If you’ve ever come across an Instagram Reel you loved and wished you could download it to your iPhone, you’re not alone! Fortunately, Instagram has a built-in option to save public Reels for offline viewing or sharing with friends. You can also download private Reels on your iPhone if you follow that person, and they have enabled the option.
However, if you don’t find the Download button, worry not! In this guide, I’ll walk you through the easiest ways to download Instagram Reels on your iPhone—so you can watch them anytime, even offline!
3 ways to download Instagram reels on iPhone
There are multiple ways to download reels on an iPhone, regardless of whether the creator allows it, from using the official Instagram app to using a third-party app or an iOS shortcut.
1. Download reels using the Instagram iOS app
Starting in November 2023, Instagram finally listened to the community’s feedback & demands and rolled out the option to download public reels from the official app itself. However, to keep the creators’ privacy in check, Instagram has empowered them to choose whether they want their reels to have a download option.
Also, note that the downloaded reel will have a watermark of Instagram logo and the creators name. Additionally, you can’t save reels from private accounts unless they approve you as a follower and enable the download option.
- Open the Instagram app.
- Play the reel you want to download from the app’s Feed, Discover, or Saved posts section.
- Tap the Share button (flying paper plane) on the right.
- Tap the Download button at the bottom. If the Download option isn’t available, the creator has turned off downloading in the first place.
- Wait for the download to complete, then head to the Photos app to view the downloaded reel.
2. Save Instagram reels to iPhone camera roll with a third-party app
As mentioned, whether you can download an Instagram reel is in the creator’s control. So what if the creator has turned off downloading? Luckily, there are several third-party apps, such as InSaver, available on the App Store, which you can install and use to download Instagram reels on your iPhone. Here’s how:
- Download and install the InstDown app on your iPhone.
- Open the Instagram app and play the reel you want to download.
- Next, tap the Share button, then tap the Copy Link button.
- Close the Instagram app and head to the InstDown app.
- Now, paste the copied link in the search bar and hit Find.
- Wait for the app to find the reel. Once it finds it, tap the Save button to save the Instagram reel to your iPhone’s camera roll.
Now, you can view the reel from your Photos app library. The best part about this method is that it doesn’t include a watermark on the downloaded reel.
3. Download Instagram reels using the Shortcuts app
If using a third-party app or heading to a third-party website whenever you want to download an Instagram reel seems complex, you can use the R↓Download iOS Shortcut to do the job. Visit the link and add the shortcut to your Shortcuts app library. Then, follow these steps to download a reel using this shortcut:
- Open the Instagram app and play the reel you want to download.
- Tap the Share button on the left and select the Share to option at the bottom.
- Next, tap the R↓Download Shortcut tab in the Share Sheet that appears.
- If you are using this Shortcut for the first time, it will ask for a few permissions. Hit Allow to continue.
- Wait for the download process to complete, and the Instagram reel will get saved to your camera roll.
I prefer to use this method to save Instagram reels on my iPhone directly from the app without any watermarks.
Video: How to download Instagram reels on iPhone
Signing off…
That’s how easy it is to download reels from Instagram on an iPhone. While these methods should help you download the reels you want, if the original creator has turned off downloading and you don’t want to use a third-party app or iOS shortcut or don’t have enough data, you can use an iPhone’s screen recording tool to record them for offline viewing.
FAQs
No, you can not save Instagram reels for offline viewing without downloading, but you can screen record the reel and watch it offline.
Yes, it is legal to download public reels if the creator has allowed it. However, using the downloaded reel for commercial purposes without the original creator’s permission is strictly prohibited.
Yes, you can copy an Instagram reel link, head over to a third-party website, and paste the reel link to download it.
Yes, but only in certain cases. The Instagram app allows you to download Reels posted by others only if the creator has enabled the download option. However, downloaded Reels will include an Instagram watermark and the creator’s name, and some may not have audio due to copyright restrictions.
If the download option is not available in the Share menu, you can use the built-in screen recorder on your iPhone to capture the Reel while playing. Alternatively, copy the Reel’s link and use an online tool to download it on your iPhone (only if the Reel is public). Both methods will not produce any watermark on the video.
Yes. Many third-party apps request access to your Instagram account or personal data, which could be a security risk. Additionally, downloading someone else’s content without permission might violate Instagram’s policies and copyright laws. Always use trusted sources and respect content creators’ rights.
No. If an account is private, you cannot download or access its Reels unless you follow the account, and the creator has enabled downloads. Even then, you should respect their privacy and not share their content without permission.
If you saved Reels through Instagram or screen recording, they are saved in your Photos app library. However, online tools or third-party may save the Reel in the Files app or a custom folder, depending on its settings.
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