How to Download an Instagram Reel

Have you ever come across a great reel on Instagram only to never find it again when you want to share it with friends? If this constantly happens, you should download the ones you like so you can use them later.

Fortunately, it is fairly easy to download reels to your phone, whether you use an iPhone or Android smartphone.

What to Consider When Downloading Reels

If you want to download your own reel, you can do it within the app and save it on your phone. Instagram also allows you to download it before you even post it.

If you want to download someone else’s reel, you can only do so if they have made their account public. They also need to activate the downloads feature within their settings.

In some instances, you may be able to use a third party to download a reel even if these features are not activated. But if you do that, you must credit the content creator and never use their reels in a disrespectful way.

That said, it is always better to download reels when the content creator has made it possible for you to do so.

How to Download Reels in the Instagram App

To download your reel, navigate to the Reels tab and open it in full-screen mode. This will reveal the three-dot icon where you can select Save. The reel will then be saved to your camera roll.

If you want to download another content creator’s reel, tap the share icon on the specific reel. You will see the download option in the menu, and the reel will appear on your phone.

Downloading Reels on an iPhone

There are several ways you can download a reel on an iPhone. The first and easiest strategy is to do it via the iOS Instagram app. All you need to do is:

• Play the reel within the app.
• Tap the share button that appears on the right-hand side of the screen.
• Tap the download button that appears at the bottom.
• If there is no download button, the content creator has not enabled the download feature.

You can use a third-party app if you still want to download the reel even though the download button does not appear.

• Choose a download app from the App Store.
• Play the reel on the Instagram app.
• Tap on the share button and then the ‘copy link’ button.
• Close Instagram and open the third-party app. Paste the link in the search bar and tap on the ‘find’ button.
• The app will find the reel, allowing you to save it to your camera roll.

If you don’t want to use a third-party app, there is another option to consider.

The R⤓Download shortcut from iCloud.com allows you to add a shortcut to a reel in the Shortcuts app library.

To use this shortcut:

• Play the reel you want to download, tap on share, and select ‘share to.’
• Tap the R⤓Download tab, which will appear in the share sheet.
• Tap ‘allow’ and wait for the reel to be downloaded.

Downloading Reels on Android

If you want to download a published reel on your Android phone, it is a similar process to that on an iPhone.

• Go to the reel you want to save and tap on the share button.
• Tap the download button, and the reel will be sent to your camera roll.

Select Reels and find the Drafts folder to download your own reel when it is saved in a draft. You can select the reel you want to download and click the ‘Edit’ button.

You’ll find a download option within ‘Edit’, which you can use to save the reel.

How to Use a Screen Recording to Download a Reel

A somewhat unusual way of saving a reel to your phone includes using the phone’s screen recording feature.

The screen recorder usually appears within your swipe-down menu, but you can also enable it in your settings.

When the feature is enabled, tap ‘Record’ and play the reel you want to save. You will have the video in your gallery when the reel is finished playing.

You can also edit the reel to cut out any irrelevant content the recorder may have picked up.

Using a Desktop to Download Reels

It is also possible to use screen recording tools to download reels on a desktop computer. If you have Windows 11, the built-in Snipping Tool can help you record any reel you want to save for later.

• Open Snipping Tool and click on the video icon.
• Click on ‘New’ and drag the rectangle to the part of the screen you want to record.
• The snipping tool allows you to record the entire window or the reel.
• When the recording is done, it will be saved to your computer’s local drive.

Remember that the Snipping Tool can only record visuals, not audio. So, in most instances, it is not the best option for saving reels.

What to Remember When Downloading Instagram Reels

• Instagram has built-in tools that simplify saving your reels without third-party apps.

• You won’t encounter copyright infringement issues if you download reels directly via the app. This is because you can only download reels that are already publicly available, and Instagram automatically credits the creator.

• If there is copyright on the audio in a reel, it will not appear in the downloaded version.

• You can only maintain the original resolution of a reel if you download it directly from the app.

• When you download a reel using a screen recording, the watermark won’t appear.

• Copyrighted audio stays intact when you use a screen recorder.

Downloading a Reel Is Easy in 2025

Instagram’s built-in features, third-party apps, and screen recorders make downloading and saving reels easy in 2025.

However, it is always important to respect a content creator’s copyright and privacy, especially if you want to use a reel for public purposes.

Instagram’s terms of service prohibit users from using the platform in any way that violates intellectual property rights.

If you follow best practices, you can stay compliant while enjoying your favorite reels at any given time.