How to Edit a Reel on Facebook

Editing a Facebook Reel after it’s gone live can feel limiting, but you actually have more control than you might think. Whether you’ve noticed a typo in your caption or want to change the cover image, there are definite fixes you can make. This guide walks you through exactly how to edit a Reel both before and after you post, making sure you have all the tools to get your content just right.

The Golden Rule of Reel Editing: Perfect It Before You Publish

If there’s one takeaway you remember, let it be this: the vast majority of creative editing happens before you hit the "Share" button.

Facebook's built-in editor is where all the action is. It's designed to give you a full suite of tools to trim clips, add music, overlay text, and apply effects. Once a Reel is published, the video file itself is locked. You can't go back and change the clips, adjust the timing, or switch out the music. Think of publishing a Reel like sending a final document to the printer - you can change the label on the folder it's in, but you can’t alter the pages inside.

Because of this, the best strategy is always to master the pre-post editor and give your Reel a final, thorough review before it goes live. Let’s break down exactly what you can do in that creative playground.

A Complete Guide to Facebook's Pre-Post Reel Editor

When you first upload a video clip or record something directly in the Facebook app, you'll be taken to the editing screen. This interface is your mission control for creating a dynamic and engaging Reel. It may look simple at first, but there are powerful tools tucked away in here.

1. Trimming, Splitting, and Arranging Your Clips

The most fundamental part of video editing is controlling the timing. When you tap the “Edit” button on the left, you enter the timeline view. This is where you work with the raw footage.

• Trim: At the bottom of the screen, you'll see your video clip (or clips) represented as a filmstrip. Drag the handles at the beginning or end of a clip to shorten it. This is perfect for cutting out the awkward moment before you start talking or the shaky movement at the end of a shot.
• Split: Have a long clip where you want to remove a segment from the middle? Move the white playhead line to the spot you want to cut, and tap the "Split" button. This will slice your clip into two separate pieces. You can then split it again later and delete the unwanted segment between the two cuts.
• Reorder: If you've uploaded multiple clips, you can press and hold on any clip in the timeline and drag it to a new position. This allows you to arrange your scenes in the perfect sequence to tell your story.

2. Adding Audio: Music, Voiceovers, and Original Sound

Audio is arguably half the experience of a Reel. The audio tool gives you several options to create the right vibe.

• Music: Tap the "Audio" icon to access Facebook's massive library of licensed music. You can search by song, artist, or browse through trending sounds and curated playlists. Once you select a track, you can drag the sound wave at the bottom to choose the specific part of the song you want to use.
• Voiceover: This is a game-changer for tutorials, storytelling, or adding commentary. After adding your clips, tap "Audio" and then the "Voiceover" button. You can then record your voice over the video in real-time. It’s an easy way to guide viewers through a process or add personal context without needing fancy external software.
• Sound Sync: Some trending audio clips have a "Sound Sync" feature that automatically times your video clips to the beat of the music. It’s a fast and effective way to make your video feel more polished and dynamic without a lot of manual editing.
• Audio Controls: Once you have a music track and your original camera audio (and maybe a voiceover), you can mix them. In the audio editing section, you’ll see sliders for "Camera Audio" and the "Music" track. You can lower your camera audio so the music is front and center, or lower the music volume to act as a background track for your voice.

3. Text Overlays and Timed Captions

Text helps provide context, highlight key points, and keep viewers engaged, even if they're watching with the sound off.

• Adding Text: Tap the "Text" icon (usually labeled "Aa") to add a text overlay. You can choose from various fonts, colors, and add a background highlight to make it pop. Use your fingers to resize, rotate, and move the text box anywhere on the screen.
• Timing Your Text: This is essential for professional-looking Reels. After you add a piece of text, a corresponding bar will appear at the bottom of the editing timeline. You can drag the ends of this bar to set exactly when the text appears and disappears in your video. This allows you to create callouts that sync with your actions or make words appear one after another.

4. Stickers, Polls, and GIFs

Want to boost engagement? Interactive elements are the way to go. From the editing screen, tap the "Stickers" icon in the top right menu. Here you can find:

• Polls: Ask your audience a question with two customizable choices. It’s a fantastic way to encourage interaction and get feedback.
• GIFs: Search GIPHY for animated GIFs to add a touch of humor or emotion.
• Emojis & Stickers: Just like in Stories, you can add various emojis and decorative stickers to your video. You can also time their appearance just like text.

5. Filters and Effects

While third-party apps offer more robust color grading, Facebook's built-in filters can quickly enhance your video's look. Tap the "Effects" button to browse dozens of AR filters and visual effects, from simple color adjustments to sparkles, green screens, and trendy facial modifiers.

How to Edit a Reel After It Has Been Posted

Okay, so you've hit "Share," and minutes later you spot a glaring mistake. Don't panic. While you can't re-edit the video itself, you still have control over the post's packaging. It's easy, and it can save a Reel that has a non-video error.

Here’s how to find the editing options:

1. Navigate to your published Reel in the Facebook app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...) in the bottom corner of your Reel.
3. From the menu that appears, select "Edit Reel."

This will open an interface where you can modify several key components of your Reel.

What You CAN Edit on a Live Reel:

• The Caption/Description: This is the most common reason to edit. You can fix typos, add or remove text, and refine your call to action.
• Hashtags: Notice you used a typo in a hashtag, or forgot to add a crucial one? You can add, remove, or edit your hashtags here.
• Mentions & Tags: You can tag accounts you forgot to mention or remove incorrect tags.
• Location: If you forgot to tag your location or tagged the wrong one, you can fix it here.
• Thumbnail/Cover Image: The cover image is what people see on your profile grid and in feeds before they hit play. A compelling cover can make a huge difference in views. To change it, tap "Edit" on the cover image preview and you can either scrub through your video to find a better frame or upload a custom image from your camera roll.
• Audience: You can change the privacy setting of the Reel (e.g., from Public to Friends).

What You Cannot Edit on a Live Reel:

This is where the limitations become clear. Once your Reel is published, the following are locked in permanently:

• The video clips themselves
• The background music or audio track
• The timing and trimming of the clips
• Any text overlays, stickers, filters, or effects baked into the video
• Voiceovers recorded in the app

So, What Do You Do If There's a Mistake in the Video Itself?

If you published a Reel with the wrong song, an unedited clip, or a major typo in a text overlay, your only option is to delete it and re-upload. It’s not ideal because you’ll lose any likes, comments, and views it has already gained. However, if the error is significant enough to hurt your brand or confuse your audience, starting fresh is almost always the right move.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, becoming a pro at editing Facebook Reels is about being thorough beforehand. Mastering the pre-post editor lets you control the narrative, audio, and visual flair, while an understanding of post-publish edits allows you to correct minor errors without having to start over. Always give your Reel one last look before sending it out into the world - it will save you time and headaches later.

Getting your editing workflow right is a huge part of being a successful creator, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. At Postbase, we believe what happens after the edit is just as important. We built our platform because we were tired of wrestling with outdated tools. Instead of manually uploading that perfectly polished Reel to Facebook, then again to Instagram and then to TikTok, using our system lets you schedule your content across all your short-form video channels from one simple, visual calendar. It's built to simplify your entire creator strategy so you can spend more of your time making great content and less time jumping between apps.