Have you come across an Instagram Reel that you like and now you desperately want to download that Reel to your phone’s gallery? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to download Instagram Reels on Android, iOS, and Desktop.
As we all know, Instagram did not allow a user to download Reels directly within the app. But not anymore, Instagram has finally added the feature to download Reels in one click. With the help of this feature, you will be able to save Instagram Reels directly to your smartphone’s gallery. But how exactly?
Keep reading this article as we’re about to unveil the steps to download Instagram Reels to your gallery using the new IG Reels download feature. We’ll also look at other genuine methods to download Instagram Reels on Android, iOS, and desktop.
How to download Instagram Reels 2023
If you’ve just left a Reels hanging on Instagram and now you’re looking for a quick way to download that IG Reels before it moves away, here we’ve mentioned 3 simple methods that you can follow step-by-step to save your favorite Reels. Expand the table below to find all the methods.
Method 1: Download Instagram Reels with music (Android & iOS)
The simplest way to download Instagram Reels with music is to use Instagram’s new download feature. This method works on every IG Reels available publicly and on any device, Android or iOS. Now, having said that, let’s move to the steps.
Step 1. Open the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device. First, make sure you have the latest version of it installed on your phone. If not, update it through the Play Store or App Store, depending on your device.
Step 2. Now, go to the Reels you want to download and start playing it.
Step 3. While the Instagram Reels is playing, tap on the “Share” button (paper plane icon) on the right side.
Step 4. Lastly, from the bottom options bar, tap on the “Download” button. Within a few seconds, your Instagram Reels will now start downloading with music on your device.
You can see a confirmation notification on the bottom saying ‘Downloading…..‘. Now, once your Instagram Reels is saved on your device, it will start showing in the gallery where you can play it.
Note that if you’re unable to see any download option, it’s because the owner of Reels has disabled the permission to download on Instagram.
Therefore, you won’t be able to download the Reel on Instagram using that feature. In this case, we suggest you follow the second method.
Method 2: Save Instagram Reels via story
If the above method doesn’t work for you, don’t worry, you can still save your Instagram Reels using the story. Yes, you can download a Reel by using the story on Instagram, even without posting. Here are the steps to follow for saving Instagram Reels via story:
Step 1. Open the Instagram app and head to the Reels you wish to save on your device.
Step 2. When the Reel is playing, tap on the “Share” option on the right side and choose to “Add to story” option. This will take the Reels to your Instagram Story to share.
Step 3. Next, resize the Reels by pinching the two fingers as desired. You can skip it if you don’t have any problem with the default size.
Step 4. Now, don’t publish the story, instead tap on the three dots menu on the top right corner and select the “Save” option to save the Reels.
Step 5. Discard the story.
That’s it, your Instagram Reel will be saved to a gallery on your device without publishing the story. And the great part is your downloaded Reels through the story will be saved with music as Instagram now no longer mutes the video.
Method 3: Download Instagram Reels via third-party websites
If any of the above methods don’t suit you, one of the easiest ways to download Instagram Reels is via third-party websites. This nifty trick helps you to download an Instagram Reel without any reduction in video quality. Let’s take a look at the steps to download an Instagram Reel via third-party websites:
Step 1. Open the Instagram app on your smartphone or laptop.
Step 2. Go to the Reels you want to download on your device.
Step 3. Next, if you are using a smartphone, tap on the “Share (Paper plane icon) button” on the right side and choose the “Copy link” option to copy the URL of that Reel. If you’re on a laptop or desktop, tap on the three dots menu and then select the “Copy link” option.
Step 4. Now, open Chrome browser and go to “saveinsta.app“. You can use any other Instagram downloader websites such as ‘sssinstagram.com’, ‘instasavevideo.net’, ‘igram.com’, and so on.
Step 5. Paste the copied Instagram Reels link in the blank box and click the “Download” button beside.
Step 6. You’ll now see a preview of the Instagram Reels you want to download. Lastly, click on the “Download video” button below the video.
That’s all, your Instagram Reels will now be downloaded to your device without any quality reduction which you can view in the gallery.
FAQs
Can I download Instagram Reels directly from the app?
Yes, Instagram now does provide a built-in feature to download Reels within the app. However, there are alternative methods you can use to save them to your device.
Is it legal to download Instagram Reels?
Yes, it is safe and legal to download Instagram Reels as long as you're downloading your own Reels. If you are downloading someone else's Reel, make sure that you take creator's permission or adhere copyright and intellectual property rights.
Are there risks associated with using third-party Instagram Reels downloader tools?
Yes, using third-party tools can pose security risks, as they may require access to your Instagram credentials. Therefore, it's always better to use genuine and popular Instagram Reels downloader tools.
Can I download Reels on my mobile device?
Yes, there are third-party apps available for Android that allow users to download Instagram Reels directly to their mobile devices. They are, however, risky, so we recommend that you use third-party websites instead.
Can I download Reels from private Instagram accounts?
Yes, you can download Reels from private Instagram accounts by adding the Reel to your Story. Simply add the Reels to your Instagram Story and, before publishing, tap the save button in the three-dot menu on the top right.
Where are downloaded Instagram Reels saved?
The Instagram Reels that you download on your smartphone or laptop are save in the default Download folder of the respective device.
Chandramohan Rajput is the Senior Editor at Digital Bachat and has been covering apps, gadgets, IoT news, and in-depth how-tos since 2019. When he’s not exploring new tech, you can find him playing cricket or immersed in Counter-Strike 2.
