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    Facebook Reels: How to Watch and Share Short Videos

    Short videos called Reels now appear throughout Facebook. Here is what they are, how to watch them, and how to share one with friends.

    3 min read 4 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Find Reels in your Facebook feed

    ~21s
    Open the Facebook app on your phone or go to facebook.com in your browser. Scroll through your News Feed. Reels look like videos in a vertical format — they play automatically as you scroll past them. You can also tap the "Reels" tab at the top of the app (it shows a small film frame icon) to see a dedicated feed of Reels.
    2

    Watch and control a Reel

    ~29s
    Tap a Reel to play it in full screen. Most Reels loop automatically. Tap anywhere on the screen to pause, and tap again to resume. Swipe up to see the next Reel. The volume button on the side of your phone controls the sound. You can also tap the speaker icon that sometimes appears in the corner of the video to mute or unmute it.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: If a Reel has captions (text that appears over the video), those will play automatically and can help you follow along without sound.

    3

    Like and comment on a Reel

    ~20s
    While watching a Reel, tap the thumbs-up icon (Like) or heart to show appreciation. Tap the speech bubble icon to open the comments section and read what others have written. To leave your own comment, tap "Write a comment..." and type your response, then press Return or the Send button. Your comment will appear publicly below the Reel.
    4

    Share a Reel with friends

    ~28s
    Tap the Share icon (an arrow) below the Reel. You will see options to: share it to your Facebook Story, send it directly to a specific friend via Messenger, share it to your own timeline, or copy the link to share outside of Facebook. Choose "Share to News Feed" if you want all your Facebook friends to see it.

    Warning

    Before sharing a Reel with others, watch it in full first to make sure the content is appropriate and accurate. Some Reels contain misinformation or misleading claims.

    You Did It!

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    Facebook Reels are short videos — usually 15 seconds to 90 seconds long — that appear in your Facebook feed alongside posts from friends and family. They can be funny, informative, musical, or entertaining to watch. They work a lot like the short videos you might have seen on TikTok or Instagram.

    Facebook started showing Reels in 2022 as part of a push toward short-form video. You may have noticed them appearing in your feed even if you did not go looking for them. They are shown based on your interests and what pages you follow, similar to how Facebook decides which posts to show you.

    You do not have to make your own Reels to interact with them. You can watch them, like them, comment on them, and share them with your friends. If you see a Reel that makes you laugh or that contains useful information, sharing it is a great way to spread it to the people you know.

    For those who are concerned, you can reduce how many Reels appear in your feed by tapping the three dots on a Reel and choosing "Hide" or "Not interested." Facebook will learn your preferences over time.

    This guide explains how to watch, share, and interact with Facebook Reels as a viewer.

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    Official Resources

    Facebook Help CenterAARP Social Media GuideFTC — Social Media Safety

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    Facebook Reels: How to Watch and Share Short Videos — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure