How to Share an Instagram Story to a Facebook Story: The Definitive Guide

Sharing your Instagram story to your Facebook story is a fantastic way to boost engagement and reach a wider audience without extra effort. This process streamlines your social media presence, allowing you to effortlessly connect with followers on both platforms.

The short answer? To share an Instagram story to a Facebook story, you need to link your Instagram and Facebook accounts and then enable the automatic sharing feature within Instagram’s settings. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Link Your Accounts: Go to your Instagram profile, tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right corner, then navigate to Settings > Account Center. If your Facebook account isn’t already connected, you’ll see an option to “Add Accounts.” Follow the prompts to connect your Facebook profile.

2. Enable Automatic Sharing: Once linked, within the Account Center, select Sharing Across Profiles. Choose your Instagram account. You should then see the option “Your Instagram Story.” Toggle this switch ON.

3. Post Your Instagram Story: Now, whenever you post a story on Instagram, it will automatically be shared to your Facebook story as well. You can verify this by checking your Facebook app shortly after posting on Instagram.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully bridged the gap between your Instagram and Facebook stories. Now, let’s dive deeper with some crucial FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see the option to link my accounts?

This issue usually arises if you’re logged into the wrong Facebook account within your Instagram settings. Double-check which Facebook account is connected. Also, ensure your Instagram app is up to date to access the latest features and bug fixes. Older versions of the app may not support account linking correctly. Sometimes, simply logging out and back in to both apps can resolve temporary glitches.

2. My stories aren’t sharing automatically. What’s wrong?

Several factors can cause this. First, re-verify that the “Your Instagram Story” toggle is indeed switched ON within the “Sharing Across Profiles” section of your Account Center. Secondly, check your Facebook app’s privacy settings to ensure that your stories are set to be visible to the intended audience (e.g., “Friends” or “Public”). If you’re using a business account, make sure you have the necessary permissions to share content across platforms. Finally, network connectivity issues can sometimes interrupt the sharing process; ensure you have a stable internet connection.

3. Can I choose which stories to share and which not to share?

Yes, but you can’t do this with the automatic sharing enabled. If you want selective sharing, you need to disable the automatic sharing feature first. Then, when posting an Instagram story, tap the three dots at the bottom of the story before posting it, and select “Share to Facebook Story“. This allows you to hand-pick which stories are cross-posted.

4. Will my story views combine between Instagram and Facebook?

No, story views are counted separately on each platform. Instagram views will only reflect engagement within the Instagram app, and Facebook views will only reflect engagement within the Facebook app. There’s currently no integration to combine the metrics.

5. Can I share an Instagram story to a Facebook Page story, not just my personal profile?

Yes, but only if your Instagram account is linked to the Facebook Page. When setting up sharing across profiles in Account Center, you should see the option to connect your Instagram account to a Facebook Page that you administer. Once connected, you can choose to share your Instagram stories to the Facebook Page’s story directly.

6. What happens if I delete a story on Instagram – will it also be deleted on Facebook?

Yes, if you delete a story on Instagram that was automatically shared to Facebook, it will be removed from your Facebook story as well. The deletion is synchronized between the two platforms. However, there might be a slight delay before the story disappears from Facebook.

7. I use Instagram Business. Are there any differences in the sharing process?

For Instagram Business accounts, the process is essentially the same, but it’s crucial to ensure your Facebook Page is correctly linked to your Instagram Business account. Additionally, be aware that Facebook’s advertising policies apply to content shared on your Facebook Page story. Make sure your content complies with these guidelines to avoid potential issues.

8. My story looks different on Facebook than on Instagram. Why?

This is often due to aspect ratio differences and how each platform optimizes content for its users. Facebook may crop or adjust your story to fit its display format. To minimize this, try to design your Instagram stories with both platforms in mind, leaving some buffer space around the edges of your content. Also, consider using features available on both platforms for optimal visuals.

9. Is there a limit to how many stories I can share daily between the two platforms?

While there’s no explicitly stated limit, sharing an excessive number of stories in a short period might trigger spam filters or negatively impact engagement on both platforms. It’s generally recommended to maintain a reasonable frequency of story posts that align with your audience’s preferences.

10. Can I share Instagram story highlights to Facebook stories?

No, you cannot directly share Instagram story highlights to Facebook stories. The automatic sharing feature only applies to new stories posted within the 24-hour timeframe. To share content from your highlights, you would need to re-share the individual clips as new Instagram stories, which would then be shared to Facebook, or manually download them and upload them to Facebook directly.

11. What data is shared between Instagram and Facebook when I link my accounts?

When you link your accounts, Facebook gains access to information like your Instagram username, profile information, contacts, and usage data. This data helps to personalize your experience across both platforms and can be used for advertising purposes. If you’re concerned about data privacy, review Facebook’s privacy policy and adjust your privacy settings accordingly.

12. How do I unlink my Instagram and Facebook accounts if I no longer want to share stories?

To unlink your accounts, navigate to the Account Center through your Instagram settings. Select Accounts then select Remove on the specific account you wish to unlink. Follow the prompts to confirm the unlinking process. Once unlinked, your stories will no longer be shared automatically between the two platforms. Additionally, this stops Facebook from gathering data related to your activity on both platforms.