Some Instagram videos are too good to watch only once. But if you want to download an Instagram video to watch later, you might run into some problems.
Of course, you can save videos in the app. But it won’t work if you want to use them in a marketing deck, include them in a superframe, or watch them offline. As long as you respect the authors and don’t pass off their work as your own, uploading and sharing videos is common practice. But it’s also incredibly difficult to do.
Luckily, we’ve done the work and dealt with pop-up ads so you don’t have to. Continue reading our guide to the best methods and third-party apps to download Instagram videos to your phone and/or computer.
How to Download Video from Instagram to Phone
Let’s start by saving the Instagram video to your camera roll on your phone. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or any other modern smart device, there are many different ways to save videos on Instagram. Once they’re there, you can even send them over the air or email them to your computer.
Method 1: Manually
You can’t capture video from the screen, but your smartphone can most likely record from the screen.
You will have to manually add screen recording to quick settings on both iPhone and Android devices. Once it appears, you can simply go to the quick menu, click “Record”and let the video play.
On an iPhone, a red bar at the top of the screen means screen recording is in progress.
It’s very simple, but here are a few tips on how to ensure a clean capture:
- Set the volume. Video recording means that you will have to play it all while recording the entire screen of your phone. This means that everything you do on your phone will be recorded on video. If you don’t want to show that you’re playing a song, turn up the volume before hitting the record button.
- Do not disturb. Even if you have perfected your settings, there is nothing worse than an unexpected pop-up. Receiving an embarrassing message from mom or an angry notification from DuoLingo will close part of the clip. To keep your interface clean, briefly enter Do Not Disturb mode, which will pause notifications.
- Trim and trim. Whether you’re using it in a more professional context or just keeping it to yourself, go ahead and remove unnecessary information. Nobody likes a video that starts with a screen recording popup and ends with your Instagram home page. And trust us, they don’t want to know what your phone’s battery looks like or what carrier you use. Once you’ve recorded your video, use your phone to cut and trim the file to focus on the actual content.
- Watch and review. Screen recording is an imperfect method, so there are probably many other things that can go wrong. Watch the video before, during and after recording to make sure you captured it correctly.
Method 2: Using the website
Some websites allow you to download Instagram videos to your phone without installing additional software.
We recommend using a site like Save Insta. Just click on the three dots on the top right corner of the Instagram video you want to save, then copy the link of the post and paste it on this site. You can then isolate your video and save it to your device.
The Insta save instructions are for Safari on iOS, so results may vary if you try them on a different browser or device. You also need to watch out for pop-up ads disguised as fake “download”links.
Method 3: using the application
If you don’t want to mess around with screen recording or websites, the App Store is your best bet. But some apps are more reliable than others. Luckily, we have compiled a list of the top four apps to download Instagram videos on your phone.
4 Best Instagram Video Downloader Apps Ranked
If you want to download Instagram videos through a third party app, then you should use one of them.
Note. As always, before you download software on your phone, make sure you are happy with the app’s security policy and terms.
1. Repost: for Instagram
Cost: Free, with paid upgrade
Download for iOS
Download for Android
The Repost: For Instagram app is one of the most popular Instagram downloaders of all time. It is designed to make it easy to repost an Instagram image or video from one account to another. But you can also use it to save clips directly to your device.
It is a long-running, highly rated app that offers a user-friendly experience. Unfortunately, you cannot remove the watermark unless you pay for the premium version. This is probably a good thing – you still have to cite your source.
2. Reposter for Instagram (iOS only)
Cost: Free
download for iOS
Reposter for Instagram is a lightweight app that allows you to download full resolution Instagram videos without any annoying watermarks.
However, there is no paid option, which could mean less reliable updates. Several users have reported that the app can be glitchy at times and has a lot of intrusive ads. However, this app works if you want to download Instagram videos.
3. Take note
Cost:
Free download for iOS
Download for Android
InsTake may be lesser known, but it also allows users to easily download Instagram videos.
The app, available for Android and iOS, allows users to download Instagram videos without having to upgrade to a paid version. However, you will need to log into your Instagram account through the app before it will work, which may seem like an unnecessary step for some.
4. InstaGet (Android only)
Cost: Free
download for Android
InstaGet is a simple and straightforward app that gets the job done when you want to download a video from IG.
What the free app lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in ease of use. However, it’s only available on Android, so iPhone users will have to look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Downloading Instagram Videos
What types of Instagram videos can you download?
Depending on the method you choose, you can download any video content from Instagram. This includes Instagram Reels, Instagram Videos and Instagram Stories. You can even download videos from Instagram Live if you choose the screen recording option.
How to download video from Instagram to computer?
It might be even easier to download Instagram videos to computer. You simply copy the Instagram post URL and connect it to a video download site like AceThinker to access the video. There are also browser extensions that work the same way.
If you are very tech savvy, you can even check the Instagram URL source code and find the MP4 source code to download on your computer.
Is downloading a video from Instagram illegal?
Downloading Instagram videos for personal use is not illegal, but it becomes a gray area when content is repurposed. Of course, you cannot pass off someone else’s work as your own, as well as edit or change the content in any way.
Always include the Instagram account you pulled the video from and make it clear that it’s not your original content.