To post a video on Facebook from a computer, click What's on your mind?, choose Photo/video, select the file, set your audience and click Post. In the Facebook app, tap the composer (or the Reel option), pick the video from your camera roll, add a caption and tap Share or Post. Facebook processes the upload and notifies you when it's live.
One thing is different from a couple of years ago. Since September 2025, every video posted to Facebook is shared as a reel, whatever its length or orientation. There's no separate "video post versus reel" decision anymore, and the old Video tab is now the Reels tab.
Below are the exact steps for desktop, iPhone and Android, how to share someone else's video, how to post to a Page, and what to check when an upload fails or the Share button disappears.
Facebook video basics in 2026
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Format | Facebook recommends MP4 or MOV. It also accepts many others (AVI, MKV, WMV and more). |
| How it's published | All new videos are shared as reels, regardless of length or orientation (since September 2025). |
| Maximum length | Facebook's help center lists 240 minutes as the upload maximum. |
| File size | Facebook's help center has listed 4 GB as the maximum file size. Compress larger files before uploading. |
| Best shape | Vertical 9:16 fills a phone screen in the Reels viewer. Horizontal video still plays, with bars. |
| Captions | Auto-generated captions, or upload your own .srt file. |
| Audience | Choose Public, Friends or Friends except... on your profile. Page posts made on Facebook are public. |
How to post a video on Facebook from a computer
On your profile
- Go to facebook.com and click What's on your mind, [Name]? at the top of your Feed.
- Click Photo/video (the green photo icon) and choose the video file.
- Write a caption. Add tags, a location or a feeling if you want.
- Click the audience selector and choose who can see it.
- Click Post. You'll get a notification when processing is done. Until then, the post won't appear.
On a Facebook Page
- Click your profile picture, then See all profiles, and switch into the Page.
- Click What's on your mind?, then Add video, and choose your file.
- Optional: open Video Options to add a title, tags, captions or a custom thumbnail.
- Click Post.
If you only have task access to the Page (not full Facebook access), post the video from Meta Business Suite instead.
How to post a video from the Facebook app
The app gives you two starting points. Both end up as a reel.
From the composer
- Open Facebook and tap What's on your mind?
- Tap Photo/video and select the clip from your camera roll.
- Tap Next, write your caption and check the audience.
- Tap Post or Share.
From the Reel creator
- Tap the + (create) button or the Reel option near the composer.
- Record a new clip or pick one or more from your gallery.
- Trim it, add music, text, effects or a voiceover. Multi-clip edits, music and effects need the app rather than a computer.
- Tap Next, add a description and hashtags, pick your audience and whether to allow remixing.
- Tap Share.
Button names move around between app versions and between iPhone and Android, but the flow is the same: pick the video, edit, describe, choose the audience, share.
How to share someone else's video on Facebook
Under any video you're allowed to share, tap or click Share. The options you see depend on your device and the video's privacy settings, but they usually include:
| Option | Where it goes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Share now / Share to Feed | Your profile and your friends' feeds | Quick reshare, with or without your own comment |
| Share to your story | Your Story for 24 hours | Casual sharing that doesn't stay on your profile |
| Send in Messenger | A private chat | Sending to one person or a small group |
| Share to a group | A group you belong to | Videos that fit a community's topic |
| Share to a Page | A Page you manage | Reposting relevant content for your audience |
| Copy link | Your clipboard | Sharing in other apps, email or a website |
When you reshare, add a line saying why you're sharing it. A bare reshare gives your friends no reason to stop scrolling; one sentence of context does.
Schedule Facebook videos with ViralFarm
Posting from your phone works for one video. If you publish several a week, a scheduler saves the back-and-forth. ViralFarm schedules videos to your Facebook Page and lets you send the same clip to Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and other channels with a different caption for each. You see everything on one calendar and can still hit Publish now when something is time-sensitive.
ViralFarm publishes to Facebook Pages, not personal profiles. Meta only allows outside apps to post to Pages. The Free plan includes 2 channels and 20 posts a month, no card needed.
Make your Facebook video easier to watch
Plan for sound off
Plenty of people scroll with sound off. Add captions: on a computer, open Video Options and choose auto-generated captions, or upload your own .srt file for full control over wording and timing.
Pick a thumbnail on purpose
Video Options also lets you choose a suggested thumbnail, pick a frame from the video, or upload your own image. A clear face or a readable line of text beats a random motion-blurred frame.
Lead with the point
Since videos now land in the Reels viewer, the first seconds decide whether someone keeps watching. Open with the result, the question or the most interesting moment, then explain.
Shoot vertical when you can
A 9:16 video fills the screen in the Reels viewer. If you only have horizontal footage, add a caption or title in the empty space so the frame doesn't look half-empty.
Write a caption that adds something
Use the description to give context the video doesn't, ask a question, or add a link. If you want a bold headline in the caption, the Facebook font generator converts plain text into Unicode styles you can paste in.
What to do when Facebook won't upload or share a video
The upload fails or gets stuck
- Convert the file to MP4 or MOV if it's in an unusual format.
- Check the length and size against the limits in the table above. Compress very large files.
- Update your browser or the app, and switch to a stronger connection (Wi-Fi is best).
- Don't upload the same file again and again. Facebook's own help notes that re-adding it won't speed things up. If processing takes more than a few hours, report a problem.
The Share button is missing
The person who posted the video controls who can reshare it. If a video is shared with Friends only, or posted in a private group, you may not see a Share option at all. Copy the link instead, or ask the owner to share it more widely.
Friends can't see the video I shared
Sharing doesn't widen the original audience. If the owner shared it with their friends only, your friends who aren't on that list won't be able to watch it.
My reel is muted
If music rights for a song change, Facebook can mute the reel and stop recommending it. You can replace the music on a muted reel from the Facebook app.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my Facebook video post as a reel?
Since September 2025, Facebook shares all new videos as reels, whatever the length or orientation. Earlier videos weren't changed.
How long can a Facebook video be?
Facebook's help center lists 240 minutes as the maximum length. When Meta merged videos into Reels it also removed the old short length cap on reels.
Can I schedule a video on Facebook?
Yes, for Pages. Create the post or reel in Meta Business Suite and set a date and time, or use a scheduler such as ViralFarm. Regular personal profiles don't have a built-in scheduler. Our guide on how to schedule Facebook posts has the full steps.
Can I add captions to a Facebook video?
Yes. On a computer, open Video Options when uploading or editing, then turn on auto-generated captions or upload an .srt file.
How do I share a Facebook video in another app?
Tap Share under the video and choose Copy link, then paste it wherever you like. On phones, the share menu may also offer other installed apps directly.
Can I download my own reel from Facebook?
Yes. The Facebook app for iPhone and Android has an option to download your own reels to your device, which is handy for reposting elsewhere.
Ready to plan your Facebook videos a week at a time? Start free — no credit card required.