Facebook Video Download: Save Reels and Videos as MP4
Paste a public Facebook video or reel link and save it as an MP4 with sound. See every size Facebook really has, up to 1080p, and get the ready H.264 file that plays on WhatsApp, iPhone and every editor.
Save only public videos you made or have permission to use. Videos stay owned by the people who made them. Tube Snip is not affiliated with Facebook or Meta.
Updated
How to download a Facebook video in 3 steps
- Copy the link. In the Facebook app, tap Share under the video or reel, then Copy link. On a computer, click the three dots on the post and Copy link, or copy the address from the browser bar while the video is open.
- Paste it in the box above and tap Get video. You see the cover, the title, the page that posted it and every quality Facebook has for that video, each with its real size in pixels.
- Pick a quality and tap Download MP4. The best quality is selected for you. The file saves with sound, as a normal MP4 that phones, laptops and editing apps open.
There is no app to install, no sign-up and no Facebook login. If anyone can watch the video without being your friend or a group member, it can be saved here.
Which Facebook links work?
Facebook has many kinds of links for the same video. All of these work:
| Link looks like | Where you get it |
|---|---|
| facebook.com/reel/1234567890 | A reel, opened in a browser |
| facebook.com/watch/?v=1234567890 | A video in Facebook Watch |
| facebook.com/PageName/videos/1234567890 | A video on a page |
| facebook.com/share/r/AbC123 and /share/v/AbC123 | Copy link in the app (r = reel, v = video) |
| fb.watch/AbC123 | Short links people send in chats |
| m.facebook.com/… and web.facebook.com/… | The mobile and "web" versions of the site |
A link to a post (facebook.com/…/posts/…) or a profile is not a video link. Open the video itself, then copy its link.
What quality does Facebook really give you?
We downloaded reels and videos and checked exactly what Facebook sends. A video uploaded in Full HD comes in 1080p (1920×1080 for a landscape video, 1080×1920 for a vertical reel), and in smaller sizes too: 720p, 540p and 360p. The box shows the sizes that video really has, so you never pick "1080p" and get a 720p file.
| Quality | Landscape video | Vertical reel | How the picture is stored |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 1920×1080 | 1080×1920 | VP9 or AV1 |
| 720p | 1280×720 | 720×1280 | VP9 or AV1, and a ready H.264 file |
| 540p | 960×540 | 540×960 | VP9 or AV1 |
| 360p | 640×360 | 360×640 | VP9 or AV1, and a ready H.264 file |
A site that promises 4K Facebook downloads cannot give you more than Facebook keeps. Most videos on Facebook top out at 1080p, and what you can save is what Facebook has for that video.
Sizes from our tests, so you know what to expect on your phone:
| What we saved | File size | Time on our server |
|---|---|---|
| 2 min 48 s landscape video, 1080p | 26.4 MB | 8 seconds |
| Same video, 720p ready H.264 file | 21.5 MB | 2 seconds |
| Same video, 1080p converted to H.264 | 84.1 MB | 50 seconds |
| 62-second vertical reel, 1080p | 11.2 MB | 6 seconds |
Picture and sound arrive as two streams, and we join them into one MP4 without touching the picture. Nothing is re-compressed unless you ask for H.264 in a size Facebook does not have as H.264.
VP9, AV1 or H.264: which one plays on your device
Here is the part most Facebook video downloaders skip. When a website asks Facebook for a video, Facebook sends the best sizes in VP9 or AV1, two modern formats that look sharp at a small file size. Newer phones and current browsers play them. Older phones, iPhone Photos on older iOS versions, QuickTime and many editing apps do not, and you get sound with a black screen, or a file that will not open.
The Save as H.264 switch fixes that. H.264 is the format every phone, computer and editor has played for years. Facebook keeps a ready H.264 copy of most videos at 720p and 360p: with the switch on, we save that file as it is, with no conversion, so it is the fastest download of all (2 seconds in our test). For 1080p and 540p we convert the picture to H.264 on our server, which takes longer and makes a bigger file.
| Where you will watch or edit | VP9 / AV1 (switch off) | H.264 (switch on) |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a computer | ✓ plays | ✓ plays |
| Android phone, recent (Gallery, Google Photos, VLC) | ✓ plays in most cases | ✓ plays |
| Older Android phone or smart TV | May not play | ✓ Recommended |
| iPhone Photos, iPad, QuickTime on a Mac | May not play | ✓ Recommended |
| WhatsApp status, CapCut, InShot, Premiere Pro, iMovie | May not open | ✓ Recommended |
| Sending it on when you do not know the other phone | Risky | ✓ Safer |
Quick rule: for WhatsApp and phones, pick 720p with H.264 on. It is instant, small and plays everywhere. Pick 1080p with the switch off when you watch on a computer and want the sharpest picture.
Facebook's own Save button vs this tool vs screen recording
Facebook has a Save video option in the three-dot menu. It is useful, but it does not give you a file:
| Facebook's Save video | Tube Snip | Screen recording | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | A bookmark inside your Facebook account | An MP4 file on your device | A recording of your screen |
| Works without internet later | No | Yes | Yes |
| Use it in WhatsApp, an editor or a presentation | No | Yes | Yes, with your status bar in it |
| Quality | Streams from Facebook | Up to 1080p, the stream itself | Your screen's size, often blurred |
| Sound | Yes | Yes | Only if your phone records internal sound |
| Works on a computer | Yes, as a bookmark | Yes | Clumsy |
Facebook also lets you download your own videos from your account (see Facebook's help page on downloading videos you posted). For a public video someone else posted, a downloader like this one is the way to keep a copy.
