The basic steps to post in a Facebook group

To post in a Facebook group, open the group, find the text box at the top that says "What's on your mind?" or "Write something...", click it, type your message, and tap Post. The group admin and members will see your post in the group feed. Some groups have rules about what you can post — the admin may have turned on post approval, which means your post waits for review before it shows up.

If you cannot see a text box at the top of the group, you may not have permission to post there yet. New members sometimes have a waiting period, or the admin may have restricted posting to certain members only. Check the group's "About" section to see if there are rules about who can post.

Key Takeaways

  • The post box appears at the top of the group feed — it looks the same as the one on your personal timeline.
  • Some groups require admin approval before your post appears, which can take anywhere from minutes to hours depending on how active the admin is.
  • If you cannot post, check the group's "About" or "Rules" section to see whether new members have restrictions or whether posting is limited to certain roles.
  • You can add photos, links, or videos to a group post the same way you would on your personal timeline — use the attachment icons below the text box.

What happens when you post in a group versus on your timeline

A group post is visible only to people in that group, whereas a post on your personal timeline goes to your friends and followers based on your privacy settings. Group posts also stay in the group's archive — members can search for old posts and find them months or years later. Your personal timeline posts may disappear from view more quickly depending on how active your friends are.

Group posts also trigger notifications differently. When you post in a group, members who have notifications turned on for that group will see it. On your timeline, only people who follow you closely or check your profile regularly will see new posts. This is why groups are useful for reaching a specific audience — everyone in the group has chosen to be there.

When a group requires post approval

Some group admins turn on a setting called "Moderate posts" or "Post approval" to review every post before it appears. When this is on, your post goes into a queue instead of showing up when ready. The admin sees it in their moderation panel and can approve it, reject it, or ask you to edit it.

If your post is waiting for approval, you will see a note that says "Pending approval" or "Awaiting review" below your post. Other members cannot see it yet. The time it takes depends on how often the admin checks — some admins review posts within minutes, others once a day. If your post is rejected, the admin may send you a message explaining why, or you may see a notification that it does not meet group rules.

Restrictions on new members and certain post types

Many groups have a rule that new members cannot post for the first 24 hours or 7 days. This is to prevent spam and unwanted sales pitches. If you just joined a group and cannot post, wait the required time and try again. You will usually see a message telling you when you will be able to post.

Some groups also restrict certain types of posts — for example, a group might not allow sales posts, links to external websites, or videos. Check the group's "Rules" section, which is usually pinned at the top of the feed or listed in the "About" tab. If you try to post something that breaks a rule, Facebook may block it or the admin may remove it.

Adding photos, videos, and links to a group post

Below the text box in a group, you will see small icons for attaching photos, videos, links, and other content. Click the photo icon to upload images from your device or choose from your Facebook photos. Click the video icon to upload a video or share a link to a video. Click the link icon to paste a URL — Facebook will usually show a preview of the page.

Keep in mind that some groups have rules about how many images or videos you can post at once, or whether external links are allowed. If your post with an attachment gets rejected or removed, check the group rules to see what is permitted. Large video files may take longer to upload, so be patient if you are posting video content.

What to do if you cannot post in a group

If you see the text box but it is grayed out or disabled, the group admin may have turned off posting for all members except admins or moderators. This sometimes happens in announcement-only groups where members are meant to read but not contribute. You can still comment on posts that admins make, but you cannot start your own post.

If you do not see a text box at all, you may have been removed from the group, or your account may have restrictions. Try leaving the group and rejoining — sometimes this resets your permissions. If that does not work, send a message to the group admin asking why you cannot post. They can tell you whether there is a waiting period, whether you broke a rule, or whether posting is restricted in that group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit or delete a post after I post it in a group?

Yes. Click the three dots in the corner of your post and select "Edit post" to change the text or attachments. Select "Delete" to remove it entirely. Once you delete a post, other members cannot see it, though the admin may have a record of it depending on the group's settings.

Will my group post show up on my friends' timelines?

No. Group posts are visible only inside the group. Your friends will not see it on their feed unless they are also members of that group and have notifications turned on. This is one reason groups are useful for private conversations.

What if the admin removes my post?

If your post breaks group rules, the admin can remove it without your permission. You may or may not get a notification. If you think your post was removed by mistake, message the admin and ask. Some groups have an appeals process if you disagree with the removal.

Can I post in a group if I am not friends with the members?

Yes. You do not need to be friends with anyone in the group to post there. Membership in the group is what matters. This is why groups work well for connecting with people who share an interest but are not in your friend network.

How do I know if my post was approved?

If the group has post approval turned on, your post will show a "Pending approval" label until the admin approves it. Once approved, the label disappears and the post appears in the group feed like any other post. If you do not see the label, your post was either approved or the group does not use approval.