The basic steps to post a link
To post a link on Facebook, open your News Feed and click in the text box at the top that says "What's on your mind?" Paste or type the full web address (the URL) of the page you want to share — for example, https://www.example.com. Facebook will automatically pull in a preview showing the page title, a description, and a thumbnail image. Click the blue "Post" button when you're ready to share it.
The preview appears within a few seconds of you pasting the link. You don't need to add any other text, though you can type a message above or below the link preview if you want to add context — like "Check this out" or "This recipe looks good." The preview itself is clickable, so anyone who sees your post can click it to visit the page.
If the preview doesn't show up after 10 seconds, try pasting the link again. Sometimes Facebook needs a moment to fetch the page information. If it still doesn't work, the website may block Facebook from reading its content, but the link will still post and people can still click it — they just won't see a preview.
Key Takeaways
- Paste the full web address into your News Feed text box and Facebook will automatically create a preview with the page title and image.
- You can add your own message above the preview to explain why you're sharing the link.
- The preview may take a few seconds to load; if it doesn't appear, the website may block Facebook from reading it, but the link will still post.
- Once you post, anyone who can see your post can click the preview to visit the page.
- You control who sees the link using the privacy button next to "Post" — you can choose friends only, public, or a custom list.
Where the privacy button is and what it does
Next to the blue "Post" button is a small icon showing who can see your post — it might say "Friends," "Public," or show a globe or lock symbol. Click that icon to change who sees the link. A menu will open with options: "Public" (anyone on or off Facebook), "Friends" (only people you've added as friends), "Friends except..." (everyone except specific people), or "Specific friends" (only certain people you choose).
This setting applies only to that single post. If you post a link and set it to "Friends," the next link you post will use whatever setting you choose then — Facebook doesn't lock you into one privacy level for all future posts. You can change your default setting in Settings, but the per-post button overrides it every time.
What happens when you share someone else's Facebook post or page
If you want to share a link to another person's Facebook post or to a Facebook page (like a business page or news outlet), the process is slightly different. Look for the three dots or "Share" button on that post or page, and click "Share to your timeline." A box will pop up where you can add your own comment before posting. Click "Share" and it will appear on your News Feed as a shared post, with a note that you shared it.
When you share someone else's post this way, they may get a notification that you shared it, depending on their privacy settings. The original post remains on their timeline, and your version links back to theirs. If the original post is deleted, your shared version usually disappears too.
Sharing a link to a specific group or event
To post a link in a Facebook group, go to the group page and click in the text box at the top. Paste the link the same way you would on your timeline — Facebook will create a preview. The privacy settings for group posts are different: your post will be visible to everyone in the group (or only to members, depending on whether the group is public or private). You cannot choose to hide it from certain group members.
If you're posting a link to an event page, you can share it on your timeline, in a group, or in a private message. The link will show the event name, date, and a thumbnail image. Anyone who clicks it will see the event details and the option to say they're interested or attending.
Troubleshooting when a link won't post or preview
If you paste a link and nothing happens, check that you've copied the entire address — it should start with http:// or https://. If you copied only part of the address, Facebook may not recognize it as a link. Try copying the address again from the browser's address bar at the top of the page.
If the link posts but shows no preview image or description, the website may have settings that prevent Facebook from reading its content. This is common with some news sites, paywalled articles, and privacy-focused websites. The link will still work — people can still click it and visit the page — but they won't see a summary before clicking.
If you see an error message saying the link is broken or spam, try waiting a few minutes and posting again. Facebook sometimes flags links temporarily while it checks them. If the error persists, the website may be temporarily down, or Facebook may have flagged it as potentially unsafe. You can still post the link, but Facebook may add a warning label.
How to edit or delete a link you've posted
After you post a link, you can edit the text you wrote above it or delete the post entirely. Click the three dots in the top right corner of your post and select "Edit post" to change your message, or "Delete" to remove it completely. You cannot edit the preview image or description that Facebook pulled from the website — if you want a different image, you'll need to delete the post and post the link again.
If you delete a post, it disappears from your timeline and from anyone else's feed. People who saw it before you deleted it may still remember it, but they won't be able to click it or see it again.
Sharing links in private messages
You can also send a link to a specific person or group through Facebook Messenger. Open a conversation, paste the link into the message box, and send it. Facebook will create a preview in the message thread, and the person will see the link with the page title and image. This is useful when you want to share something with one person rather than posting it publicly.
Links in private messages follow the same preview rules as posts — if the website blocks Facebook from reading it, the link will still send but without a preview. The person can still click it and visit the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post a link without showing the preview image?
Not directly. Facebook automatically generates a preview when you paste a link. If you don't want the preview to show, you can delete the post and instead type out the link as plain text (like "Check out example.com"), but then people won't see a clickable preview — they'll have to copy and paste the address themselves.
What if the preview image is wrong or ugly?
You cannot change the preview image that Facebook pulls from the website. If the image is wrong, it usually means the website's settings are sending the wrong image to Facebook. You can delete the post and try again — sometimes Facebook will pull a different image on the second attempt — but there's no may provide it will change.
Will people know if I share their link?
If you share their Facebook post using the "Share" button, they may get a notification depending on their settings. If you straightforward paste a link to their website or article on your timeline, they won't be notified unless they check their traffic or search for mentions of their page.
Can I schedule a link to post later instead of right now?
On a computer, click the down arrow next to the "Post" button and select "Schedule post." Choose the date and time you want it to appear. On mobile, this option may not be available depending on your Facebook app version. Scheduled posts appear on your timeline at the time you set.
What if I post a link to a page that later gets deleted?
Your post will remain on your timeline, but the link will be broken — people who click it will see an error page instead of the content. The preview image and description you posted will still show, but clicking through won't work. You can delete the post if you want to remove the broken link.