How to Make a Facebook Post Shareable on Mobile

Ever create a fantastic Facebook post, only to realize your friends and followers on mobile can't find the Share button? It's a common frustration, but the fix is usually quite simple. This guide will walk you through the technical steps to make any post shareable on mobile and, more importantly, share the strategic secrets to crafting content that people are genuinely excited to pass along to their own networks.

Why Isn't My Facebook Post Shareable? The Privacy Setting You Need to Know

If you take away just one thing from this article, let it be this: a post's shareability is almost always tied to its audience setting. When a post lacks a Share button, it's not a bug or a glitch, it's a privacy feature working exactly as intended. Facebook gives you granular control over who sees your content, and the Share button is directly tied to that choice.

Here's a quick breakdown of the most common audience settings and what they mean for sharing:

• Public: This is the golden ticket. When your post is set to Public, anyone - whether they are on your friends list or not - can see it and share it. This adds the Share button for all viewers.
• Friends: This is the default for most personal profiles. Only your direct connections can see the post. While your friends can still share it, the post will only be visible to a limited audience (friends of friends), and someone outside this network won't see a share option. This severely limits its viral potential.
• Friends except...: This setting allows you to hide a post from specific people on your friends list. Because it's a restricted list, it is not publicly shareable.
• Specific friends: You're showing your post to a handpicked group of people. Like the above, it can't be shared publicly.
• Only me: This is your private diary. Nobody else can see it, and there's no way to share it.

To put it simply, for a post to be truly and universally shareable, its audience must be set to Public. This allows anyone who sees it on their feed to easily click "Share" and broadcast it to their own audience, which is how great content spreads across the platform.

How to Make a Post Shareable on Mobile (Step-by-Step)

Fixing this on the Facebook mobile app takes just a few taps. Whether you're creating a new post from scratch or need to fix one that's already live, the process is straightforward.

Making a New Post Shareable

When you're creating a post, getting the audience right from the start is the easiest way to go. Here's how:

1. Open the Facebook app and tap on the "What's on your mind?" field at the top of your home feed.
2. Beneath your profile name, you'll see a button that shows the current audience setting (it will likely say "Friends"). Tap this button.
3. On the "Select Audience" screen, choose Public. A checkmark will appear next to it.
4. Tap "Done" in the top right corner to save your selection.
5. Now, compose the rest of your post with your photos, videos, or text. When you hit "Post," it will be live with the Share button visible to everyone.

You can also change your entire account's default audience setting to "Public," so all your future posts will be shareable without you having to change it every time.

To do so, navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Profile Settings > Privacy. Then, under "Your Activity," tap on "Who can see your future posts?" and select Public. It’s a good idea to restart your Facebook application to ensure the new setting applies to all your future posts.

Changing an Existing Post to Be Shareable

Realized you forgot to set a post to Public after you published it? No problem. It's an easy edit.

1. Find the post you want to edit on your profile, page, or group.
2. Tap the three horizontal dots icon (...) in the top-right corner of the post itself.
3. From the menu that appears, tap "Edit audience." (On some versions, this might say "Edit Privacy.")
4. Just like before, select Public from the list of options.

The post will instantly update its privacy settings. If someone couldn't share it before, a simple refresh of their screen will make the Share button appear.

A Quick Note for Facebook Business Pages

If you're managing a Business Page, good news: virtually all of your posts are Public by default. That's the whole point of a business presence on the platform. However, if people are still having trouble seeing or sharing your content, it could be due to page-level restrictions. Head to your Page's Settings and check for any "Visitor Restrictions," such as age or country limitations. These can block certain users from seeing your content, effectively making it non-shareable for them.

Beyond the Button: How to Create Content People *Actually Want* to Share

Making a post technically shareable is only half the battle. The other half is making it psychologically shareable. A "Public" setting gives people the ability to share, but unforgettable content gives them the reason. Here's how to create posts that viewers won't hesitate to pass on.

1. Tap into Emotion

People share content that makes them feel something. Humor, inspiration, delight, or even a bit of outrage are all powerful drivers of sharing. A dry, informative post might get likes, but an emotional one gets shared. Think about what a viewer feels when they see your post. Are they laughing? Feeling inspired? Feeling seen?

Example: A local restaurant posts a hilarious video of their chefs trying to flip pancakes, with more landing on the floor than in the pan. It's relatable, funny, and shows personality. People share it because it made them laugh and brightened their day.

2. Provide Real Value or Utility

One of the top reasons people share content is to be helpful to their own network. If your post solves a problem, teaches a new skill, or offers a useful tip, it becomes a resource they can pass on. Think about what your audience struggles with or is curious about. Create content that serves as a solution.

• A fitness coach shares a 60-second video demonstrating the "perfect push-up form."
• A financial advisor creates a simple infographic on "5 ways to save money on groceries."
• A graphic designer offers a free set of Canva templates for small businesses.

Sharing this kind of content makes the original viewer look smart and helpful to their followers - a win-win.

3. Use Striking Visuals

Facebook is a crowded, fast-scrolling environment. To have any chance of being shared, your content has to stop the scroll first. High-quality images, clean and professional graphics, and, most importantly, engaging video are non-negotiable.

A clean graphic with a bold, readable font will outperform a text-only post almost every time. And don't just link out to a YouTube video - upload your videos directly to Facebook. Native video content, especially vertical formats like Reels, is heavily favored by the algorithm and is much more likely to be seen and shared.

4. Write Compelling Captions and Ask for the Share

Your visual grabs their attention, your caption turns that attention into action. Ditch boring, single-sentence descriptions. Instead, tell a story, ask a piercing question, or state a strong opinion that encourages discussion in the comments.

And never underestimate the power of a direct call to action. You'd be surprised how often people are willing to share if you just ask them. It doesn't have to be pushy:

• "If you found this useful, share it with someone who could use the tip!"
• "Tag a friend who would love this recipe!"
• "Share this if you agree!"

This simple prompt bridges the gap between someone liking your content and actually sharing it.

5. Run a Contest or Giveaway

It's an old-school tactic because it works. A giveaway or contest built around sharing can be the quickest way to create a viral effect. The classic "Share this post and tag a friend to enter" framework is powerful for reaching new audiences organically. Just be sure to read up on Facebook's promotion policies to stay compliant. Often, you can't require a share on a personal timeline as the *only* method of entry, but you can definitely encourage it as part of the process.

Final Thoughts

Turning on the Share button is a simple, technical flick of a switch - changing your audience to "Public." But creating genuinely shareable content is an art. It's where strategy meets psychology, combining value, emotion, and visuals into a package so compelling that your audience volunteers to become your biggest advocates.

At Postbase, we know how much thought and planning goes into crafting that ideal piece of content. That's why we've worked so hard to make the rest of the process - scheduling, planning, and tracking - as simple as flicking that switch. With a visual calendar that shows all your content in one place, we help you focus less on the busywork of posting and more on the creative spark that gets people talking and sharing.