How to Forward a Reel from Facebook

Trying to forward a great Facebook Reel to a friend or share it with your audience, but can't find a “forward” button? You’re not alone. Facebook doesn’t use email terminology, but this guide breaks down exactly how to share Facebook Reels anywhere - from your Facebook Story and Messenger chats to other apps like WhatsApp and even your own Instagram profile.

Why You Can't Just "Forward" a Facebook Reel

First, let's clear up a common point of confusion. The word "forward" is a classic email and messaging term that implies sending an exact copy of something to a new recipient. On social media platforms like Facebook, the equivalent action is called "sharing." While it seems like a small difference in wording, it’s a big difference in function.

When you share content, you're not just sending a file, you’re creating a new instance of that content that links back to the original creator. This is fundamental to how social platforms track views, engagement, and attribution. Facebook’s “Share” button is your gateway to every sharing option. It allows you to distribute a Reel in two main ways:

• Internally (within the Facebook ecosystem): This includes sharing to your personal Feed, your Story, a Group you belong to, or in a private message on Messenger. Facebook prioritizes these options because they keep you inside their app.
• Externally (to other platforms): This involves sending a direct link to the Reel so people can view it on Facebook, or using your phone’s built-in sharing functions to send it to apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, or email.

Once you understand that the “Share” button is your universal tool for forwarding, the process becomes simple.

The Simple Share: How to Send a Reel Within Facebook

Most of the time, you'll probably want to share a Reel with friends and followers who are also on Facebook. The platform makes this incredibly easy with several built-in options. Here’s how to use them.

Share a Reel to Your Facebook Story

Your Facebook Story is a perfect place for posting a timely, more casual Reel you enjoyed. Content shared to your Story disappears after 24 hours.

1. Navigate to the Reel you want to share.
2. Tap the Share icon on the bottom right of the screen (it looks like a right-facing arrow). This will open up the share menu.
3. Select "Share to your story."
4. The Reel will open in the Story creation interface. Here, you can add your own touches - you can add text, tag people, use stickers, or even add music on top of the Reel's original audio.
5. Once you’re done customizing it, tap the "Share" button to post it to your Story.

Share Directly to Your Facebook Feed

Sharing a Reel to your Feed makes it a more permanent post on your profile. It's a great way to show something to all your friends or followers that aligns with the content you typically post.

1. On the Reel you want to share, tap the Share icon.
2. In the share menu that pops up, you’ll see an option to "Share now (Friends)." Tapping this will immediately post the Reel to your Feed with your default privacy setting.
3. Optional but recommended: Instead of a quick share, tap the Facebook News Feed option or the text box where it says "Say something about this..." This lets you add your own caption or commentary before posting. This is your chance to add context, ask a question, or explain why you're sharing it, which leads to much higher engagement.
4. After writing your caption, check your audience settings (you can choose Public, Friends, etc.) and tap "Post."

Send a Reel in Messenger

If you have a specific person or group chat in mind, Messenger is the most direct way to share a Reel.

1. Tap the Share icon on the Reel.
2. At the bottom of the share menu, you'll see a row of your recent Messenger contacts and groups. You can tap "Send" next to any of their names to send it instantly.
3. If the person isn't listed, tap the Messenger icon. This will open an interface where you can search for any of your Facebook friends or existing group chats.
4. Find the person or group you want to send it to, optionally add a message, and tap "Send."

Share a Reel in a Facebook Group

If the Reel is relevant to a community you're part of, sharing it in a Facebook Group can spark great conversation.

1. Tap the Share icon on the Reel.
2. In the share menu, select "Share to a group."
3. You'll see a list of the groups you are a member of. Choose the group you want to share with.
4. Just like sharing to your Feed, you have the opportunity to write a caption to start the discussion before posting. This is vital in groups - always explain why the content is relevant to the community.
5. Tap "Post" to share it with the group.

How to Share a Facebook Reel on Other Apps (Like WhatsApp or Your Text Messages)

Want to send that hilarious dog Reel to your family's WhatsApp chat? Facebook makes it easy to share content with apps outside its ecosystem using the Reel's direct link.

The Universal "Copy Link" Method

This is the most reliable way to share a Reel virtually anywhere. Once you have the link, you can paste it into a text message, an email, a Slack channel - anywhere that accepts text and links.

