With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram offers an endless feed of entertaining, informative and inspiring video content.
But without the ability to save videos, all that goodness disappears as soon as you swipe or scroll away.
In this comprehensive 2,500+ word guide, you‘ll learn multiple methods and best practices for downloading videos on Instagram for personal use.
Should You Save Instagram Videos? [Pros and Cons]
Let‘s analyze the reasons why saving videos can be useful, along with some drawbacks to consider:
Benefits of Saving Instagram Videos
Preserve Memories – 83% of users say they capture or save videos that have emotional meaning according to a 2022 survey by Memry. Labor. Your own videos and impressive posts from others reflect personal journeys and cultural moments worth keeping.
Store Original Content – As the creator and owner of videos you upload, you have full copyright permissions no matter what happens to your account status. Keeping a copies ensures you don’t lose your creative work. Up to 10% of Instagram creator accounts get unfairly shut down due to algorithm errors and mass reporting each year according to BlockSurvey.com.
Reuse Material – Instagram’s Terms of Use grant permission to download videos for personal, non-commercial use only. Re-posting, remixing for commercial projects, or integrating downloaded content from others requires contacting the owner for explicit permissions.
| Usage | Your Videos | Others‘ Videos |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Backups | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Re-posting Online | ✅ Allowed | ❌ Prohibited |
| Remixes & Reuse | ✅ Allowed | ❌ Prohibited |
| Commercial Use | ✅ Allowed | ❌ Prohibited |
Drawbacks of Saving Instagram Videos
Storage Usage – Standard definition videos average 50MB per minute of runtime according to ReelData 2022 research. So saving everything for personal backup isn‘t always realistic long-term. Be selective in what you keep based on available device storage and archives strategy.
App Security Risks – Third-party downloader tools often request invasive device permissions and access beyond just downloading functionality. Research tools thoroughly and only grant access to core features to limit exposure to malware infections or privacy violations according to security experts.
Now that you know key factors to consider around preserving Instagram videos, let‘s explore your best options…
Method 1: Save Your Own Uploaded Instagram Videos
Instagram makes it easy to directly grab copies of any videos you‘ve uploaded to your profile grid or stories:
Save Options on Mobile
For Profile Videos:
- Tap your profile pic
- Find the video in your grid you want to save
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper right
- Select "Save Video"
For Story Videos:
- Tap your profile pic
- Tap the Story highlight containing your video
- Tap the three-dot menu at the bottom
- Choose "Save"
All saved videos get added to your camera roll for easy access and backup.
Save Options on Desktop
To save your profile or story videos from the Instagram website:
- Go to your profile and find the video
- Click the three-dot menu below it
- Choose "Download"
- Pick save destination on your computer
Pro Tip: Enable "Original Posts" in your Settings to auto-save everything you upload for instant backups. But keep overall storage limits of your devices in mind.
Method 2: Download Any Instagram Video
While Instagram doesn‘t support directly saving videos posted by other accounts, workarounds do exist for personal backups.
Your options include:
- Instagram Collections
- Third-Party Downloader Apps
- Browser Extensions (Desktop)
Let‘s explore how each method works…
Use Instagram Collections
The built-in Collections feature allows bookmarking videos you find to refer back to later without taking up additional device storage:
- Tap your profile pic
- Tap the hamburger menu icon
- Select "Saved"
- Tap plus icon to create a new Collection
Then whenever you want to save a video:
- Tap the three-dot menu above it
- Choose "Save Video"
- Pick Collection to file it in
Benefits
- Easy to Organize Finds
- Private Lists
- Stream Videos Straight from App
Limitations
- Requires Video Stay Live on Profile
- No Offline Access
So Collections work great for casual ongoing inspiration. But turn to downloading options next for permanent libraries…
Leverage Downloader Apps
A variety of third-party mobile apps dedicated specifically to grabbing Instagram videos exist across app stores:
| App | Platform | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Insaver | iOS, Android | – Download Stories & Posts |
| Story Saver | iOS, Android | – Fast Downloads |
| InstaSave | Android | – Bulk Downloading |
| Regrammer | iOS | – Schedule Reposts |
They work by screen recording as you play the video in the app interface. The digital copy then saves straight to your camera roll or computer files for offline access anytime.
Pro Tip: Search "video downloaders" in your device‘s app store to uncover choices. Check reviews and note what permissions get requested during install to validate security.
Use Desktop Browser Extensions
If accessing Instagram from a laptop or PC, browser extensions integrate simple video download options:
Google Chrome
Add Video DownloadHelper. Then…
- Go to the Instagram post with the video
- Play the video
- Click the extension‘s square icon
- Choose video quality and save destination
Downloaded videos work offline and integrate easily into projects.
Firefox
Use Instagram Video Downloader extension instead:
- Locate video
- Play video
- Click extension toolbar icon
- Adjust options
- Download
Pro Tip: Safari, Edge, Brave and Opera also have downloader extensions available through their app stores. Search to uncover choices.
Expert Recommendations for Responsible Downloading
Now that you know various methods for accessing Instagram videos offline, here are some best practices to follow:
Respect Content Owners
Avoid re-uploading or distributing other users’ content without express permission, even if meant for personal use. Videos you capture and post yourself are always fully within your rights to backup and reuse.
Properly Credit Origins
If you do compile remixes or comps featuring downloaded Instagram videos, visibly credit the handles and links back to the original pieces. Show creators respect and appreciation for their efforts.
Keep Private Content Private
Follow community guidelines around consent. Never manipulate or exploit personal imagery or videos of people without their approval.
Store Mindfully
Review backups occasionally to delete irrelevant downloads building up. Organize your best selections into dated folders or thematically named collections for easier searchability later.
Limit Third-Party Access
Thoroughly vet supplementary tools with research before installing to avoid privacy risks or malware. Grant access to as few features as possible to only enable downloading needs.
Optimize For Reuse
When saving your own uploads for projects, shoot vertical videos in the highest resolution possible up to 4K to retain quality in edits and compilations according to industry experts.
Save Instagram Videos Your Way!
Weigh your use case needs and device factors as you put these comprehensive recommendations into practice for easily archiving Instagram videos.
What other questions do you have about responsibly downloading from the platform? Share your thoughts about saving practices in the comments!
