Note (October 2026): The iPhone steps previously said to get a document app from the Play Store; iPhone apps come from Apple’s App Store. The Getfvid downloader named in the desktop steps did not load when checked on 1 October 2026.
To download a Facebook video you uploaded, open your profile, go to Videos, open the three-dot menu on the video and choose Download Video, or export everything through Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Export your information. For other people’s public videos, copy the video link and use a third-party downloader, but only with the owner’s permission.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook lets you download videos you posted yourself, one at a time from your profile or in bulk with Export your information (HTML or JSON, ready for four days).
- The Save video option only bookmarks a post in your Saved list; it does not store the file for offline viewing.
- Since 19 February 2025, new Facebook Live broadcasts stay on Facebook for 30 days and are then removed, so download live videos you want to keep.
- Facebook has no download button for other people’s videos; third-party downloader sites are run by outside companies, not by Meta.
- Facebook’s Terms of Service bar content that infringes someone else’s copyright, so ask before reusing a video that is not yours.
Nowadays facebook is the largest social media platform. Facebook had approximately 3.07 billion monthly active users as of December 2023, according to figures Meta reported. That reach makes Facebook a common place to upload and share videos.
How to Save Videos From Facebook
Facebook has become one of the most widely used video platforms. Facebook competes with YouTube for video viewers. Many people now watch videos on Facebook as well as on YouTube.
However, Facebook’s Save video option only adds a post to your Saved list inside Facebook; it does not store the file for offline viewing, so watching without a connection requires a downloaded copy.
On the other hand, youtube gives the opportunity to watch the videos when the audience is offline. All they have to do is download the video.
Does it mean people have no scope to watch videos from facebook when they are offline? No. People can watch Facebook videos offline once they have a downloaded copy, and they should only download videos they own or have permission to keep. The steps below explain the options when you want an fb video to download. Have a look!
Download Videos From Facebook On Your Desktop
Follow these steps to download a public Facebook video on a desktop or laptop computer. For a video you uploaded yourself, the built-in Download Video option described further down is simpler.
- Open Facebook in a web browser. Go to the link: https://www.facebook.com/. It opens your Facebook feed if you are already logged in.
- Otherwise, log in with the email address or phone number linked to your Facebook account and your password.
- Go to the video you want to download.
- Check if the video is public or not. If you see a globe icon below the name of the person who shared the video, then it is public. Public does not mean free to reuse: if the video is not yours, it may be protected by copyright, so get the owner’s permission before sharing it elsewhere.
- But if you see there is an icon of two people or a lock sign, then the video is not public. You can’t download the video.
- Right-click the video. On a Mac, hold the Control key and click the video.
- If you use a trackpad instead of a mouse, click with two fingers or press the bottom-right area of the pad.
- In the Facebook video player this guide was written for (2020), the menu showed a “Show video URL” option that opened a small pop-up box containing the video link. Facebook changes its menus, so the label may differ today.
- Select the entire link and press Ctrl+C on Windows, or Command+C on a Mac, to copy it.
- Open a downloader website. Getfvid was one such site when this guide was written, but its getfvid.com address did not load when checked on 1 October 2026. Downloader sites are run by third parties, not by Meta.
- Paste the video link you copied into the site’s input box.
- Click the site’s Download button and confirm the download.
- The site then fetches the video file. The quality you get depends on the versions the site can offer.
Download Facebook Videos In iphone
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone. It opens your feed, where you see what other people post.
- Go to the facebook video that you want to download.
- Check whether the video is public. If it is not public, a downloader app or site cannot reach it.
- Play the video first. If you copy the link without playing the video, there is a chance of getting a broken link.
- Tap the Share button on the video post.
- In the menu that opens, tap Copy link. You have now copied the video’s link, not the video itself.
- Open a file-manager app that has a built-in web browser, such as Documents – File Manager App by Readdle, go to a downloader site inside it and paste the link there. iPhone apps come from Apple’s App Store, not the Google Play Store.
- Now tap on the “download” option. The video is saved inside that app’s own file manager on your iPhone.
How Do You Download a Facebook Video You Uploaded?
Facebook has a built-in download option for videos you posted yourself, so no third-party site is needed. According to a Popular Science guide (October 2023), the steps on a computer are:
- Log in to Facebook and go to your profile page.
