How to Save Facebook Videos on iPhone & Android
Downloading a Facebook video on a phone is where most tools fail you — App Store apps want subscriptions, and Facebook's own "Save video" button only bookmarks the clip inside the app. Here is how to get the actual MP4 file into your camera roll or gallery, on both platforms, using nothing but your browser.
On iPhone (Safari)
- In the Facebook app, tap Share → Copy link on the video.
- Open Safari and go to our video downloader.
- Paste the link, tap Download, then choose a quality.
- Safari asks whether to download the file — confirm, then open it from the Downloads icon (top-right) or the Files app.
- To move it into your camera roll: open the file in Files, tap the Share icon and choose Save Video.
On Android (Chrome)
- Copy the video link from the Facebook app the same way.
- Open Chrome, visit the downloader, paste and tap Download.
- Pick a quality — the MP4 lands in your Downloads folder.
- Most gallery apps index it automatically; if not, any file manager will show it under Downloads.
Which quality should you pick?
HD looks best on modern phone screens but is a larger file; SD saves data and space. For a quick WhatsApp share, SD is usually plenty. Sending audio only? Use the MP3 converter instead.
Common problems on mobile
- The video plays instead of downloading — use the Download button on our results page rather than long-pressing the player; it forces a file download.
- "Private video" message — content restricted to friends or groups cannot be saved, only public posts.
- Can't find the file — check the browser's own download list first; it always shows the exact location.
Where the file ends up
On iPhone, downloads first go to the Files app (or the Downloads shortcut next to Safari's address bar); use Share → Save Video to push a clip into your camera roll. On Android, the MP4 lands in the Downloads folder and most gallery apps pick it up automatically within a minute. If you cannot find it, open your browser's download list — it always shows the exact file path.
Saving mobile data
Video files are large. If you are on a limited plan, choose SD instead of HD — it is a fraction of the size and looks fine on a phone screen. Only need the talking or music? Convert to MP3 and the file shrinks to a tenth of the video size. Downloads also resume better on Wi‑Fi, so queue big clips for later if your signal is weak.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work in the Facebook in-app browser? It is more reliable to open the link in Safari or Chrome directly, so the browser's normal download handling kicks in.
Why did my video open and play instead of saving? Use the Download button on the results page rather than long-pressing the player — it forces a file download.
Do I need an app from the App Store or Play Store? No. Everything runs in the browser you already have.
No app is the whole point
Everything above runs in the browser you already have. No installs, no accounts, no permissions to grant — and it works identically on tablets and desktop too. The full walkthrough for every device is in our step-by-step guide.