The simplest way to add a link
To add a link to a Facebook post, paste the web address directly into the text box where you type your post. Facebook automatically detects the URL, pulls in a preview of the page (usually with a thumbnail image and headline), and displays it below your text when you publish. You do not need to use any special formatting or buttons — just type or paste the full web address starting with http:// or https://.
The preview appears while you are still composing, so you can see what your post will look like before you share it. If you do not want the preview to show, you can delete it by clicking the X on the preview card. The link itself stays in your post even if you remove the preview.
Key Takeaways
- Paste any web address into your post text, and Facebook automatically creates a clickable preview with the page title and image.
- You can remove the preview card while keeping the link in your post by clicking the X button on the preview.
- If the preview does not appear, wait a few seconds for Facebook to load it, or try pasting the link again.
- On mobile, the process is identical — paste the URL into the text box and let Facebook generate the preview.
What happens when you paste a link
When you paste a URL into a Facebook post, the platform sends a request to that web page to gather information. Facebook looks for the page title, a description, and an image to display in the preview. This process usually takes a few seconds. If the page is slow to load or if Facebook cannot find an image, the preview may show just the headline and URL without a thumbnail.
Some websites control what information Facebook shows by using meta tags — hidden code that tells Facebook which image and description to use. If a site has set these tags, you will see exactly what the site owner chose. If not, Facebook picks the largest image on the page or uses a generic icon.
Customizing the preview before you post
After the preview loads, you can click on it to edit what appears. Clicking the preview card opens a small menu where you can choose a different image from the page, change the headline text, or adjust the description. Not all previews allow full editing — it depends on how the website structured its page — but most let you pick from available images.
To change the image, click the left and right arrows on the preview card to cycle through images the page contains. To edit the headline or description, click directly on the text in the preview. Make your changes and they will update in real time. These edits only affect what shows in your post; they do not change anything on the original website.
Removing or hiding the preview
If you want to share a link but do not want the preview card to display, click the X button in the top right corner of the preview. The link stays in your post text, and people can still click it, but the large preview card disappears. This is useful if you want a cleaner look or if the preview is showing something you do not want highlighted.
You can also delete the preview and then re-add it by pasting the link again. Facebook will regenerate the preview with fresh information from the page. This sometimes helps if the preview loaded incorrectly the first time or if the page has been updated since you first pasted the link.
Adding links on mobile devices
The process on Facebook's mobile app is the same as on a computer. Open the compose window, paste the URL into the text field, and wait for the preview to load. The preview appears below your text just as it does on desktop. You can tap the preview to edit it, or swipe left on the preview card to delete it.
On mobile, make sure you are using the official Facebook app or the mobile website — third-party apps sometimes handle links differently. If you are copying a link from another app or browser, make sure the full URL is selected before you paste it into Facebook.
Troubleshooting when the preview does not appear
If you paste a link and no preview shows up after several seconds, the website may be blocking Facebook from accessing it, or the page may be temporarily unavailable. Try waiting 10 to 15 seconds, as Facebook sometimes takes longer to fetch information from slower sites. If nothing appears, delete the link and paste it again.
Some websites intentionally prevent Facebook from creating previews for privacy or security reasons. In these cases, the link will still work and people can still click it, but no preview card will display. You can add your own description in the post text to tell people what the link is about. If you are trying to share a link from a private website or behind a login, Facebook cannot preview it because the site is not publicly accessible.
Sharing links in comments and messages
You can also paste links into Facebook comments and direct messages. The same preview system works — paste the URL and Facebook generates a preview. In comments, the preview appears below your comment text. In direct messages, the preview shows up in the conversation thread. You can edit or remove these previews the same way you do in posts.
Links in comments and messages are useful for sharing resources without creating a full post. The person you are messaging or commenting to can click the link directly from the preview, or they can see the page title and description before deciding whether to click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a link without showing a preview?
Yes. Paste the link, let the preview load, then click the X button to remove it. The URL stays in your post text and remains clickable, but the large preview card disappears. People can still see the link and click it if they want to visit the page.
Why is the preview showing the wrong image or headline?
Facebook pulls information from the website's code. If the page has been updated recently, Facebook may still be showing cached (stored) information from an earlier version. Try deleting the preview and pasting the link again to force Facebook to fetch fresh data. You can also manually edit the preview by clicking on the image or text.
What if the website does not allow Facebook to preview it?
Some websites block Facebook's preview system for security or privacy reasons. The link will still work and people can still click it, but no preview card will display. Write a description in your post text to tell people what the link is about so they know whether to click it.
Do I need to use a URL shortener like bit.ly?
No. Facebook works fine with full-length URLs. Shorteners are optional and do not improve how the link displays. Use them only if you prefer a shorter-looking link in your post text, but they are not necessary for Facebook to create a preview or for the link to work.
Can I add multiple links in one post?
Yes, but Facebook will only show one preview card per post. If you paste multiple URLs, only the first one generates a preview. The other links stay in your text as clickable URLs without preview cards. If you want to highlight multiple links equally, consider creating separate posts or listing them in your text with descriptions.