How to Repost from Facebook to Instagram

You've just hit post on a fantastic update to your Facebook Page and now you want that same content to shine on your Instagram grid. Getting your content from one platform to another without spending all day on it is the goal, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it efficiently. We'll walk through the built-in sharing options, the straightforward manual method, and how to make sure your content looks great no matter where you post it.

Understanding the Facebook to Instagram Connection

First, it's helpful to know how Facebook and Instagram are designed to work together. Because both platforms are owned by Meta, they have some built-in connections. However, the system is primarily set up to share from Instagram to Facebook, not the other way around. When you post a photo or Reel on Instagram, you get a simple toggle to "Share to Facebook." Easy.

Going from Facebook to Instagram isn't as direct. There isn't a one-click "Share to Instagram" button on your existing Facebook posts. This is by design. Instagram's culture is built around high-quality, mobile-first visuals, and Meta encourages creators to post natively on the app. Don't worry, though. While there's no magic button, there are still several reliable ways to get your Facebook content onto your Instagram profile.

Method 1: Natively Share New Content Using Meta Business Suite

The most integrated way to post to both Facebook and Instagram simultaneously is by using Meta's own tool, the Meta Business Suite. This is ideal when you're creating a new post from scratch and want it to go live on both platforms at once. It's essentially a cross-posting feature, not a reposting tool for content that's already live on Facebook.

If your goal is to streamline your workflow for future posts, this is the way to go.

Setting Up Your Accounts in Accounts Center

Before you can use the Business Suite for cross-posting, you need to make sure your Facebook Page and Instagram account are linked.

1. Navigate to the Accounts Center. You can find this in the "Settings" menu of your Instagram or Facebook app, or by going directly to accountscenter.facebook.com.
2. Click on "Accounts" under "Account Settings."
3. If your accounts aren't already linked, click "Add accounts" and follow the prompts to log in to both your Instagram account and your Facebook profile/Page.
4. Once linked, you can manage connected experiences, including sharing posts and stories.

With your accounts connected, you can now use the Meta Business Suite composer.

How to Cross-Post with Meta Business Suite

1. Go to the Meta Business Suite (on desktop) or open the Business Suite app (on mobile).
2. Click the "Create post" button.
3. At the top of the composer window, under "Post to," you'll see your linked accounts. Make sure both your Facebook Page and your Instagram account are checked.
4. Upload your photo or video.
5. Write your caption. As you craft your text, you'll see previews for how the post will look on both Facebook and Instagram. This is your chance to customize. Facebook captions can have clickable links, but Instagram captions can't. Instagram heavily relies on hashtags, which aren't as impactful on Facebook feeds. You can toggle between the Facebook and Instagram tabs in the preview window to write a unique caption for each platform.
6. Once you're happy with how it looks, you can either "Publish now" or click "Schedule" to post it later.

Method 2: The Manual Download and Upload (The Most Common Method)

More often than not, you'll decide to repost something that's already live on your Facebook page. In this case, the classic "save and re-upload" method is your most reliable option. It gives you full control and ensures your content is perfectly adapted for your Instagram audience.

How to Repost a Facebook Photo to Instagram

This is the most straightforward manual reposting task.

From a Desktop Computer:

1. Go to your Facebook Page and find the post with the photo you want to share.
2. Click the photo to open it in theater view.
3. In the top-right corner, click the three-dot menu icon (...) and select "Download." The image will save to your computer in the highest available quality.
4. Go to Instagram's website, log in to your account, click "+ Create" in the left-hand menu, and select the photo from your computer to begin your new post.

From a Mobile Device:

1. Open the Facebook app and find the photo.
2. Tap the photo to open it full-screen.
3. Tap the three-dot menu icon (...) in the top-right corner.
4. Select "Save to phone." It will save to your phone's camera roll.
5. Open the Instagram app and start a new post as you normally would, selecting the image from your camera roll.
6. Copy the caption text from your Facebook post and paste it into Instagram, then make edits for hashtags, mentions, and formatting.

How to Repost a Facebook Video to Instagram

Reposting a video requires an extra step, as Facebook doesn't offer a direct "Download" button for public videos in the same way it does for photos, unless you were the original uploader. We have outlined two common methods for downloading videos to reshare below.

First, the Native Facebook Video Download (When it's Your Own Video):

1. On your Facebook profile, find "Your Videos" in the left-hand menu.
2. From this screen, navigate to the video you want to download.
3. Select the video to begin playing it, then click the three-dot menu. You will find a "Download video" option there.

Method 2: Using an Online Downloader

1. Find the Facebook post containing the video you want to reshare.
2. Click the "Share" button on the post and choose "Copy link."
3. Open a new browser tab and search for a reputable "Facebook video downloader." Choose an established site to ensure a smooth experience.
4. Paste the copied link into the downloader and select the highest quality option (e.g., HD). The site will process the link and provide a downloadable video file (typically MP4).
5. Once downloaded to your computer or phone, you can upload this video file to Instagram just as you would any other video.

Quick tip: If the video contains licensed music from Facebook's library, Instagram might flag or mute your post due to copyright. For the smoothest experience, it's always best to work with your own original video files and sound before posting on social media.

Best Practices: Optimizing Your Content for Instagram

Just because you can repost content directly from Facebook doesn't mean you should. Instagram has its own unique audience, norms, and expectations. Taking a few extra minutes to optimize your post makes it feel more native, intentional, and perform better with your followers.

1. Check Your Aspect Ratio

Photos on Facebook can be horizontal, vertical, or square. Instagram, however, is heavily optimized for a vertical (portrait) viewing experience. Make sure your photos are cropped appropriately (a 4:5 ratio is ideal for feed posts) to avoid awkward cropping that can cut off important parts of your image.

2. Adjust Your Copy

Long, detailed paragraphs can work well on Facebook, but they are often ineffective in the fast-paced, visual-first environment of Instagram.

• Keep copy concise. Use shorter paragraphs and line breaks to make your text scannable and easier to read.
• Change your calls to action. On Facebook, you can say, "Read our latest blog post now!" with a clickable link. Since links don't work in Instagram captions, try an alternative: "Get the full guide at the link in our bio! &rarr,"

3. Reimagine and Revise Your Hashtag List

Hashtag usage is one of the clearest distinctions between the two platforms. On Instagram, hashtags are essential for discovery, while on Facebook, their impact is minimal and can sometimes look cluttered. When you repost to Instagram, take time to research relevant hashtags for your niche. A healthy mix of broad, popular tags and smaller, niche-specific ones will help you reach the right audience.

4. Update Your Tagged Accounts

When you @mention an account in a Facebook post, that tag will not carry over to Instagram. After reposting, make sure to manually edit your caption and retag the correct Instagram handles. Tagged accounts receive a notification, increasing the chance they will see and engage with your post, which can boost your exposure.

Final Thoughts

Now you have several methods for getting content from your Facebook Page over to your Instagram grid, from seamless cross-posting for new content to a quick manual approach when you need it. Whichever method you choose, remember to apply these best practices to optimize your content. Ensuring your posts look professional and are tailored for an Instagram audience is key to delivering the high-quality experience your followers expect.

All this manual work - saving files, uploading them again, customizing captions for both Facebook and Instagram - can often feel tedious and fragmented. This is precisely why we created Postbase. Our goal was to build a tool that makes it incredibly simple to create your content once, then quickly adapt it for every platform from a single, beautiful calendar view. You can manage your entire content strategy without jumping between apps, because we found the constant downloading and re-uploading, especially for video formats like Reels, to be exactly the kind of friction a modern scheduling tool should eliminate.