Everything you need to know about downloading Instagram videos
Instagram has no “save to device” button for other people’s videos, and the few download options it does offer come with restrictions. Here’s how to keep a clean HD copy — and how to get the best possible quality.
On this page
- What is an Instagram video downloader?
- How to copy an Instagram video link
- How to save Instagram videos on iPhone
- How to save Instagram videos on Android
- How to download Instagram videos on PC and Mac
- Why some Instagram videos download in lower quality
- What happened to IGTV videos?
- Smart ways people use downloaded Instagram videos
- Video won’t download? Try this
- Download responsibly
What is an Instagram video downloader?
An Instagram video downloader is an online tool that turns an Instagram post link into a video file you can keep. You paste the link, the tool finds the video that Instagram is streaming to your phone, and gives you a direct download of that file.
With SaveNext that file is an MP4 in the same resolution the creator uploaded. It works for regular feed videos, longer videos, videos inside carousel posts and even the video posts on your own profile — handy if you’ve lost the original from your camera roll. For vertical short-form clips, our dedicated Instagram Reels downloader is tuned specifically for Reels links.
How to copy an Instagram video link
Everything starts with the right link. Here’s where to find it:
- Instagram app (iPhone and Android): tap the paper-plane icon below the video, then tap Copy link. On some versions you’ll find it under the ⋯ menu at the top right of the post.
- instagram.com on a computer: click the ⋯ menu on the post and choose Copy link, or open the post and copy the address from your browser bar.
A correct link looks like instagram.com/p/…, instagram.com/tv/… or instagram.com/reel/…. All three work here.
How to save Instagram videos on iPhone
- Copy the video link in the Instagram app.
- Open Safari (iOS 13 or newer), go to SaveNext and tap Paste.
- Tap Download MP4 and confirm the download.
- Open the Files app → Downloads, tap the video, then tap the share icon and choose Save Video to add it to your Photos library.
If nothing seems to happen, check the downloads arrow in Safari’s address bar — long videos can take a few seconds on mobile data.
How to save Instagram videos on Android
- Tap the share icon under the video in Instagram and choose Copy link.
- Open SaveNext in Chrome, Samsung Internet or Firefox and tap Paste.
- Tap Download MP4. The file goes to your Downloads folder and appears in your gallery automatically.
How to download Instagram videos on PC and Mac
Open the video on instagram.com, copy the link from the ⋯ menu or the address bar, and paste it into SaveNext with Ctrl + V or ⌘ + V. Click Download MP4 and the file lands in your Downloads folder.
Desktop is the best choice if you plan to edit: MP4 files drop straight into Premiere Pro, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut or iMovie without any conversion.
Why some Instagram videos download in lower quality
SaveNext always gives you the best version Instagram has. When a video still looks soft, it’s almost always one of these reasons:
- The upload was low resolution. Instagram can’t add detail that was never there, and neither can we.
- The creator uploaded over a weak connection. Instagram may keep only a lower-bitrate version in that case.
- It was filmed on a different aspect ratio. Landscape videos are stored narrower than vertical ones, so they report a smaller width.
| Video type | Format | Typical resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Feed video (vertical 4:5) | MP4, H.264 + AAC | 1080 × 1350 |
| Feed video (square 1:1) | MP4, H.264 + AAC | 1080 × 1080 |
| Feed video (landscape 16:9) | MP4, H.264 + AAC | 1080 × 608 |
| Long video (formerly IGTV) | MP4, H.264 + AAC | Up to 1080p |
| Video in a carousel | MP4, H.264 + AAC | Same as the post |
What happened to IGTV videos?
Instagram retired the separate IGTV app and folded long videos into regular posts, so old IGTV links (instagram.com/tv/…) now open as normal video posts. SaveNext handles both the old and new link formats — paste either and you’ll get the same MP4.
Smart ways people use downloaded Instagram videos
- Back up your own content. Creators often lose original files; downloading your own posts is the fastest way to rebuild an archive.
- Watch offline. Save recipes, workouts and tutorials before a flight or a commute through a dead zone.
- Study and reference. Designers, editors and marketers keep reference clips to analyse pacing, transitions and hooks.
- Keep memories safe. Videos of friends and family can vanish when an account is deleted — a local copy stays put.
Need photos from a post as well? Paste any post link into the same box — the Instagram photo downloader page has tips for photos and carousels.
Video won’t download? Try this
- Check the account is public — private videos can’t be downloaded.
- Copy the link again from the share menu; links copied from notifications or DMs are sometimes shortened.
- If the video plays without sound in the app, the downloaded file will be silent too — the creator (or Instagram) removed the audio.
- Live broadcasts can’t be downloaded while they’re live. Once the creator shares the replay as a post, it works like any other video.
Download responsibly
Keeping a copy for personal viewing is one thing; republishing is another. Videos are the creator’s work, so ask for permission before reposting, always credit the original account, and never use someone else’s video in ads or paid content without a licence. See our Terms of Service for the full picture.