How to Share YouTube Shorts on a Facebook Story

Getting your YouTube Short onto your Facebook Story isn't as simple as clicking one share button, but it’s an incredible way to get more mileage out of the content you worked so hard to create. Mastering this cross-posting technique allows you to reach a different segment of your audience without creating something new from scratch. This guide will walk you through the absolute best way to share your YouTube Shorts on your Facebook Story, plus tips to make it look native and drive serious engagement.

Why Isn't There a Simple "Share" Button?

First, let's address the elephant in the room. Why can't you just tap a button in the YouTube app and send your Short directly to your Facebook Story? The reason is simple: you're dealing with two of the biggest competitors on the internet. Both Google (which owns YouTube) and Meta (which owns Facebook) want to keep users on their platform for as long as possible. They build "walled gardens" to make it difficult for content - and users - to flow freely to a rival's ecosystem.

Because of this, there’s no official, direct integration for sharing a YouTube Short as a native video on a Facebook Story. But don't worry. The workaround is straightforward, and honestly, it gives you more control over how your content looks and performs on Facebook anyway.

The Gold Standard: How to Download Your Short and Upload it to Facebook

The most effective and professional method is to download the original video file of your YouTube Short and then upload it directly to Facebook. This guarantees the highest video quality and gives you access to all of Facebook Stories’ creative tools, like stickers, polls, and music. This makes your content feel native to Facebook, which encourages more interaction.

Step 1: Download Your YouTube Short Video File

You have a couple of options for getting the video file. The first is, by far, the best and safest.

Option 1: Download Your Own Video from YouTube Studio (The Best Way)

If this is your own content, the easiest and highest-quality source for the video file is your own YouTube Studio account. The file you download from here will be the original, high-resolution version you uploaded.

• Log in to YouTube Studio on your desktop.
• From the left-hand menu, click on "Content".
• Find the Short you want to share. You can use the "Filter" option to see only your Shorts.
• Hover your cursor over the video in the list, and you'll see a series of icons appear. Click the three vertical dots for "Options".
• From the dropdown menu, select "Download". The video file (.mp4) will be saved to your computer.

Option 2: Use a Third-Party Downloading Tool (Use with Caution)

If you’ve lost the original video file, you may need to use an online third-party YouTube video downloader. However, proceed with caution. Many of these websites are filled with pop-up ads and can pose security risks. Furthermore, you must always respect copyright and YouTube's terms of service. Only download content that you own and have the rights to repurpose. This method is a backup, not the recommended primary option.

Step 2: Transfer the Video to Your Phone

Once the .mp4 file is on your computer, you need to get it onto your mobile device where you’ll be posting your Facebook Story.

• For iPhone/Mac Users: AirDrop is the quickest way. Simply right-click the video file on your Mac and choose Share > AirDrop, then select your iPhone. Alternatively, you can save the file to iCloud Drive on your Mac and access it via the Files app on your iPhone.
• For Android/Windows Users: The simplest method is to use a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Upload the file from your computer, then open the respective app on your phone and download the video to your camera roll. You can also connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable and transfer the file directly.

Step 3: Upload the Saved Video to Your Facebook Story

Now that the video is on your phone, you're ready for the final step. The process is exactly the same as uploading any other video from your camera roll.

• Open the Facebook app on your phone.
• On the main screen, tap the "+" Create Story button.
• Your phone’s photo and video gallery will open. Select the YouTube Short video you just transferred.
• Facebook will generate a preview of your Story. Now the fun begins! Use Facebook's built-in tools to add text, stickers, music, or polls to make it engaging for your Facebook audience.
• When you're happy with your creation, tap "Share" to post it to your Story.

Optimizing Your YouTube Short for Facebook Stories

Just because you can upload the same video doesn't mean you should leave it as is. A little optimization can make a huge difference in how your content performs on Facebook. Remember, the audiences and interaction styles on each platform are slightly different.

Add Interactive Elements Natively

Stories thrive on interaction. The direct repost will be just a video, but you can layer on Facebook's own tools to invite engagement. Don’t just post the video, add a poll asking "Did you know this?" or a quiz sticker related to the video's content. A simple "Ask me anything" sticker can turn a passive viewing experience into an active conversation.

Customize Your Call-to-Action (CTA)

On YouTube, your CTA was likely "Subscribe to my channel" or "Watch the full video." On a Facebook Story, that doesn't make as much sense. You need to adapt your CTA for the new platform.

• Drive conversation: Use a text overlay with a CTA like, "Reply to this story and let me know your thoughts!"
• Promote other Facebook content: If the Short is related to a recent Facebook post or photo album, say, "Check out my latest post for more on this!"
• Point back to YouTube (strategically): Use the "Link Sticker" to send interested viewers to the full-length YouTube video or your channel homepage. A good CTA would be, "Full tutorial is on my YouTube channel! Link here."

Give Context Without Being Pushy

It's perfectly fine to mention that the content came from your YouTube channel - it helps train your audience that you’re active elsewhere! A simple text overlay that says "From my latest YouTube Short!" or "Snippet from our new YouTube video" works perfectly. It provides context and cross-promotes your channel without being an aggressive advertisement that sends users away.

The Link Sticker Method: Why It's Rarely the Best Choice

You might be wondering, "Can't I just copy the link to the YouTube Short and paste it in my story?" Yes, you can do this using the "Link Sticker" in Facebook Stories, but there's a big catch.

When you use the Link Sticker, the video doesn’t play automatically within your story. Instead, your audience just sees a static sticker with a link they have to tap. Tapping that link then takes them out of the Facebook app and over to the YouTube app or a web browser. This is a huge amount of friction. Most people scrolling through stories won't bother to make those extra clicks. Sharing the link this way completely kills the seamless, passive viewing experience that makes Stories so great.

Contrast that with uploading the video directly. Viewers see your content instantly without having to do anything. The native upload method is almost always better for viewer retention and engagement.

The Emergency Option: Screen Recording

Let's say you're in a huge hurry, don't have access to a computer, and absolutely need to share a Short right now. In a pinch, you can screen record the YouTube Short on your phone.

Both iOS and Android have built-in screen recording functions. Simply play the Short in the YouTube app and record your screen. Then you can trim the clip to remove the parts where you started and stopped the recording and upload that to your Story.

However, this should be a last resort. Your video quality will be lower than a direct download, and you risk capturing on-screen UI elements (like the status bar, volume controls, or YouTube's own interface), which can look unprofessional. Stick to the download-and-upload method whenever possible.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your YouTube Shorts on Facebook Stories is a brilliant strategy for content repurposing, and doing it the right way preserves video quality and supercharges engagement. By taking a few extra moments to download your original video file and upload it natively to Facebook, you create a seamless experience for your viewers and open the door to all of Facebook’s fun, interactive Story features.

As you manage your video content across multiple platforms, keeping track of what goes where and when can get tricky. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for the modern age of short-form video. Our visual content calendar lets you easily see where your content is scheduled - whether it's a Short on YouTube, a Reel on Instagram, or a Story on Facebook. You can upload your video file once and schedule it everywhere, saving you the headache of constantly transferring files and logging into different apps. We think a clean, reliable tool helps you focus on what really matters: making great content.