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How to Use the Facebook Sharing Debugger Tool ?

Writer's picture: Faysal JaaliFaysal Jaali

Updated: Jan 27


How to Use the Facebook Sharing Debugger Tool ?

Have you ever shared a link on Facebook, only to find that the preview image, title, or description is incorrect or missing? To resolve this issue, Facebook provides a powerful tool - Sharing Debugger. Learn how to use the Facebook sharing debugger tool to identify and fix problems with how your website content appears when shared on the platform. This free tool is essential for ensuring your content looks professional and engaging when shared on Facebook


How to Use Facebook’s Debugger Tool

Imagine you’ve created a fantastic blog post or landing page, and now it’s time to share it on Facebook. You hit “Post,” expecting a beautiful, engaging preview, but instead, the wrong image, outdated title, or a blank box shows up. Annoying, right? That’s where Facebook’s Debugger Tool comes in. It helps you fix these issues and ensure your links look professional and eye-catching when shared.


Here’s how to use it, step-by-step, with a few tips along the way:



1. Head Over to the Facebook Debugger

The first step is simple—visit the Facebook Debugger Tool. You’ll see a clean interface with a text box asking for your URL.

Facebook Debugger Tool page

2. Paste Your URL

Copy the URL of the page you want to share (a blog post, product page, or homepage) and paste it into the text box. Then, click “Debug.”


What happens here: The Debugger scans your link and displays all the metadata it finds—like the title, description, and image. It also shows you if there are any errors or missing Open Graph (OG) tags.


3. Review the Results

Once you click “Debug,” the tool gives you a detailed report on how your link will appear when shared. Here’s what you’ll see:


  • Title: The headline Facebook will display.

  • Description: The text summary under the title.

  • Image: The thumbnail that appears alongside your link.

  • Warnings: Any issues with missing or incorrect metadata.

scrapped blog Facebook in Canada: Users, Stats and Insights using facebook debbuger

For example, you might find that your link’s title is fine, but the image is missing—or that Facebook pulled the wrong image entirely.


4. Fix the Issues

If the Debugger highlights problems (like missing or outdated data), it’s time to fix them on your website.


  • Add Open Graph Tags: These tags tell Facebook what title, description, and image to display. If they’re missing, add them to your website’s HTML.

  • Check Image Dimensions: Make sure your image meets Facebook’s recommended size of 1200 x 630 pixels.


For example, if the Debugger tells you that the og:image tag is blank, simply update the image URL in your website code.


5. Click “Scrape Again”

After fixing the metadata on your website, go back to the Debugger and click the “Scrape Again” button. This forces Facebook to refresh its cache and pull the updated data from your page.


Why this step matters: Without it, Facebook might still show the old title, image, or description. Scraping ensures your changes are reflected immediately.


6. Double-Check the Preview

Once you’ve scraped the link again, take another look at the preview. Is the image correct? Does the title and description look good? If everything checks out, you’re ready to share.


Pro Tip: Use this step to confirm that your link looks polished. A professional preview can make all the difference in grabbing attention.


7. Share Your Link

With everything in place, post your link on Facebook and enjoy the results. A great-looking preview not only makes your content stand out but also boosts engagement.



Common Issues the Facebook Debugger Solves (with Examples)

Imagine you’ve spent hours crafting the perfect blog post or designing a landing page, only to share the link on Facebook and see an incomplete, unappealing preview. Frustrating, right? This is where the Facebook Debugger becomes your best friend. Let’s walk through some of the most common problems it solves, and how it saves the day:


The Wrong Image Appears—or Worse, No Image at All

You share your link, expecting a stunning header image to grab attention. Instead, Facebook picks a random logo or no image at all. Maybe you forgot to specify an Open Graph (og:image) tag, or the image doesn’t meet Facebook’s size requirements.


Example: You post your new article about "Top 10 Coffee Trends," but instead of showing a tempting coffee shot, it pulls a blurry, outdated logo from your website footer. Not exactly clickbait material!


