You need a Facebook account with at least 10,000 followers or a verified badge to add a link to a story

Facebook limits the link sticker to accounts that meet one of two conditions: you have 10,000 followers on your profile, or your account has a blue verified badge. If you have neither, you cannot add a clickable link to your story right now — but you can still add a link in your story caption or direct people to click your profile bio.

If you do meet the requirement, the process takes about 30 seconds. You build your story first, then add the link sticker before posting. The link can point to any website, another Facebook page, or an external URL.

Key Takeaways

  • Only Facebook accounts with 10,000 followers or a verified badge can add clickable links to stories.
  • You add the link sticker after you have created your story but before you post it.
  • The link sticker appears as a small icon that viewers tap to open the URL you entered.
  • If you do not meet the follower requirement, you can still add a link in your story caption or direct people to your profile bio.

Step-by-step: adding a link to your story

Start by opening Facebook on your phone and tapping your profile picture in the top left corner. This opens your story camera. Take a photo, record a video, or select an existing image from your phone — whichever you want to use for your story.

Once you have your content ready, look at the bottom of the screen. You will see a row of icons. Tap the one that looks like a chain link or the word "Link" (the exact icon varies slightly by phone and Facebook version). A text field will appear asking you to paste or type the URL you want to link to. Enter the full web address — for example, www.example.com — and tap "Done" or "Add Link".

The link sticker will now appear on your story as a small tappable element. You can move it around by dragging it, resize it by pinching, or rotate it by using two fingers. Position it where you want it to appear in your story, then tap "Share" or "Post" to publish your story. Viewers will see the link sticker and can tap it to open the URL in their browser.

Troubleshooting: the link option is not showing up

If you do not see the link icon in your story creation tools, the most common reason is that your account does not yet have 10,000 followers or a verified badge. Check your follower count by going to your profile and looking at the number next to "Followers." If it is below 10,000, you will need to wait until you reach that threshold.

If your follower count is above 10,000 and the link option still is not visible, try closing the Facebook app completely and opening it again. Sometimes the feature takes a moment to sync. Make sure you are using the latest version of Facebook — outdated versions occasionally have missing features. You can check for updates in your phone's app store.

Another possibility is that you are trying to add a link to a story you are posting to a specific group or private list rather than to your main profile. The link sticker only works on stories posted to your profile or public audience, not on stories shared to groups or private lists.

What happens when someone clicks your link

When a viewer taps the link sticker on your story, their phone opens the URL in their default web browser or the in-app browser, depending on their Facebook settings. They leave your story and go directly to the website you linked to. The click does not send you a notification, but you can track clicks if the link points to your own website and you have analytics set up there.

The link sticker is temporary — it disappears when your story expires (after 24 hours by default). If you want the link to stay accessible longer, you can save the story to your profile as a permanent post, though the link sticker may not function the same way in a permanent post as it does in a temporary story.

Alternatives if you cannot add a link sticker

If your account does not have 10,000 followers yet, you have other ways to direct people to a website. You can type the URL directly in your story caption — viewers will see it as text and can copy it manually, though they cannot tap it directly. This is slower for viewers but requires no special account status.

You can also add a link in your profile bio. Many people put their main website or landing page there, and you can mention in your story "Link in bio" to direct viewers to check your profile. This works for any account size and is often more reliable than a story link because the bio link stays in place permanently.

If you are trying to drive traffic to a specific post or page, you can also tag that page or post directly in your story using the mention or tag feature, which works without any follower requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a link to a story I am posting to a private group?

No. The link sticker only works on stories posted to your main profile or to your public audience. If you post a story to a specific group or private list, the link option will not be available. You can still type a URL in the caption, but it will not be clickable.

What if the link I want to add is not a full website URL?

The link sticker works best with complete URLs that start with http:// or https://. If you paste just a domain name without the protocol, Facebook may not recognize it as a link. Always include the full address to be safe.

Do I need a business account to add links to stories?

No. You need either 10,000 followers or a verified badge, but you do not need a business or creator account. A regular personal account with enough followers can add links to stories.

Can viewers see where your link goes before they click it?

No. The link sticker shows only as an icon or button. Viewers cannot see the full URL until they tap it and the browser opens. This is different from a text link, where the URL is visible.

What happens if I edit my story after adding a link?

You cannot edit a story after you post it on Facebook. If you need to change the link, you must delete the story and create a new one with the correct link. The old story will disappear from your profile and viewers' feeds.