How to Share a Reel to Your Facebook Story

Sharing an Instagram or Facebook Reel to your Facebook Story is one of the easiest ways to get more eyes on the content you’ve worked so hard to create. It’s a simple strategy for squeezing extra visibility out of every video, reaching viewers who might have missed it in their feeds. This guide will walk you through exactly how to share a Reel to your Story, explore why it's a smart move for your content strategy, and offer a few creative ideas to make your shares more engaging.

Why Share Reels to Your Facebook Story Anyway?

You might be wondering if it's worth the extra few taps. Is there a real benefit to crossposting your content in this way? In short: absolutely. A strong social media strategy isn't just about creating great content, it's about making sure your content gets seen by as many relevant people as possible. By leveraging the connection between Reels and Stories, you tap into several distinct advantages that can boost your reach and engagement.

Reach a Different Segment of Your Audience

Think about your own social media habits. Some people are dedicated feed scrollers, methodically going through every post. Others are Story-bingers, tapping through the 24-hour clips from their friends, family, and favorite brands at the top of their screen. They might not even scroll down the main feed at all. By sharing your Reel to your Story, you capture the attention of this "Stories-first" segment of your audience. You're effectively meeting them where they prefer to consume content, ensuring your video isn’t missed just because someone has a different viewing behavior.

Drive Immediate Attention and Urgency

Facebook Stories are temporary. Their 24-hour lifespan creates a natural sense of urgency that feed posts lack. When followers see your Reel in a Story, they know it won't be there forever, prompting a more immediate click-through if they're interested. This makes Stories the perfect place to announce a new Reel. Think of it as a live "launch" notification that something new and fresh has dropped on your profile, encouraging followers to watch it before it gets buried in their timeline.

Give Amazing Content a Second Life

Have an older Reel that performed exceptionally well or contains evergreen advice your new followers would love? Sharing it to your Story is an effective way to resurface it without having to repost it on your main feed. It’s a low-effort strategy to get more mileage out of your best-performing videos, introducing them to new audience members and reminding existing followers of the value you provide. Don't let your greatest hits collect dust, bring them back for an encore in your Stories.

Add Context and Personality with Story Features

Perhaps the most powerful reason to share Reels to Stories is the ability to add a new layer of creativity and context. The Story editor gives you a suite of tools not available on the Reel itself. You can add interactive stickers like polls and quizzes, write teaser text to create a curiosity gap, or place GIFs over the video to encourage a tap. For example, you can ask a question about the Reel’s content, add a caption with behind-the-scenes info, or use a "Sound On" sticker if audio is essential. This transforms a simple share into a whole new piece of interactive content.

The Step-by-Step Guide: Sharing Your Own Reel to Your Facebook Story

Now that you know the 'why,' let's get into the 'how.' The process is incredibly straightforward, whether you're sharing a Reel you just posted or one from your archives. Follow these simple steps.

Method 1: Sharing Directly From the Reel Player

This is the most common method you'll use right after you've published a new Reel.

1. Open Your Reel: Once your Reel is live, find it on your Facebook feed or by going to your profile's 'Reels' tab. Let it play on your screen.
2. Find the 'Share' Icon: Look for the paper airplane icon, typically located on the right-hand side of the screen along with the Like, Comment, and Save buttons. Tap it.
3. Choose 'Add to Story': A menu will pop up with several sharing options. The first option should be "Add reel to your story" with a blue icon. Tap it.
4. Customize Your Story: You’ll now be in the Facebook Story editor. Here, the Reel will play as a video background. You can pinch to resize it, move it around the screen, and add any creative elements you like - stickers, text, music, etc.
5. Share It: Once you're happy with your additions, tap the "Share" button at the bottom right. That's it! Your Reel is now live on your Facebook Story for the next 24 hours.

Method 2: Sharing From Your Profile’s Reels Gallery

This method works well for sharing older videos you want to resurface.

1. Navigate to Your Profile: Go to your Facebook profile page.
2. Find the 'Reels' Tab: Below your profile information, you should see tabs like 'Posts,' 'Photos,' and 'Reels.' Tap on 'Reels' to see a gallery of all the short-form videos you’ve posted.
3. Select a Reel: Scroll through your collection and tap on the Reel you want to share.
4. Follow the Sharing Steps: From here, the process is the same as above. Tap the 'Share' icon (paper airplane), select 'Add to story,' customize it to your heart's content, and hit 'Share.'