1. Find the Reel you want to forward.
2. Tap the Share icon at the bottom right.
3. In the options that appear, find and tap "Copy link." The link to the Reel is now saved to your device’s clipboard.
4. Open whatever app you want to share it in (iMessage, WhatsApp, email, etc.).
5. In the text field of that app, tap and hold your finger, then select "Paste." The link will appear. Send your message, and anyone who clicks the link will be taken directly to the Reel on Facebook.

Using the Direct App Share Options

For even faster sharing, your smartphone’s operating system can share directly to popular apps you have installed.

1. Tap the Share icon on the Reel.
2. Along with the Facebook options, you'll see icons for other apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and more. Tapping one of these will directly open that app with a draft message already containing the link to the Reel.
3. If you don’t see the app you want, tap "More options..." (or a similar prompt). This will open your phone’s native “share sheet,” which lists all the compatible apps you have installed.
4. Select your app of choice, pick a contact, and send.

The Advanced Move: How to Save and Repost a Reel (With Caution)

Sometimes, sharing isn't enough. As a content creator or brand manager, you might want to save your own Reel and repurpose it for other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. This is a smart strategy, but it comes with a major warning.

First, a Major Warning About Content Ownership

Do not download and re-upload someone else's content without their explicit permission. Doing so is content theft, a violation of copyright laws, and against Facebook’s terms of service. Always give credit to the original creator if you have permission, but the best practice is to only use this method for content that you created yourself.

For marketers looking to maximize their content creation efforts, grabbing a Reel you made for Facebook to repost it as an Instagram Reel is an efficient workflow. Here’s the general process:

1. Save The Video File. Facebook doesn’t offer a native "download" button for Reels. You’ll need to use a third-party tool. You can find "Facebook Reel downloader" websites or apps, screen record the reel on your phone as it plays, but be sure to proceed carefully and understand the terms of any tool you use.
2. Transfer The File. Once you have the video file saved to your phone or computer, you're ready to publish it elsewhere.
3. Upload to a Different Platform. Open Instagram, TikTok, or whatever app where you want to post the clip. Go through their normal video upload process using the file you just saved. You can then add any platform-specific elements, like TikTok-trending audio or Instagram Story stickers, to make it feel native to its new home.

Strategy Beyond the Share Button: How to Share Reels for Better Engagement

Knowing how to share a Reel is easy. Knowing why and when to share it is what separates passive scrollers from savvy marketers and creators. Whether it's your own content or someone else’s, sharing with intent is everything.

Context is King: Add Your Own Voice

Never just hit “Share now” without adding thoughts. A shared Reel with no commentary feels lazy. Add context! Why did this resonate with you? What does it have to do with your audience? A simple intro like, “This creator brilliantly explains a concept we were just discussing...” adds immediate value and relevance.

Give Credit Where Credit is Due

If you're sharing someone else's amazing video with commentary, always tag the original creator in your caption (e.g., “Awesome Reel by @CreatorName!”). It’s proper social media etiquette, signals to your audience you’re a community player and helps the original creator get more visibility.

Know Your Audience (And Your Platform)

That hilarious, meme-heavy Reel you loved might be perfect for your friends on Facebook, but is it right for your professional brand’s LinkedIn followers? Before sharing, ask yourself: “Is this genuinely valuable or entertaining for the specific audience seeing it on this platform?” Your share history builds your brand’s personality.

Drive the Conversation with a Call-to-Action (CTA)

Turn passive viewing into active engagement. End your accompanying caption with a question or a nudge. Simple CTAs like "What do you think of this technique?", "Has this ever happened to you? Let me know below!", or "Tag a friend who needs this laugh today" gives people a reason to stop scrolling and respond, boosting your visibility.

Final Thoughts

While Facebook doesn't have a "forward" button, its "Share" menu is a robust multi-tool for sending Reels to friends, your Story, your Feed, or any app outside the platform by simply copying the link. Mastering these options ensures that great content never gets stuck on your screen, and lets you distribute it strategically to the right audiences on the right platforms.

As social media managers, we understand how time-consuming it is to curate and share great video content across multiple accounts. For us, the biggest win comes when you can plan, visualize, and schedule everything in an organized space. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for the modern social media landscape, which is dominated by short-form videos like Reels and TikToks. This focus means you can smoothly organize and publish all your content from a single visual calendar - without dealing with the frustrating limitations of tools designed for a bygone era of text and photos.