Instagram Reels Downloader
Download Instagram Reels videos instantly.
By downloading, you confirm you have the right to use this content. Please respect creators — see our usage policy.
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How to use Instagram Reels Downloader
- 1 Open the Instagram app and find the video you want to download.
- 2 Tap the Share button and copy the video link.
- 3 Paste the link into the box above and click Download.
- 4 Your file will appear — click the download button to save it.
Found a Reel You Can't Stop Rewatching? Save It.
Instagram Reels have no built-in save-to-device option. You can bookmark a Reel inside Instagram, but the moment the creator deletes it or makes their account private, it's gone from your saved list. If you want the actual video file — to watch offline, repurpose for your own content, or back up your own Reels — you need a downloader.
This Instagram Reels downloader saves any public Reel as an MP4 file to your device in seconds. No account required, no extension to install, completely free. Here's the exact process.
What You'll Need
- A Reel URL — the link to the specific Instagram Reel. Step 2 shows you how to get it.
- A browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. Works on desktop and mobile.
The Reel must be from a public account. Private account content isn't accessible outside Instagram's servers.
Instagram Reels vs. Videos vs. Stories — What's the Difference?
Reels are short-form vertical videos (up to 90 seconds) designed for the Reels tab and discovery feed. Instagram Videos are feed posts with video content, including IGTV. Stories are 24-hour ephemeral vertical clips. This tool handles Reels. For Stories, use our Instagram Story Downloader. For regular feed videos, use the Instagram Video Downloader.
How to Download Instagram Reels: Step-by-Step
Step 1 — Find the Reel You Want to Save
Open Instagram and navigate to the Reel. You can find it in the Reels tab of a profile, in your feed, or in Instagram's Explore/Reels discovery tab. Tap or click the Reel to open it in full-screen view.
Pro tip: If you found a Reel in your feed and want to come back to it, tap the bookmark icon to save it first. Then you can find it in your saved posts later and grab the link from there — you won't lose the video between finding it and downloading it.
Step 2 — Copy the Reel Link
On the Instagram app (iOS or Android):
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) at the bottom right of the Reel (or top right when viewing it in the Reels player).
- Select Copy Link from the menu.
- The URL is now on your clipboard — it looks like instagram.com/reel/XXXXXXXXXXX/.
On Instagram in a desktop browser:
- Navigate to the Reel's page.
- Copy the URL from the address bar — it'll be in the format instagram.com/reel/XXXXXXXXXXX/.
Step 3 — Paste the Link Into the Downloader
Come to this page and paste the Instagram Reel URL into the input box at the top (Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac, long-press → Paste on mobile). Confirm you have a Reel URL (starts with instagram.com/reel/) and not a profile or Stories link.
Step 4 — Click Download
Hit the Download button. The tool contacts Instagram's servers, fetches the video stream, and presents the download link. This takes 5–15 seconds.
Step 5 — Save the MP4 to Your Device
Click the download button and save the file:
- Desktop: Goes to your Downloads folder as an MP4.
- Android: Saves to Downloads, appears in your gallery.
- iPhone (Safari): Tap the link, then tap the share icon and choose Save to Files. To add to Camera Roll: open in Files, tap the video, share → Save Video.
The downloaded file is a standard H.264 MP4 at the Reel's original resolution — typically 1080×1920 (1080p vertical).
Step 6 — Cross-Post to Other Platforms (Optional)
If you're repurposing your own Reel to TikTok or YouTube Shorts: upload the downloaded MP4 directly. The 9:16 vertical format and H.264 encoding are compatible with both platforms. Add platform-specific captions and hashtags when you re-upload — don't just paste the Instagram caption, because what works on Instagram doesn't always perform on TikTok.
Pro tip: TikTok reportedly detects and suppresses Reels that contain the Instagram watermark (the username overlay shown in Instagram's app). Our downloader fetches the original video stream, not a screen recording — so there's no Instagram watermark on the downloaded file.
Why Can't Instagram Let You Download Reels Directly?
Instagram intentionally doesn't offer a native "save to camera roll" option for other people's Reels — keeping content inside the app drives engagement metrics (saves, shares within Instagram) that benefit Meta. Some creators enable "Allow Resharing" which lets you share a Reel to your Stories, but that's a link back into Instagram, not a local file.
Final Thoughts
Downloading a Reel should take 30 seconds. Paste the link, get the file, save it wherever you need it. If you're a creator cross-posting between platforms, this is the cleanest way to get your own content off Instagram without screen recording. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I download Reels from private Instagram accounts?
Private accounts restrict their content to approved followers. Instagram's servers won't serve the video file to an outside tool — it's a server-side restriction, not something any downloader can bypass. Only public Reels are accessible.
Does the downloaded Reel have watermarks or Instagram branding?
No. The downloader fetches the original video stream from Instagram's CDN — the same file the Instagram player uses. There's no Instagram logo or overlay on the downloaded file. The username text shown when watching a Reel in-app is rendered by the Instagram UI, not burned into the video file.
What video quality will I get?
We download at the highest quality Instagram serves for the Reel — typically 1080×1920 (1080p vertical, 9:16 ratio). Older Reels or those uploaded from lower-end devices may be at 720p. You'll always get the best available version.
Can I download Instagram Reels on Android?
Yes — open this page in any Android browser (Chrome works best), paste the Reel URL, and download. The MP4 saves to your phone's Downloads folder and should appear in your gallery app.
Is downloading Instagram Reels against Instagram's terms?
Instagram's Terms of Service prohibit scraping or automated data collection at scale. Downloading individual videos for personal use, research, or archiving your own content sits in a gray area that's rarely enforced against individual users. Re-uploading someone else's Reel as if it were your own content is a different matter — that's a copyright issue regardless of how you obtained the file.