Before you start
- An iPhone with iOS 13 or later, which added file downloads to Safari.
- The link to a public Facebook video or Reel.
- Enough free storage for the file. Long HD videos can take hundreds of megabytes.
Step 1: Copy the video link in the Facebook app
Open the video or Reel in the Facebook app. Tap Share, then Copy link. The link is now on your clipboard.
Step 2: Paste the link into FBDownload in Safari
Open this page in Safari and tap Paste next to the link field. If a small Paste bubble appears, tap it. You can also touch and hold the field and choose Paste. Then tap Download.
Step 3: Choose a quality and download
When the preview appears, tap the quality you want. Safari will ask if you want to download it. Tap Download. A download icon appears in the address bar while the file transfers.
Step 4: Find the video in the Files app
Open the Files app, tap Browse, and open the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. Safari saves files there by default. (You can change this folder in Settings → Safari → Downloads.)
Step 5: Save the video to the Photos app
In Files, tap the video to open it, tap the Share button, and choose Save Video. The clip now appears in Photos, next to your camera recordings.
Saving photos and audio on iPhone
Photos from a post download the same way. Open the image in Files, tap Share, and choose Save Image. A ZIP of several photos opens into a folder when you tap it in Files, and Audio only (M4A) files play directly in Files.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens when I tap Download. Make sure you are using Safari on iOS 13 or later. The browser built into the Facebook app may block downloads, so open this page in Safari instead.
- The video plays instead of downloading. Go back, tap the download button again, and choose Download in Safari's prompt instead of View.
- The preview shows an error. The post is probably private or deleted. Open the link in a private Safari tab; if Facebook asks you to log in, it cannot be downloaded.
iPhone download FAQ
Do I need an app to download Facebook videos on iPhone?
No. Safari on iOS 13 or later downloads files directly, and the Files app can save the video to Photos. FBDownload works entirely in the browser.
Where do downloaded Facebook videos go on iPhone?
Safari saves them to the Downloads folder in the Files app, either on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive. From there you can save them to Photos.
Can I download Facebook Reels on iPhone the same way?
Yes. Copy the Reel link from the Facebook app and follow the same steps. Reels save as vertical MP4 files with sound.
Why can't I download inside the Facebook app?
The browser built into the Facebook app does not always support file downloads. Copy the link, open FBDownload in Safari, and paste it there.