Not gonna lie,How to Download Instagram Reels. I didn’t read any “expert” guides before figuring this out. I just messed around until I found stuff that worked.
So if you’re here expecting some polished tutorial with bullet points and app reviews, yeah, you might wanna skip this. This is just how I do it lazy, kinda hacked together, but hey, it works.
Why I Even Save Reels
Sometimes I just like a reel. It’s funny. Or useful. Or I think “I’m totally gonna make something like that later.” (I never do, but still.)
Other times, I save my own reels to post somewhere else like in my stories, or YouTube Shorts. Whatever. I just like having them.
My Reel? I Download It Straight From Instagram
If it’s something I posted, I just:
- go to my profile
- tap on the reel
- hit the three dots or that little paper plane thing
- then tap “Download”
Boom, it’s in my gallery. That’s literally it.
(Unless Instagram randomly decides the music is “restricted” then it might cut the sound. Super annoying.)
Someone Else’s Reel? I “Save” It (Not Really)
Yeah, Instagram doesn’t let you actually download other people’s reels — at least not easily.
So I just save them inside the app:
- tap the 3 dots
- hit “Save”
- later, go to my saved posts and watch it there
It’s not really a download, but it’s good enough when I just wanna come back to something later.
If I Really Want It: I Screen Record
This is where I get a little sketchy
If I really want someone else’s reel, I just screen record it.
iPhone? Pull down Control Center, tap record, play the reel, stop.
Android? Same deal use the built-in recorder or a free app.
Then I go to the video and trim off the start/end. Clean-ish.
The “Copy Link + Download Site” Move
Okay. So for public reels (not private accounts), I sometimes use those “reel downloader” websites. Not proud of it. But they work.
Here’s how I do it:
- Tap the 3 dots on the reel
- Hit “Copy Link”
- Paste it into a site like IGDownloader or something like that
- Hit download, and it saves to my phone
Be careful some of those sites are shady. Pop-ups, fake buttons, viruses… don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I’ve Also Done This on My Laptop
Like, when I’m on my Mac and see something I wanna save, I just:
- open Instagram in the browser
- go to the reel
- copy the link
- paste it into a site (same ones I use on mobile)
- download the video to my computer
I mostly do this when I’m organizing stuff or backing up client content.
Quick Reminder (Don’t Be That Guy)
Look, if it’s your own content — do what you want.
But if you’re downloading someone else’s reel, don’t repost it as your own. And if you do share it somewhere, tag the creator. Give credit. That’s just basic internet manners.
What I Do With Saved Reels
Sometimes I post ‘em to Shorts.
Sometimes I study them — like how they edited the transitions, or what captions worked.
Sometimes I do nothing and forget I saved them
I also made folders. “Ideas.” “Tutorials.” “LOL Reels.” Organized chaos.
In Case You’re Skimming
- Your own reels = easy to download
- Other people’s = save in app or screen record
- Or use a download site (be careful)
- Always credit creators
- Don’t get too fancy — simple is fine
Final Words
I know there are tons of apps and plugins and “top 10 reel saver tools” blog posts out there. Cool. Good for them.
But honestly? I just do what works.
Messy. Quick. No downloads needed most of the time.
If this helped, cool. If not, well… at least you got a very real guide from a very real person
FAQs
Q: Can I download someone else’s Reel straight from Instagram?
Not really. Instagram only lets you download your own Reels. If it’s someone else’s, you can “Save” it inside the app, but that won’t put it in your phone gallery.
Q: What’s the easiest way to save my own Reels?
Super simple:
Go to your profile → tap on the Reel → tap the 3 dots → hit “Download.”
That’s it. It’ll save to your phone, unless the music is restricted.
Q: What if I want to download a Reel from a public account?
You’ll need to copy the Reel’s link and use a download site (like IGDownloader or ReelsSaver). Just be careful with pop-ups and fake buttons.
Q: Will screen recording work for downloading Reels?
Yup. It works on both iPhone and Android. Just start recording, play the Reel, then trim the beginning and end so it’s clean. It’s not perfect quality, but it gets the job done.
Q: Can I save Reels without using an app?
Yes. The screen record trick or browser downloaders work fine. No need to install anything fancy unless you want higher quality or batch saving.
Q: Where do downloaded Reels go on my phone?
Usually in your Photos app (iPhone) or Gallery/Downloads folder (Android). If you used a website, check your Downloads folder first.
Q: Are these methods watermark-free?
Most of the time, yes. Especially when using third-party websites or screen recording. Just avoid apps that slap their logo on everything.
