How to download Instagram Reels on iOS and Android

Instagram lets you save posts, reels, and other content you find on the platform. But users have been asking for the option to download Instagram Reels to their phones for a long time. Instagram listened to community feedback and introduced this feature in June 2023. However, at that time it was limited to the United States. The feature is now widely rolled out, allowing anyone to download Instagram Reels from the Android or iOS app itself. Read on to know how it works.

Download Instagram Reels on Android and iOS

This feature allows you to download Reels in up to 1080p resolution if a user posts them in a higher resolution. Also, the process to do this is the same for both Android and iOS. So in this case, I’ll demonstrate everything using an Android device.

Note: You can only download Instagram Reels from public accounts. Therefore, if you want to download reels shared by private accounts, it is not possible. Additionally, public accounts must enable this feature for users to be able to download Reels.

That aside, let’s take a look at how to use this feature.

• First, open the Instagram app on your Android and iOS devices.
• Then, open the Reel you want to download from the Feed, Discover, or Saved section of the app.
• Tap on the share icon below that particular reel.
• Here you will see the download option in the bottom bar. Just tap on it and you’re done.

The downloaded Instagram Reel will now be saved on your device with a watermark of the creator’s username on the video. So, just go to your phone’s gallery and find the downloaded video.

Additionally, the ability to download Instagram Reels is currently limited to the Android and iOS apps. So if you want to view Instagram on the web, you won’t be able to download it.

Prevent others from downloading your Instagram Reels

There’s a reason it took Instagram so long to finally offer a “download” button on Reels uploaded to the platform. You’ve probably come across random meme pages that share other creators’ content without credit. Therefore, creators will automatically lose a lot of views.

The good thing here is that when you download Instagram Reels natively, the app will watermark the Reels with the creator’s username . If you still want to prevent others from downloading your content, you have two options:

Method 1: Disable downloads for existing reels

To turn off downloads for Reels that already exist on your Instagram profile, follow these steps:

• Go to your Instagram profile and tap to open the Reel you want to turn off downloads for.
• Then select the vertical three-dot icon in the top right corner of the reels.
• Now, tap on the “Turn off downloads ” option and you’re done.

You can repeat this step to turn on Reels downloads for your account. Additionally, you can also learn how to save Instagram stories with music via the linked guide.

Method 2: Disable downloads when posting new Reels

You can also turn off downloads before posting your Reels to Instagram. To do so:

• If you want to create or upload an Instagram Reel, tap Next .
• Next, scroll down and go to Advanced Settings from the Reels Settings page.

• Here you will find a “Download Reels” section. Below this, you’ll see an option to toggle on ” Allow users to download Reels .” By default, this option is turned on for public accounts for users 18 and older. Tap to turn it off.
• From here, you’ll see a small pop-up window where you can choose to turn off downloads for only the Reel you’re uploading, or for all Instagram Reels. Tap the desired setting and you’re done.

If you want to turn Reels downloads back on, repeat the steps for both methods.

Whether you want to share it with your circle as a video instead of just a link or simply repost your Instagram content, this native Reels download option makes everything much easier. Not to mention, it’s much safer than relying on third-party apps or websites.

If you’re using a PC, you won’t be able to download Instagram Reels on the web, so you’ll have to rely on third-party tools. However, we strongly advise against doing this as these third-party tools are not secure and may pose threats to your Instagram account. That said, let us know in the comments if you found this guide helpful.