How to Download Instagram Videos (2026 Guide)

Instagram doesn't want you downloading videos. There's no save button, no export option, no right-click menu. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. This guide covers every type of Instagram video and exactly how to download each one to your phone, tablet, or computer.

The method that works for everything

GetIGVideo is a free online tool that handles every Instagram video format. No app to install, no account to create, no subscription fees. The steps are the same regardless of what you're downloading:

1. Open the Instagram post, Reel, or Story you want to save.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) and select "Copy link."
3. Open GetIGVideo in your browser and paste the link.
4. Tap the download button. The video saves to your device as an MP4 file with full audio.

That's the core process. Now let's go through each video type so you know exactly what to expect.

Downloading Instagram Reels

Reels are short vertical videos up to 90 seconds long. They're Instagram's most-watched format and the one people ask about most. Every Reel has its own shareable URL, which makes downloading straightforward.

Open the Reel, tap the share icon (the paper airplane), and select "Copy link." Then paste that link into the Reel downloader. You'll get the video at whatever quality Instagram stores — usually 1080 × 1920 pixels for vertical Reels. Audio is always included. Music, voiceovers, sound effects — everything comes through.

One thing worth knowing: Instagram sometimes serves Reels at lower resolution on slow connections. The downloader grabs the highest available version, not the one your phone happened to stream.

Downloading feed videos

Feed videos are the standard video posts that appear on someone's grid. They can be square, portrait, or landscape, and they can run up to 60 minutes. The download process is identical to Reels — copy the post link and paste it in.

Longer videos take a bit more time to process, but they'll download in full. You'll get an MP4 file that works on any device or media player without conversion.

Downloading Instagram Stories

Stories are time-sensitive. They disappear 24 hours after posting, so you need to act fast. If the Story is still live on a public account, you can download it through the Story downloader.

Copy the Story's link by tapping the three-dot menu while viewing it. Paste it in, and you'll get the video (or photo) saved to your device. Once a Story expires, it's gone from Instagram's servers. No tool can retrieve expired Stories, so don't wait.

Story Highlights are different — those are permanent. If a creator has saved Stories to their Highlights, those remain downloadable as long as the Highlight exists.

Downloading IGTV and long videos

Instagram retired the standalone IGTV app a while back, but IGTV content still exists as regular video posts. Older IGTV videos maintain their original URLs and are fully downloadable. Just copy the video link and paste it like any other post. There's no special process for long-form content.

Video quality and resolution

Instagram compresses every upload. Even a 4K source video gets downscaled. Here's what you can realistically expect:

• Reels: up to 1080 × 1920 (vertical 1080p)
• Feed videos: up to 1080p, aspect ratio varies
• Stories: up to 1080 × 1920
• IGTV/long videos: up to 1080p

The HD video downloader pulls the highest quality version Instagram has stored. You won't get anything above what Instagram keeps, but you won't lose any quality in the download process either. The file you save matches what Instagram serves to viewers.

Audio

Every downloaded video includes its full audio track. Background music, voiceovers, original sound — it's all there in the MP4 file. If a video was posted muted (rare but it happens), the download will be silent too, because there's no audio to extract.

Step-by-step for iPhone

Safari on iOS 13+ handles MP4 downloads natively. Here's the complete walkthrough:

1. Open the Instagram app and find the video.
2. Tap ⋯ and copy the link.
3. Switch to Safari and go to GetIGVideo.
4. Tap and hold the input field, then paste.
5. Tap the download button.
6. Safari shows a download icon (↓) in the address bar. Tap it to see progress.
7. When it's done, the file is in Files → Downloads. Open it and tap the share icon → "Save Video" to move it to your Photos library.

If Safari doesn't start the download, try long-pressing the download button and choosing "Download Linked File."

Step-by-step for Android

Android makes this even easier. Chrome, Samsung Internet, and most other browsers download MP4 files without any fuss.

1. Open Instagram, find the video, copy its link.
2. Open Chrome and navigate to GetIGVideo.
3. Paste the link and tap download.
4. The video saves to your Downloads folder. You'll see a notification when it's complete.
5. The video should appear in your gallery automatically. If not, check Downloads in your file manager.

Step-by-step for PC and Mac

Desktop is the simplest. Any modern browser works — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari.

1. Open Instagram in your browser (or copy the link from the mobile app and send it to yourself).
2. Copy the post URL from the address bar.
3. Go to GetIGVideo, paste the URL, and click download.
4. The MP4 file downloads to your default folder. Open it with any media player, drag it into a video editor, or upload it wherever you need it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I download videos from private accounts?

No. Private account content is only accessible to approved followers. Online download tools can't bypass Instagram's privacy settings, and you shouldn't trust any tool that claims to. If you follow the account, your best option is Instagram's built-in "Save" feature to bookmark posts within the app.

Do downloaded videos have watermarks?

No. GetIGVideo doesn't add any watermarks or branding to your files. The video you get is the exact same file Instagram stores on their servers.

Is this legal?

Downloading for personal use is generally fine — saving a tutorial, keeping a recipe, archiving your own content. What isn't okay is re-uploading someone else's work and passing it off as yours. The download is neutral. What you do with the file determines whether you're in the clear.

Why did my download fail?

The most common reasons: the account is private, the Story expired, or the URL got copied incorrectly. Double-check that the link starts with "https://www.instagram.com/" and includes the full post ID. If it's a public post and the link is correct, try refreshing and pasting again — occasional server hiccups happen.

Can I download multiple videos at once?

You can download videos one link at a time. Paste a link, save the file, paste the next one. It goes quickly once you're in the flow. For carousel posts that mix photos and videos, the tool pulls every slide from a single link.

What format are the files?

Videos download as MP4 files. That's the most widely supported video format — it plays on iPhones, Androids, Macs, PCs, smart TVs, and every video editing app you'll come across. No conversion needed.

Wrapping up

Downloading Instagram videos is straightforward once you know the process. Copy a link, paste it into GetIGVideo, and save the file. It works for Reels, feed videos, Stories, and IGTV content. You get the highest quality Instagram offers, audio included, as an MP4 file that plays everywhere. The whole thing takes ten seconds and costs nothing.