu will appear with options like "Public," "Friends," or "Only Me." Below those main options, you will see a checkbox or toggle that says "Allow others to share your post on their timeline" or similar wording. Uncheck or turn off that option.
Once you publish a post with sharing disabled, no one can reshare it. If you already published a post and want to turn off sharing now, you can edit it. Click the three dots in the top right corner of your post, select "Edit Post," and then adjust the sharing setting. The change takes effect when ready, and anyone who already shared it will have their share removed from their timeline.
Changing your default sharing settings for all future posts
Instead of disabling sharing one post at a time, you can change your account settings so that sharing is off by default for everything you post. Go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy. Scroll down to "Who can see your posts?" and look for an option about sharing. The exact wording varies, but it controls whether people can reshare your content.
You can also limit who can share your posts by changing who can see them in the first place. If you set a post to "Friends Only," only your friends will see it and only your friends can share it. If you set it to "Only Me," no one else can see it or share it. These settings explore to individual posts, but you can also set a default privacy level for all future posts in the same Privacy menu.
Understanding why Facebook removed the share list feature
Facebook used to show you exactly who shared your posts, similar to how it shows you who liked or commented. The company removed this feature because it created privacy concerns. When people reshare something, they often do it without thinking about whether the original poster wants to know who is spreading their content. Showing a public list of sharers made some people uncomfortable, and it could be used to track or target people based on what they reshare.
The current system — showing only a count, not names — is a compromise. You know your post was shared, but you do not get a list of people to contact or monitor. If you need to know who shared something for a specific reason, you have to ask or search manually.
What happens when someone shares your post
When a friend shares your post, it appears on their timeline with a note that says "Shared a post from [Your Name]." Their friends can see it, and depending on their privacy settings, it might reach people you do not know. The original post stays on your timeline too — sharing does not move it or remove it from your profile.
If your post is public, anyone on Facebook can share it, even people who are not your friends. If it is set to "Friends Only," only your friends can see it and share it. If someone shares your post and you want it taken down, you can message them and ask them to delete the share. You can also report the share to Facebook if it violates your privacy or contains content you did not consent to being spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who shared my post if I check my activity log?
No. Your activity log shows you likes, comments, and reactions to your posts, but not shares. The activity log is where Facebook stores most of your engagement data, but shares are tracked only as a total count, not as individual actions tied to specific people.
What if someone shared my post without my permission?
You can message them and ask them to delete the share. If they refuse or if the share violates your privacy or contains harmful content, you can report it to Facebook. Go to the shared post, click the three dots, and select "Report post." Facebook will review it and may remove it if it breaks their rules.
If I turn off sharing for a post, will existing shares disappear?
Yes. When you disable sharing on a post that has already been shared, Facebook removes all existing shares from people's timelines. The shares will no longer be visible, though the people who shared it will still have a record in their own activity that they did so.
Can I see who shared my post on their story instead of their timeline?
No. Facebook does not track or display who shares your posts to their Stories. You would only know if someone told you or if you happened to see it when viewing their Story directly.
Does disabling shares prevent people from copying and reposting my content?
No. Turning off the share button only prevents the official Facebook share feature. People can still screenshot your post, copy the text, or save images and repost them manually. To prevent that, you would need to keep your posts private or limit who can see them.