- Click Video (or Videos) in the navigation bar below your name and profile picture.
- Open the video, then open the three-dot menu in its top right corner.
- Click Download Video.
Facebook changes menu labels from time to time, so the wording on your screen may differ slightly. This option only appears on your own videos.
How Do You Download All Your Facebook Videos at Once?
The Export your information tool downloads a copy of your Facebook data, including the photos and videos you posted. According to the Facebook Help Center, the path is:
- Open Facebook and go to Settings & privacy > Settings.
- Choose Accounts Center, then Your information and permissions.
- Select Export your information, then Create export, and pick your profile.
- Choose where to export (your device or an external service), then the information types, date range, format and media quality.
- Tap Start export and wait for the notification that the file is ready.
The Help Center says the export comes in two formats: HTML, an easy-to-view ZIP file with an index you open in a web browser, and JSON, a machine-readable format for moving data to other services. High-quality video makes the file larger. Once the export is ready, you have four days to download it before the request expires.
Facebook Video Download Methods Compared
| Method | Works for | Offline copy? | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download Video (three-dot menu) | Your own videos, one at a time | Yes | |
| Export your information | All your own photos and videos, in bulk | Yes (ZIP, HTML or JSON) | |
| Save video | Any video you can see | No, it is a bookmark in your Saved list | |
| Copy link + downloader site or app | Public videos only | Yes | Third parties |
What Changed for Facebook Live Videos?
Meta announced on 18 February 2025 that, beginning on 19 February 2025, new Facebook Live broadcasts can be replayed, downloaded or shared from Pages or profiles for 30 days, after which they are automatically removed from Facebook. Owners of older live videos get email and in-app alerts and then have 90 days to decide what to do with them.
Meta named three tools for keeping live videos: Single Download for individual videos, Bulk Download for many videos at once, and Transfer Live Videos to move them to linked cloud storage such as Dropbox or Google Drive. Owners can also turn moments into Reels or defer deletion for an additional six months.
What Is the Difference Between Saving and Downloading a Facebook Video?
Saving and downloading are different features. To save a video, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post and select Save video; the post then appears under Menu > Saved. A saved video still streams from Facebook, so it will not play without an internet connection. Downloading creates a separate video file on your device that plays offline.
Is It Legal to Download Videos From Facebook?
Downloading your own videos is allowed and supported by Facebook’s own tools. Other people’s videos are a different matter. Facebook’s Terms of Service (effective 1 January 2025) say users may not access or collect data from Meta’s products using automated means without prior permission, and may not share content that infringes someone else’s intellectual property rights, such as copyright, unless an exception or limitation applies under applicable law.
In practice, a public video can still be protected by copyright. Ask the owner before you reuse or re-upload a video that is not yours, and credit them when you share it. For background on how copyright applies to written and visual work, see our guide to plagiarism and copyright.
How to Use a Downloader Site More Safely
- Prefer Facebook’s built-in Download Video or Export your information tools whenever the video is yours.
- Never enter your Facebook password on a downloader site. Copying a public video’s link does not require it.
- Download only the video file you asked for, and do not install extra programs or browser extensions the site pushes.
- Check that your Facebook account is protected; our Facebook account security tips cover the basics, and the security and privacy tools can help with passwords and links.
For an older walkthrough of the same task, see how to download videos from Facebook. If you plan to leave the platform, export your videos first and then follow the steps to permanently deactivate or delete a Facebook account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download a Facebook video without an app?
Yes. On a computer, your own videos can be downloaded from your profile’s Videos section using the three-dot menu and Download Video. Public videos by others need a link-based downloader website, which runs in the browser.
Does Save video download the video to my phone?
No. Save video adds the post to your Saved list inside Facebook. The video still streams from Facebook and will not play offline.
Can I download a private Facebook video?
Not with link-based downloader sites, because they cannot see videos shared only with friends or a custom audience. If the video is yours, use Download Video or Export your information. If it belongs to someone else, ask the owner to send you the file.
How long is a Facebook data export available?
According to the Facebook Help Center, you have four days to download your information once the export is ready. After that you need to request a new export.
How long do Facebook Live videos stay on Facebook?
New live broadcasts made from 19 February 2025 onward stay on Facebook for 30 days and are then automatically removed, according to Meta. Download any live video you want to keep within that window.
