How To Download Instagram Reels (Beginner’s Guide)

Want to learn how to download Instagram Reels? This guide has everything you need to know. 

Knowing how to repurpose Instagram Reels is important when it comes to social media content creation. 

You may occasionally want to repost or edit someone else’s video, but you can only do this by downloading it from Instagram to your chosen app or device. 

In this article, I’ll show you four, quick and easy methods to download Instagram Reels on any device.

How to download Instagram Reels: 4 easy methods 

Whether you want to download a Reel from your own account or someone else’s content, there are a few different options. Here are 4 ways to download any Reel you like. 

1. Download Reels using the Instagram app

Downloading Reels from the Instagram app is pretty easy to do. If you’re downloading your own content, start by logging into the app and heading to your profile page. 

There, you will see three different tabs below the highlights section. Click the play button to open the Reels tab. 

Then choose the post you want to download from the feed. Once you’ve chosen the Reel, click on it to view it in fullscreen.

Then, hit Share in the bottom right-hand corner. After hitting the share button, you’ll see a few different options for sharing the Reel. Navigate to the bottom bar below the list of other accounts to share with. Then scroll all the way to the right and hit Download. 

To download Reels videos from other creators, the method is pretty much the same. Find the Reel you want to download in the feed, or on the creator’s profile, hit the Share button, scroll right, and hit Download. 

This method will work perfectly for downloading Reels as long as the content is public. If the Reel is private, you will need to use an app or screen recorder to download it. Keep reading and we’ll tell you exactly what to do.

2. Download Reels using iOS or Android apps  

To download Reels using an iOS or Android device you can also use Instagram Reels downloader apps to access the content. Some of the best apps for this include:

• InSaver (iOS)
• InstDown (iOS)
• Reel Saver (Android)
• FastSave (Android)

All the apps above can be found by searching in the Google Play store or iOS app store. Some of them are completely free and include useful features like HD or bulk downloading options.

Downloading a Reel using a dedicated app is pretty easy. All you will need to do is choose your Reel from Instagram, hit Share, and then choose the option to Copy Link. 

Then paste the link into your chosen app and it will download it for you. All apps work slightly differently but you should then have the option to save or download the Reel to your camera roll or repost them if the app has that feature. 

3. Download Reels using screen recording apps

If you want to download a Reel from Instagram and you can’t use the above methods you can also download it using your phone’s in-built screen recording software. iOS and Android devices both have this feature, and they can both be accessed in the settings app. 

Here’s what to do for each device type:

For iPhones and iOS devices

Go to the Control Center in the Settings app 

Find the Screen Recording option and click the green (+) button

You should now be able to click the screen recording button in the shortcut menu (slide down from the right-hand top corner).

When you’re ready to record, hit the Screen Recording button and then start playing the Reel. 

When the Reel is over, click the Screen Recording button again and then click Stop Recording. The Reel recording will then be saved to your image folder. 

For Android devices 

On Android devices, you should be able to find the screen recording app by swiping down twice at the top of your screen to open Quick Settings. If you can’t find the screen recording icon, swipe right and tap Edit to add it to your quick settings tab.

Then simply click the Screen Record button and return to the Instagram Reel you want to record. 

When the Reel is complete, head back to the quick settings menu and stop recording. It will then be saved to your video roll. 

When screen recording, you may not be able to record the Reel precisely, and you could end up with extra content being recorded at the beginning and end. But don’t worry — it’s easy to edit this out using your phone’s editing functions. 

4. Download Reels using online tools 

Downloading using mobile devices is pretty easy, but using your desktop can be a bit tougher. 

As you probably know, Instagram is not very efficient when accessed from the web, but there are a few tools you can use to download Reels when working from your laptop or PC. 

Here’s are two good options to consider:

• Kapwing – Kapwing is an online video editor. One of the best I’ve tried but it offers a really cool feature. When you open a new project you can enter the URL for the IG Reel and it will pull it into the editor automatically. This means you can edit it and then export it.
• Instagram Reels downloader – This simple tool can be used to download Reels from Instagram in a flash. Just select the Reel you want to download, hit share, and click Copy Link. Then head over to the webpage, paste the link, and press download. 

How to use downloaded Instagram Reels 

Knowing how to download Instagram Reels videos gives you access to a lot of content that can be repurposed as part of your marketing strategy. It can help you to save time and use similar content across different social channels. Here are some ways you can use downloaded Reels:

• Repost to other platforms. Short-form content works great on apps like TikTok and Facebook. You can also turn your downloaded Reels into YouTube shorts to gain more engagement.
• Edit and reformat the content. You can edit and improve a Reel by making it longer or shorter and adding different content. 
• Add your Reels to different marketing content. Use the Reels as part of digital newsletters, blog posts, and more. 

Short-form video content plays a huge part in the social media world, and Reels can easily be repurposed or reused on social platforms. To make the most of your video content, it’s good to stay organized, and downloading Reels is a good way to do this. 

However you choose to use your Reels, be sure to use the content appropriately.  If you’re downloading Reels that are from different creators, check out if you’re allowed to use them before you go ahead and share them.

Frequently asked questions 

Still have more questions about downloading Instagram Reels? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic:

What’s the easiest way to download Instagram Reels?

By far the most simple way to download Reels from Instagram is to download directly from the Instagram app. If you’re downloading your own or public content, it takes just a few clicks. However, downloading non-public content is a little trickier and may require apps or screen recording.

Is it legal to download and share Instagram Reels?

Downloading Reels for personal use is generally fine, but sharing or republishing them without the creator’s permission may violate copyright laws and Instagram’s terms of service. Always credit the creator if you intend to share downloaded content.

How can I download lots of Instagram Reels quickly?

Downloading Instagram videos in bulk is only possible if you use a 3rd party tool. One of the best tools for this is Kapwing. Just start a new project, paste in the URL and it will pull in the video. You can then edit and export it. Also works for videos on other platforms too.

Can I download Instagram Reels in HD?

Yes, many third-party tools will allow you to save Reels videos in high resolution. When choosing an app for downloading Reels, be sure to check that the tool offers HD downloads.

Can I download Reels with audio?

It depends. Some downloaded Reels will include the original audio. However, some tools might strip the audio due to copyright restrictions. Check the tool’s features before downloading.

Will a creator know if I download their Reel?

If you download a Reel using the Instagram app, the creator will not be notified. Instagram does not currently have a feature that alerts creators when someone saves or downloads their Reel, even if it’s done through the app’s built-in options. 

If you save a Reel before downloading, the creator can see the total number of saves their Reel has received, but not the specific accounts that saved it.

Final thoughts 

So there you have it—4 simple ways to download Instagram Reels to any device.

If you’re looking for other ways to boost your Instagram presence and use video content creatively, check out our posts on Instagram video ideas and our guide on how to get more Instagram followers.