How to download videos

Before you start: is the video yours to save?

Check this first. You can save videos you made yourself, clips released under a licence that allows reuse, public-domain material, and anything the owner has told you that you may keep. Everything else belongs to its creator. If the video is yours, also check whether the platform offers its own export, because that copy usually has the best quality. For YouTube see how to save your own YouTube videos.

The four steps

1. Open the video and copy its link, from the browser address bar or the app's Share → Copy link option.
2. Paste the link into the input field on the downloader.
3. Press Download and wait a moment while the available formats are resolved.
4. Pick a resolution or the audio option, then confirm your browser's save prompt.

Getting the right link

Every platform has a share button that copies the link to one specific video. Profile pages, playlists, hashtags and search results do not work, because they do not point at a single file. If you are unsure, open the link in a private browser window. If the video plays there without signing in, it is public and can be resolved.

Choosing video or audio

Choose a video resolution when you will watch or edit the picture. Choose Audio when you only listen, for example to a lecture or an interview. The audio file is much smaller. Our guide on MP4 versus audio-only goes into the trade-offs, and this explainer covers resolution labels.

On iPhone and iPad

Safari asks whether to download the file; accept, and open the Downloads indicator in the address bar. The file is stored in the Files app under Downloads. Move it to Photos from the share menu if you want it in your gallery. Storage tips are in keeping saved videos from filling your phone.

On Android

Chrome and Firefox save into the system Downloads folder, and the file normally shows up in your Gallery or Files app within a few moments. If it does not appear in the gallery, open it from the Files app once and it will usually be indexed.

On a computer

The browser saves the file to its normal download folder, or asks you where to put it if you have that setting enabled. You can open the file in any modern player or video editor.

Platform notes

TikTok: tap Share, then Copy link. Both short vm.tiktok.com links and full links work. See the TikTok guide.

Instagram: open the Reel or post, tap the three dots, choose Copy link. Private accounts cannot be resolved. See the Instagram guide.

YouTube: YouTube only allows downloads through its own features or with permission. Read the official options for your own videos.

If something goes wrong

• Check the link points at the video itself, not at a profile or a search page.
• Confirm the post is public by opening it in a private browser window.
• Wait fifteen seconds if you have made several attempts in a row.
• Try a lower resolution if a large file keeps failing on a weak connection.
• If the file has no sound, read why some downloads are silent.
• For a longer checklist, see why a download fails and how to fix it.

After you save the file

Rename it so that you can find it later, put it in a folder for the project, and keep a note of where it came from and under which licence if it is not your own. If you share it, credit the creator. Our guide to responsible downloading covers credit and permissions.

Use it responsibly

Save content you created or are licensed to use. Redistributing other people's work without permission is not allowed, see our disclaimer.