How to download video from Instagram?

Downloading Instagram videos can be helpful for various reasons, including:

• Saving memories: Videos posted by friends, family, or even your own account that you’d like to keep for future reference.
• Offline viewing: Whether you're traveling or in an area with limited internet access, downloading videos allows you to watch them without an internet connection.
• Repurposing content: Many content creators download their own videos to reuse across platforms or for editing and reposting.

Despite its popularity, Instagram doesn’t provide a built-in option for downloading videos directly from the app. This limitation has led users to explore alternative methods for saving videos to their devices. In this guide, we’ll explore different ways to download videos from Instagram while staying within legal and ethical boundaries.

Downloading Your Own Instagram Videos

Instagram provides a simple way to download your own videos, whether from stories or posts. Here’s how you can save your own content:

From Instagram Stories

To download videos from your Instagram stories, follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile by tapping the profile icon at the bottom right.
2. Tap on your profile picture to view your active story.
3. While viewing the story, tap the three dots (•••) at the bottom right of the screen.
4. Select 'Save', then choose either 'Save Video' to save the current story video, or 'Save Story' to save the entire story as a video.

From Instagram Posts (via the App or by Archiving)

For Instagram posts, you can save videos using the following methods:

• Method 1: Save to Device
1. Go to your Instagram profile and locate the post you want to save.
2. Tap the three dots (•••) at the top right of the post.
3. Select 'Save to Camera Roll' if available.
• Method 2: Download from Archive
1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three lines (≡) in the top right corner.
2. Select 'Archive'.
3. Find the post or story you want to save, and tap on it.
4. Once open, tap the three dots (•••) and choose 'Save Video' to download it to your device.

Third-Party Web Tools to Download Videos

There are several third-party web tools that make it easy to download videos from Instagram. These tools are simple to use and don’t require installing any software. Below is a brief overview of some popular tools:

1. iGram

iGram is a user-friendly web tool designed specifically for downloading Instagram content, including videos, reels, stories, and IGTV. Follow these steps to download a video:

1. Open Instagram and copy the link to the video you want to download.
2. Go to the iGram website.
3. Paste the Instagram video link into the provided field.
4. Click on the 'Download' button, and the tool will generate a download link.
5. Once the download link is generated, click on it to save the video to your device.

2. SaveFrom

SaveFrom is another popular web-based tool for downloading videos from Instagram. It supports multiple formats and allows downloading from several other platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Just copy the video link from Instagram, paste it into the SaveFrom website, and choose your desired format to download the video.

3. FastDL

FastDL is a straightforward online downloader that works with Instagram videos, photos, and reels. Like other tools, you simply paste the Instagram video URL into the search field, and the website provides a download link. FastDL focuses on speed and efficiency, offering users a quick way to download high-quality videos.

How to Download Instagram Videos Using Browser Extensions

Browser extensions offer a convenient way to download videos directly from Instagram without needing to visit external websites or install additional software. These extensions integrate with your web browser, adding a download button when you're viewing Instagram content, making the process seamless.

One of the most popular browser extensions for downloading Instagram videos is the SaveFrom.net Helper. This extension works on several browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

How Browser Extensions Work

Browser extensions modify your browsing experience by adding extra features to web pages. In the case of video downloaders, they automatically detect media files on the page (like Instagram videos) and provide an easy-to-use download button next to or below the video. This allows users to download the video directly to their device with just one click.

Installing and Using Browser Extensions

For Chrome

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store by visiting chrome.google.com/webstore.
2. In the search bar, type 'SaveFrom.net Helper' or similar Instagram video downloader extensions.
3. Click on the extension you want to install, and then click 'Add to Chrome'.
4. Confirm the installation by clicking 'Add Extension' in the pop-up window.
5. Once installed, navigate to Instagram and open the video you want to download. You will see a download button next to the video (typically an arrow or a 'Download' link).
6. Click the download button, and the video will be saved to your device.

For Firefox

1. Open the Firefox browser and go to addons.mozilla.org.
2. In the search bar, type 'SaveFrom.net Helper' or another Instagram video downloader extension.
3. Click on the extension, and then click 'Add to Firefox'.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
5. Once installed, go to Instagram, open the video you wish to download, and click the download button that appears near the video.
6. The video will be saved to your device in your selected folder.

SaveFrom.net Helper

The SaveFrom.net Helper is one of the most widely used browser extensions for downloading videos from Instagram and other platforms like YouTube and Facebook. It simplifies the process by embedding a download button directly into Instagram posts. Here's how to use it:

1. Download and install the SaveFrom.net Helper extension for your browser (available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera).
2. After installation, go to Instagram and open the video you want to download.
3. You’ll see a small download icon (an arrow) added near the video or underneath it.
4. Click on the icon, choose the desired video quality, and the video will be downloaded to your device.

Using browser extensions like SaveFrom.net Helper is one of the quickest ways to save Instagram videos. However, always ensure that you're downloading content ethically, following Instagram’s terms of service, and respecting the rights of content creators.

Is Downloading Instagram Videos Legal?

Downloading videos from Instagram raises important legal considerations, especially regarding copyright and content ownership. While it is technically possible to download videos through various methods, users must be aware of the legal implications of doing so.

Instagram’s Policies on Copyright and Content Ownership

Instagram’s Terms of Use and Community Guidelines explicitly state that users retain ownership of the content they upload, but they grant Instagram a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display and share their content on the platform. This means that while Instagram can use the content, users still hold the copyright to any videos, photos, or other media they upload.

However, downloading videos without the creator's permission may violate copyright laws, especially if the video is shared, altered, or repurposed for commercial use. Instagram’s policies prohibit downloading or copying content for purposes outside personal, non-commercial use without permission from the owner of the content.

Legal Considerations When Downloading Instagram Videos

• Personal Use: Downloading Instagram videos for personal use (such as saving a video to watch later offline) is generally acceptable, provided that you are not distributing or using the content in a way that violates the creator’s rights.
• Reposting and Redistribution: Reposting someone else’s video without proper credit, permission, or without following Instagram’s reposting guidelines could lead to copyright infringement. This includes editing the video or using it for your own commercial purposes.
• Commercial Use: Using downloaded Instagram videos for commercial purposes, such as advertisements, marketing, or monetized content, is a direct violation of copyright laws unless explicit permission is granted by the content owner.

In summary, while downloading Instagram videos for personal use may not raise significant legal issues, sharing, altering, or repurposing the content without permission can result in legal action or account suspension. It’s always best to seek permission from the creator before using their content outside Instagram, and to respect copyright laws to avoid any complications.