The fastest 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 and displays a preview card showing the page title, description, and thumbnail image. You do not need to format it or use any special syntax — just type or paste the full web address (starting with http:// or https://) and Facebook handles the rest.

Once the preview appears, you can edit the text that accompanies it. The preview card itself is clickable and will take anyone who sees your post to that website when they click it. If you do not want the preview to show, you can delete it by clicking the X on the card, though the link will still work if someone copies the URL from your post text.

Key Takeaways

  • Paste a web address into your post text box and Facebook automatically creates a clickable preview card with the page title and image.
  • You can edit the headline and description that appear on the preview card before you post, or leave Facebook's automatic text as-is.
  • The preview card is optional — you can delete it and share just the URL in plain text if you prefer.
  • Links work the same way on both Facebook's website and mobile app, though the preview may look slightly different on phone screens.

Editing the preview card before you post

When Facebook generates the preview, it pulls the headline, description, and image from the website itself. You can change what appears on the card by clicking directly on the text or image. Click the headline to edit it, click the description to change that text, or click the image to choose a different one from the page.

These edits only change what shows in your post — they do not change anything on the actual website. If you edit the headline to something shorter or more interesting, only people seeing your Facebook post will see that edited version. The original website remains unchanged.

Removing or hiding the preview

If you want to share a link without showing the preview card, click the X button in the top right corner of the preview. The URL will stay in your post text, but the large card with the image and description will disappear. People can still click the link if they copy the URL from your post, but it will not be as visually prominent.

You can also delete the URL from your post text entirely and type a description instead, then add the link back in later if you change your mind. There is no penalty for removing previews — it is purely a formatting choice.

Adding links on mobile versus desktop

The process is identical on Facebook's mobile app and website. Open the post composer, paste your link, and the preview appears automatically. On phones, the preview card may be narrower or taller depending on your screen size, but the editing options work the same way — tap the text or image to change it.

One difference: on mobile, the preview sometimes takes a few seconds longer to load. If you do not see a preview appear right away after pasting a link, wait a moment and refresh the page. If the link still does not generate a preview, the website may not be set up to share preview information, and you will see just the URL in plain text.

When a link does not show a preview

Some websites do not provide preview information to Facebook, so you will see only the URL with no card. This happens with certain news sites, paywalled content, or older websites that were not built to share preview data. The link still works — people can still click it and reach the page — but there is no image or description to catch their eye.

If a link is not generating a preview and you want one, try copying the URL again and pasting it fresh. Sometimes Facebook needs a moment to fetch the page information. If it still does not work, the website itself may be blocking preview data, and there is nothing you can do on Facebook's side to fix it.

Sharing links in comments and messages

The same preview system works in Facebook comments and direct messages. Paste a URL into a comment on someone else's post, and Facebook generates a preview card there too. In Messenger, paste a link and the preview appears before you send the message, so the person receiving it sees the headline and image right away.

You can edit these previews the same way — click the text or image to change what shows. The editing options are slightly smaller on mobile comments and messages, but the functionality is the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple links to one post?

Yes. If you paste multiple URLs into a single post, Facebook generates a preview for the first link. The other URLs appear as plain text in your post. People can still click those plain-text links, but they will not have preview cards. To highlight multiple links equally, consider posting them separately or listing them as plain text with descriptions.

Why is my link showing a preview for the wrong page?

Facebook sometimes caches old preview information from a URL. If a website changed its title or image recently, Facebook may still show the old version. Try deleting the link from your post, waiting a few minutes, and pasting it again. You can also manually edit the preview text and image to match what the page actually shows now.

Does the person I tag in a post see the link?

Yes. When you tag someone in a post that contains a link, they receive a notification about the tag and can see the link and preview card. Tagging does not change how the link works — it just notifies that person that you mentioned them.

Can I schedule a post with a link for later?

Yes, on both Facebook's website and app. Create your post with the link as usual, and instead of clicking Post, look for a dropdown arrow or "Schedule" button. Select the date and time you want the post to go live, and Facebook will publish it automatically at that time with the link and preview intact.