How the Debugger Helps: By running the link through the Debugger, you can see what image Facebook is trying to use. If it’s incorrect, you update the og:image tag in your site’s HTML and use the “Scrape Again” button to refresh the preview. Problem solved!


The Title or Description is Outdated

You’ve just updated your blog post title from “How to Save Money in 2025” to “Top Money-Saving Tips for 2025,” but Facebook stubbornly displays the old version. This happens because Facebook caches link data to improve performance.


Example: A real estate agent revises their property listing, but the shared link still shows the sold status instead of “Available.” That’s a missed opportunity to attract buyers.


How the Debugger Helps: Paste the link into the Debugger, and it will show the outdated title and description. By clicking “Scrape Again,” you force Facebook to refresh its cache and pull the updated information.


Blank Previews with No Context

Sometimes, the link preview doesn’t show any content—just a bare URL. This usually happens when key Open Graph tags, like og:title and og:description, are missing from the page’s metadata.


Example: You share a link to your online store’s winter collection, but instead of a sleek preview, all that appears is a naked URL. It’s unappealing and screams “unfinished website.”


How the Debugger Helps: The Debugger highlights what’s missing, like the absence of og:title or og:description tags. Once you add those tags, the tool ensures the preview includes a compelling headline and summary.


Wrong URL Variants

Facebook sometimes pulls metadata from an unintended version of your URL, like HTTP instead of HTTPS, or it adds unwanted tracking parameters. This can cause confusion or display content from the wrong page.


Example: You share https://example.com, but Facebook pulls data from http://example.com, which redirects to an old version of your site.


How the Debugger Helps: The tool shows exactly which URL Facebook is scraping. You can update your canonical tags to point to the preferred URL and fix the issue.


Images Don’t Meet Facebook’s Standards

Facebook is picky about image sizes. If your featured image is too small or the wrong aspect ratio, it won’t display correctly.


Example: You upload a 400 x 400-pixel image for a product launch. On Facebook, it either looks pixelated or doesn’t show at all because the minimum recommended size is 1200 x 630 pixels.


How the Debugger Helps: The tool flags images that don’t meet Facebook’s guidelines, so you can replace them with properly sized images and scrape the link again.



Why the Debugger Is a Game-Changer

Think of the Debugger as your quality control tool. It ensures that your hard work shines on social media, and it only takes a few minutes. Whether you’re troubleshooting blank previews or refreshing outdated data, the Debugger gives you control over how your content appears—and that’s key to making a strong impression.


So next time your Facebook preview isn’t quite right, don’t stress. Fire up the Debugger, follow these steps, and fix it in no time.



FAQ: Facebook Debugger Tool

1. What is the Facebook Debugger Tool? It’s a free tool provided by Facebook that lets you see and fix how your website link appears when shared on the platform. It analyzes metadata like titles, descriptions, and images.


2. Why does Facebook show the wrong image or title when I share a link? This happens because Facebook caches metadata to improve performance. If your page metadata changes, the cache may not update automatically.


3. Do I need to know coding to use the Debugger?Not necessarily. While adding Open Graph tags to your website’s HTML requires some coding knowledge, you can always work with your developer to make the changes.


4. What image size does Facebook recommend? Facebook suggests using images that are at least 1200 x 630 pixels for the best results in link previews.


5. Can I use the Debugger for old links? Yes! Even if a link has been shared before, you can use the Debugger to refresh its cache and display updated metadata.



Conclusion: Facebook Debugger Tool

The Facebook Debugger Tool is an essential resource to ensure your content always looks its best on social media. It gives you control over how your links are presented, so they grab attention, look professional, and drive engagement.


If you’re looking for expert help optimizing your website for social sharing, or need professional assistance with web design, SEO, and digital marketing—CodeMasters is here to help.


Let’s make your online presence flawless. Contact us today to discuss how we can elevate your website and digital marketing strategy.



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