How to Share Someone Else's Reel to Your Story (and When You Should)

Sharing content from other creators is a fantastic way to engage with your community, showcase user-generated content (UGC), or highlight a valuable piece of information from a fellow expert in your niche. However, there's one important caveat: you can only share someone's Reel if their account is public and they've enabled sharing in their privacy settings.

The Steps for Sharing Another Creator's Reel

1. Find the Reel you want to share on Facebook.
2. Tap the 'Share' icon (the paper airplane).
3. If the creator allows sharing, you'll see the option to 'Add reel to your story.' If you don't see this option, it means they've disabled it, and you should respect their preference.
4. When you share it, the post will appear in your Story with a tappable box that credits the original creator and links back to the original Reel.
5. Most importantly: Always add your own context! Use the text tool to add an @mention of the original creator again. Something like, "Amazing tip from @creatorname!" This is considered good social media etiquette, gives proper credit, and helps you build positive relationships with others in your space.

Beyond the Basics: Creative Ways to Maximize Engagement on Your Shared Reel

Simply sharing your Reel without any additions is a missed opportunity. Remember, the goal isn't just to post it, it's to get people to tap through and actually watch it. Here are some strategies to make your shares irresistible.

Use Interactive Stickers to Pique Interest

Interactive stickers practically beg for a tap from your viewers. Try these:

• The Poll Sticker: Use a simple two-option poll like, "Should we make more videos like this?" or "Did you find this helpful? (Yes / Definitely!)".
• The Quiz Sticker: Ask a question related to your Reel's content. For a recipe Reel, you could ask, "What’s the secret ingredient? A) Cinnamon B) Hoisin C) Magic." This gamifies the experience.
• The Question Sticker: Use an open-ended question like, "What part of this tutorial did you like most?" to start direct conversations with your audience.

Create a "Curiosity Gap" with Teaser Text

Don't just share the Reel. Frame it with compelling text that makes people feel they'll miss out if they don't click. Position text overlays directly on the Story to add intrigue.

• "The #1 mistake people make when booking flights is in this video..."
• "Wait until you see the 'before' on this project... 🤯 Tap to watch!"
• "Our biggest announcement yet is dropping in this Reel."

Strategically Obscure a Portion of the Video

This is a clever visual trick to drive clicks. In the Story editor, place a large GIF or a "Tap Here!" sticker over a key part of the video preview. To see what’s underneath, the viewer has to tap the Reel, which takes them to the full video player. This works wonders for transformation videos or reveals where you can hide the final result.

My Reel Won't Share to My Story: Common Problems & Simple Fixes

Sometimes technology doesn't cooperate. If you're running into issues, here are the likely culprits and how to fix them.

Problem: The 'Add to Story' Button is Missing for Someone Else's Reel

Solution: This isn't a glitch. It's a setting. The original creator has sharing disabled for their content. Unfortunately, there's no workaround for this. You have to find a different public Reel from an account that has sharing enabled.

Problem: The ‘Add to Story’ Button is Missing for Your *Own* Reel

Solution: This is often a temporary bug within the Facebook app. The first thing to try is completely closing the app and reopening it. If that doesn't work, check the App Store or Google Play for an update. Older versions of the app can sometimes have compatibility issues. As a last resort, restarting your phone often clears up these minor digital hiccups.

Problem: Your Reel's Audio or Music Isn't Playing in the Story Preview

Solution: Audio permissions for licensed music can be tricky across Meta’s platforms. Sometimes, the sound from a popular track won't play automatically in the Story preview. To avoid confusion, always add a "Sound On" or "Tap for Sound" GIF or sticker to your Story share. This signals to viewers that audio is a part of the experience and encourages them to tap through to get the full effect of your video and its accompanying track.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your Reels to your Facebook Story is a simple, high-impact tactic to boost your content's reach and extend its shelf life. By following these steps and incorporating creative, interactive elements, you turn a single video into a versatile tool that engages your audience across a different part of the platform.

Juggling all of your content - from creating Reels to scheduling posts to planning what you'll share in your Stories - can quickly get overwhelming. We built Postbase to streamline that exact chaos. Since our platform was designed from day one for short-form video, our visual content calendar makes it easy to map out your entire strategy. You can see your Reels, Stories, and feed posts across all your social channels in one clear view, helping you plan ahead and spot gaps in your schedule without missing a beat.