How to Make Facebook Posts Shareable (2025): Fix the Share Button

Can't share that Facebook post? Or maybe YOUR posts aren't getting shared? This guide solves both problems with clear, step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile.

Last Updated: October 7, 2025

✅ Quick Check: Is Your Post Shareable?

Use this simple decision tree to quickly diagnose your sharing issue:

→ Is your post set to "Public" (🌍 globe icon)?

• ✅ YES → Post is shareable, share button should appear
• ❌ NO → Follow steps below to change privacy setting

→ Is your post in a Private Group?

• ✅ YES → Posts cannot be shared outside group (by design for privacy)
• ❌ NO → Continue checking

→ Do you see the globe 🌍 icon next to the timestamp on your post?

• ✅ YES → Post is already public and shareable
• ❌ NO → Change privacy to "Public" using instructions below

→ Is this a Facebook Business Page post?

• ✅ YES → Page posts are public by default, check Page settings if issue persists
• ❌ NO → Follow personal profile instructions below

Quick Answer: Making Posts Shareable

For your own posts:

1. Click the three dots (...) on your post
2. Select "Edit audience"
3. Choose "Public" 🌍
4. Save changes

For pages:

1. Go to Page Settings
2. Select "General"
3. Find "Page Visibility"
4. Ensure "Page published" is selected

That's it! But if you're still having issues, keep reading for detailed solutions.

Understanding Facebook's Sharing Settings

Who Can Share Posts?

Facebook posts can only be shared if they're:

• Set to "Public" audience
• From a public page
• Not restricted by privacy settings
• Not violating community standards

Privacy Settings Hierarchy

1. Public 🌍 - Anyone can share
2. Friends 👥 - Only mutual friends can share
3. Friends except... - Limited sharing
4. Specific friends - Very limited sharing
5. Only me 🔒 - Cannot be shared

Step-by-Step: Make Your Personal Posts Shareable

On Desktop

1. Navigate to your post

   • Go to your profile
   • Find the post you want to make shareable

2. Access privacy settings

   • Click the three dots (...) in the top right
   • Select "Edit audience" or "Edit privacy"

3. Change to Public

   • Click the audience selector
   • Choose "Public" (globe icon)
   • Click "Done"

4. Verify the change

   • Look for the globe icon next to the timestamp
   • Test by logging out and viewing your post

On Mobile App

1. Find your post

   • Open Facebook app
   • Go to your profile
   • Scroll to the post

2. Edit privacy

   • Tap the three dots
   • Select "Edit Privacy"

3. Select Public

   • Tap current privacy setting
   • Choose "Public"
   • Tap "Done"

How to Make Multiple Posts Shareable at Once

For Personal Profiles: Bulk Privacy Changes

Change future post defaults:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings
2. Click "Privacy" in the left menu
3. Find "Who can see your future posts?"
4. Select "Public" as your default setting
5. All new posts will now be shareable by default

Change past posts privacy:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → Privacy
2. Select "Limit Past Posts"
3. Click "Limit Old Posts" button

⚠️ Important Limitation: This changes past posts to "Friends" only, NOT Public. To make old posts shareable, you must manually change each important post to "Public" individually using the Edit Audience option.

For Business Pages: Automatic Public Setting

Good news: All Facebook Business Page posts are automatically set to Public, making them shareable by default. You don't need bulk actions.

If Page posts aren't shareable, check:

• Page Visibility is set to "Published" (not unpublished)
• No country or age restrictions applied
• Individual post doesn't have targeting restrictions

Making Facebook Page Posts Shareable

Check Page Settings

1. Access Page Settings

   • Go to your Facebook Page
   • Click "Settings" in the left menu

2. Review General Settings

   • Ensure "Page Visibility" is set to "Published"
   • Check "Country Restrictions" - should be none for maximum sharing

3. Visitor Posts Settings

   • Navigate to "Visitor Posts"
   • Enable "Allow visitors to publish posts"
   • Enable sharing of visitor posts

Post-Level Settings

Even on public pages, individual posts can have restrictions:

1. When creating a post:

   • Avoid age restrictions unless necessary
   • Don't limit by location unnecessarily
   • Keep "News Feed Targeting" broad

2. For existing posts:

   • Click the three dots on the post
   • Select "Edit Post"
   • Remove any targeting restrictions

Troubleshooting: Why Posts Aren't Shareable

Common Issues and Fixes

Issue 1: Share Button Missing

Causes:

• Privacy set to anything other than Public
• Post is in a private group
• Account restrictions

Fix:

• Change privacy to Public
• Can't share from private groups (by design)
• Check for account warnings/restrictions

Issue 2: Share Button Grayed Out

Causes:

• Temporary Facebook glitch
• Browser cache issues
• Post being processed

Fix:

• Refresh the page
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser
• Wait 5-10 minutes and try again

Issue 3: "This Content Isn't Available"

Causes:

• Original poster changed privacy settings
• Post was deleted
• You've been blocked

Fix:

• Ask poster to check privacy settings
• Verify post still exists
• Check if you can view their profile

Issue 4: Shared Posts Not Showing

Causes:

• Algorithm not showing to followers
• Low engagement on shared content
• Technical issues

Fix:

• Add your own commentary when sharing
• Share at optimal times
• Encourage engagement on the share

Advanced Sharing Settings

Controlling Who Can Share

Allow sharing but limit visibility:

