If you’ve recently started using Reels on Instagram but are wondering why they don’t show up when you share them to Facebook, there are a few potential reasons for this.
Facebook Currently Doesn’t Support Instagram Reels
The main reason Reels don’t show up on Facebook is that Facebook does not currently support the sharing of Instagram Reels natively. While you can share Reels to Stories on Facebook, if you attempt to share a Reel directly to your Facebook feed, it will not appear as a Reel.
Instead, when you share an Instagram Reel to Facebook, it will appear as a static preview image that links out to the Reel on Instagram. So your Facebook friends will not be able to watch the Reel directly on Facebook, but will have to click through to view it on Instagram.
This is because Instagram Reels utilize different technology and formatting than standard video posts on Facebook. So while Facebook and Instagram are owned by the same parent company (Meta), the platforms do not seamlessly integrate all features.
Facebook Has Their Own Short-Form Video Format
Another reason Reels are not supported on Facebook is that Facebook already has their own version of short-form, creatively edited videos, called Facebook Stories. Much like Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories allow you to string multiple video clips together, add effects, text overlays, and more.
So Facebook prefers users post that type of content natively as Facebook Stories, rather than integrating Instagram’s Reels format. While you can cross-post Facebook Stories to Instagram as Stories, you cannot share Reels directly to Facebook in Reels format.
Reels Are Designed for Instagram’s Vertical Feed
Instagram Reels are designed specifically for Instagram’s vertical, scrollable feed. The 9:16 vertical video orientation, editing tools, and features are built around that vertical content experience.
Meanwhile, Facebook still largely utilizes a horizontal news feed layout. So the Reels format doesn’t fit seamlessly into Facebook’s feed. Rather than try to reformat or crop Reels, Facebook simply doesn’t support that format natively.
Facebook May Integrate Reels in the Future
While Facebook currently doesn’t support Instagram Reels, that could potentially change in the future. Since Facebook and Instagram are part of the same company, it’s possible Facebook could integrate Reels into their platform down the line.
For example, Facebook Watch already supports some vertical video content. So they could theoretically allow users to not only cross-post Reels as Stories, but also share them directly into Watch. This would allow Facebook users to view Reels natively in the future.
Facebook could also create their own Reels-like feature that lives directly within the Facebook app itself. But for now, sharing Reels to your Facebook feed is not possible if you want them to appear in Reels format.
Tips for Sharing Reels on Facebook
While you can’t share Reels to Facebook in Reel format directly, here are some tips for sharing Reels on Facebook:
- When sharing a Reel to Facebook, it will appear as a preview image that links out to Instagram. Use compelling preview images in your Reels to capture attention.
- Share Reels to Facebook Stories rather than your timeline. This allows Facebook friends to at least view the Reel content, although not directly in the feed.
- In Reel captions, include text encouraging viewers to check out the Reel on Instagram to get the full experience.
- Promote your Instagram account where you post Reels on your Facebook page, so Facebook users know where to find your Reels content.
Why You Should Still Share Reels to Facebook
Even though Facebook doesn’t support Reels natively, you should still share your Instagram Reels to Facebook for the following reasons:
- It allows you to get your Reels in front of more of your audience and followers where they already are.
- The preview images drive traffic back to Instagram where people can view the full Reels.
- It helps promote your Instagram profile to your Facebook friends and followers.
- It creates more opportunities for engagement and shares as people tag friends to view on Instagram.
So continue sharing your Reels to both Instagram and Facebook to maximze distribution and engagement. Hopefully in the future Facebook will create a more seamless Reels sharing experience across both platforms.
Conclusion
In summary, the main reasons Reels don’t show up when shared to Facebook are:
- Facebook doesn’t natively support the Instagram Reels format
- Facebook has their own Stories format
- Reels are designed specifically for Instagram’s vertical feed
While you can’t share Reels directly to Facebook in Reel format, you can cross-post them as static posts or Stories. And hopefully in the future, Facebook will build in support for integrating Instagram Reels into their platform.
Until then, you can maximize distribution of your Reels content by sharing to both Instagram and Facebook to reach the widest possible audience across Meta’s platforms.
Sharing Reels to Facebook helps drive traffic back to Instagram and promotes your Instagram profile to your Facebook friends and followers. So continue cross-posting your Reels content, even if Facebook doesn’t support the format natively yet. This helps expand the reach and engagement for your Reels as you build your audience across social channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only share Reels to Facebook as a link?
When you share an Instagram Reel to Facebook, it only appears as a link preview image rather than a playable Reel. This is because the Facebook platform does not currently support the Instagram Reels format natively.
Can I embed Reels on my Facebook page?
Unfortunately there is no way to directly embed Reels on a Facebook page or in the news feed. You can only share them as a link post that previews the Reel image.
Do Reels work on Facebook Business Manager accounts?
Just like with personal Facebook profiles, Reels cannot be directly shared to Facebook Business Manager pages or ad accounts. Only link posts that preview the Reel can be shared.
Why not download Reels and re-upload to Facebook?
You could technically download your Reels from Instagram and then re-upload them directly as videos on Facebook. However, this takes extra time and the videos would no longer have the interactive Reels format and features.
Can I cross-post Facebook Stories to Instagram Reels?
No, currently there is no way to share Facebook Stories as Instagram Reels. Facebook Stories remain within the Facebook and Messenger apps only.
Will Facebook support Reels in the future?
It’s possible Facebook could build in direct support for sharing Instagram Reels at some point. Since Facebook and Instagram are owned by the same company, integration improvements may happen down the line.
Example Social Media Post
Here is an example social media post you could use to share why Reels aren’t showing up on Facebook:
Wondering why your Instagram Reels aren’t appearing as Reels when you share to Facebook? Unfortunately Facebook doesn’t support the Instagram Reels format natively yet. When sharing Reels to FB, they’ll appear as static preview images with a link to view the Reel on Instagram.
While you can’t directly share Reels to Facebook in Reel format, you should still cross-post them to expand your audience! The preview image drives traffic to Instagram and helps promote your IG profile to FB friends. Hopefully Facebook will integrate Reels directly soon!
Infographic Breakdown
Here is a quick visual summary of why Reels aren’t supported on Facebook:
| Reason 1 | Facebook doesn’t natively support the Reels format |
| Reason 2 | Facebook already has Facebook Stories |
| Reason 3 | Reels are designed for Instagram’s vertical feed |
When you share a Reel to Facebook, it appears as:
The Future Possibilities
Here are some ways Facebook could integrate Instagram Reels in the future:
- Allow Reels to be shared directly into Facebook Watch
- Create a “Reels” tab within the Facebook app
- Enable Reels to live natively in the news feed
- Build their own Reels-like short video product
While native Reels sharing is not possible today, hopefully Meta will streamline its apps to provide a more seamless cross-posting experience soon.
Recommended Next Steps
Even though you can’t share Reels directly on Facebook now, you should still:
- Post compelling preview images to drive traffic to Instagram
- Share Reels to Facebook Stories
- Promote your Instagram profile on Facebook
- Encourage followers to view Reels on Instagram
Continuing to cross-post maximizes visibility and introduces your Reels to new audiences. Have patience as Meta works to better integrate Reels across its apps in the future.