There are two real ways to get a YouTube video onto Facebook, and they behave differently — here’s both.
Option 1: Share the Link (Simplest)
- Open the video on YouTube and click Share, then copy the link.
- Paste the link into a new Facebook post.
- Facebook automatically generates an embedded preview player — you don’t need to do anything else, and you can delete the raw link text after the preview loads if you want a cleaner post.
This is the fastest method, but the video plays by pulling from YouTube, and Facebook’s algorithm generally favors natively uploaded video for reach over external links.
Option 2: Upload the Video File Natively to Facebook
If you have the rights to the video (it’s your own content), downloading your original file and uploading it directly to Facebook (Create Post > Photo/Video) tends to get better reach than sharing a YouTube link, since Facebook prioritizes video hosted directly on its own platform.
- Download your original video file (from your own files, or via YouTube Studio > Content > Download if it’s your own upload).
- On Facebook, start a new post and select Photo/Video.
- Upload the file and publish.
A Copyright Note
Only upload video you own or have explicit permission to repost. Uploading someone else’s copyrighted content directly to Facebook (rather than just sharing their YouTube link) can result in a copyright claim or takedown.
Related: See why offline downloads can’t transfer to your gallery and how to export a Twitch stream to YouTube.
FAQ
Does sharing a YouTube link on Facebook count as a native video?
No, it plays as an embedded preview pulling from YouTube; native uploads get better reach.
Can I upload someone else’s YouTube video to Facebook?
Only with their explicit permission — doing so without it can trigger a copyright claim.