1. Set post to "Friends"
2. Enable "Friends can share"
3. Their shares will only be visible to mutual friends

Prevent sharing entirely:

1. Set post to "Friends" or more restrictive
2. This automatically disables public sharing

Share Settings for Different Post Types

Photos and Videos

• Single photos: Follow standard privacy settings
• Albums: Set album privacy to Public
• Videos: Check both video and post privacy
• Live videos: Set to Public before going live

Links and Articles

• Ensure the linked content isn't restricted
• Check if the website allows Facebook sharing
• Remove URL shorteners that might block sharing

Events

• Public events: Always shareable
• Private events: Only by invited guests
• Change event privacy in event settings

Best Practices for Shareable Content

Optimize for Sharing

1. Create share-worthy content

   • Valuable information
   • Entertaining posts
   • Inspiring messages
   • Useful tips and tricks

2. Include a call-to-action

   • "Share if you agree"
   • "Tag someone who needs this"
   • "Pass it on"

3. Use engaging visuals

   • High-quality images
   • Eye-catching graphics
   • Relevant videos

Timing and Frequency

Best times to post for shares:

• Weekdays: 9 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM
• Weekends: 12 PM, 2 PM
• Thursday and Friday often see higher share rates

Posting frequency:

• Personal profiles: 1-2 times daily
• Business pages: 1-3 times daily
• Avoid over-posting (reduces share rate)

Mobile-Specific Instructions

iPhone/iOS

1. Open Facebook app
2. Navigate to your post
3. Tap the audience icon (below your name)
4. Select "Public"
5. Tap "Done"

Android

1. Open Facebook app
2. Find your post
3. Tap three dots menu
4. Select "Edit Privacy"
5. Choose "Public"
6. Confirm changes

Business Page Considerations

Sharing Restrictions by Page Type

All Facebook Business Pages (regardless of category) have public posts by default:

• Business pages: Public by default, always shareable
• Community pages: Public by default, always shareable
• Brand pages: Public by default, always shareable

The category doesn't affect sharing—all page types work the same way. Only individual post settings or page unpublishing can prevent sharing.

Boost Post vs. Shareable Posts

• Boosted posts: Must be public (automatically set when boosting)
• Organic posts: Already public if from a Page, no action needed
• Tip: All Page posts are automatically public and shareable

Privacy Implications

What Happens When Posts Are Public?

• Anyone can:

  • View the post
  • Share the post
  • Comment (unless restricted)
  • React to the post

• Search engines can:

  • Index the content
  • Show in search results
  • Cache the content

Protecting Your Privacy While Sharing

1. Review posts before making public

   • Remove personal information
   • Check photos for sensitive data
   • Consider who might see it

2. Use Facebook's privacy checkup

   • Regular reviews recommended
   • Check default settings
   • Review past posts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting to change default settings

   • Check Settings > Privacy > Future Posts
   • Set your preferred default

2. Not checking page restrictions

   • Country restrictions limit sharing
   • Age restrictions reduce reach

3. Using copyrighted content

   • May trigger automatic restrictions
   • Can limit sharing capabilities

4. Ignoring mobile settings

   • Mobile and desktop settings can differ
   • Always verify on both platforms

Quick Checklist

Before expecting shares, verify:

✅ Post is set to "Public" ✅ No country/age restrictions ✅ Page is published (for pages) ✅ Content doesn't violate guidelines ✅ Share button is visible ✅ You've tested sharing yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make old posts shareable? A: Yes, edit the privacy of any past post to "Public"

Q: Why can't friends share my public posts? A: Check if they're blocked or restricted in your settings

Q: Do shared posts help with reach? A: Yes, shares significantly increase organic reach

Q: Can I track who shares my posts? A: You can see share count but not always who shared

Q: Can I prevent specific people from sharing? A: No, if it's public, anyone can share. You can only block entirely.

Conclusion

Making Facebook posts shareable is simple once you understand the privacy settings. Remember: Public = Shareable. For maximum reach and engagement, always set important posts to Public and encourage your audience to share.

Start by checking your default privacy settings now, then review your recent posts to ensure they're shareable. Your content's reach depends on it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the share button missing on my Facebook post?

The share button appears only on posts set to "Public". If your post is set to "Friends" or a more restrictive privacy setting, others cannot share it.

Can I make old Facebook posts shareable after publishing?

Yes, you can edit the privacy settings of any past post. Click the three dots on your post, select "Edit audience" or "Edit privacy", and change it to "Public".

Do Facebook page posts automatically become shareable?

Most Facebook business page posts are public by default, making them shareable. However, check your page settings and individual post settings to ensure there are no restrictions.

Will making my posts public affect my privacy?

Yes, public posts can be seen by anyone on Facebook and may appear in search engines. Review your content before making it public and avoid sharing personal information.

Can I prevent specific people from sharing my public posts?

No, if a post is set to public, anyone can share it. Your only option is to block specific users or make the post less public (Friends only, etc.).

Why can't friends share my posts even though they're public?

Check if you've accidentally blocked or restricted those friends in your privacy settings. Also ensure your post doesn't violate Facebook's community guidelines.

Do shares help increase my Facebook post reach?

Yes, shares significantly increase organic reach by showing your content to the networks of people who share it. Shared posts often perform better in Facebook's algorithm.

Can I track who shares my Facebook posts?

You can see the total number of shares on your post, but Facebook doesn't always show you who specifically shared it unless they're in your network.