Tube Snip vs other Facebook video downloaders
We read the most visible Facebook video downloaders on their own pages on 26 October 2026:
| Tool | Quality it promises | Shows the real sizes of each video | Ready H.264 for WhatsApp and iPhone | Facebook login | MP3 (audio only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tube Snip | Up to 1080p, as the video has it | Yes, in pixels | Yes, at 720p and 360p (others converted) | Never | Not yet |
| FDown | HD and SD links; "up to 4K" through its Chrome extension | Not stated | Not stated | Not needed for public videos | Not stated on the main page |
| SocialKing | "HD quality" | Not stated | Not stated | Not needed | Yes |
| Toolzu | "1080p or other resolutions" | Shows quality options | Not stated | Not needed | Says it converts to MP3 |
Toolzu says its downloads are unlimited and calls saving public videos "entirely legal"; we are more careful about that below. FDown also offers a separate "private video downloader" and a Chrome extension. We do not save private videos (see below), and we do not ask you to install anything. SocialKing offers an MP3 button, which we do not have for Facebook yet: if you only need the sound, save the MP4 and open it in any player, or use one of our audio tools for Instagram and TikTok sounds.
Public, private, groups and stories
- Public videos and reels: yes, that is what this tool is for.
- Friends-only and private videos: no. Only the people allowed to see them can, so our server cannot open them. We will never ask for your Facebook password, and you should not type it into any downloader.
- Private groups: no, for the same reason. Videos in public groups usually work.
- Stories: not yet. A story disappears after 24 hours and needs a login to see.
- Live videos: once the live stream has ended and is posted as a video, its link works like any other video.
How to save a Facebook video on iPhone, Android and computer
On iPhone or iPad
- In the Facebook app, tap Share → Copy link under the video.
- Open this page in Safari, paste the link and tap Get video.
- Keep Save as H.264 on (it is on by default on iPhone) and tap Download MP4.
- Open the Files app → Downloads, tap the video, then Share → Save Video to put it in Photos.
On Android
- In the Facebook app, tap Share → Copy link.
- Open this page in Chrome, paste the link and tap Get video.
- Tap Download MP4. The video lands in Files → Download, and Google Photos or your Gallery shows it within a minute (open Files → Download if it does not).
On Windows, Mac or a Chromebook
- Open the video on facebook.com and copy the address from the browser bar (or use Copy link on the post).
- Paste it here, pick a quality, tap Download MP4. The file is in your Downloads folder.
- On a Mac, turn Save as H.264 on if you will open it in QuickTime or iMovie.
When a Facebook video will not download
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Facebook did not open this video for us" | The video is private, friends-only, in a private group, or was removed | Check that you can watch it while logged out. If not, it cannot be saved here |
| "Paste a Facebook reel or video link" | The link is to a post, a profile or a page, not to the video | Open the video itself and copy its link, or use Share → Copy link |
| Sound plays but the picture is black | Your player cannot show VP9 or AV1 | Download again with Save as H.264 on, ideally at 720p |
| WhatsApp says the video is not supported | Same format problem | Use 720p with H.264 on |
| No 1080p in the list | The video was uploaded in a lower quality | Pick the highest size shown: it is the best Facebook has |
| It takes a while at 1080p with H.264 | The picture is being converted on our server | Wait, or pick 720p with H.264 on for an instant file |
| "You reached 20 downloads this hour" | Free use is limited per hour | Wait for the hour to pass, or sign in on a paid plan |
| The download does not start on iPhone | Safari asked where to save it, or blocked it | Tap Download in Safari's prompt, then look in Files → Downloads |
Is it legal to download Facebook videos?
Downloading is fine for your own videos, for videos released under a Creative Commons license, and for videos whose owner has given you permission. For anything else, saving a copy for yourself to watch offline is a grey area in many countries, and reposting someone else's video without permission breaks Facebook's rules and usually copyright law.
Good practice: keep downloads for personal use, ask before you reuse a video, and always credit the creator. Tube Snip is not affiliated with Facebook or Meta, and we do not keep the videos you save: files are deleted from our server after a short time.
Why we built it this way
- Real sizes, not promises. The quality list comes from the video itself, with pixels. If it says 1080p, the file is 1080p.
- The fast H.264 file. Facebook already keeps an H.264 copy at 720p and 360p. Most downloaders never tell you, so people end up with files their phone cannot play. We use it directly.
- No login, ever. We only open what any visitor can see without an account.
- No install, no pop-up chain. One box, one download button, a normal MP4.
More free download tools
- Instagram Reels & Video Downloader: any public reel as MP4, up to 1080p, with an H.264 option.
- Instagram Audio Downloader: a reel's sound as MP3, Instagram's original M4A or WAV.
- TikTok to MP3: the sound of any TikTok, with the song name filled in.
- YouTube video downloader: any YouTube video from 144p to 4K, always with sound.
- YouTube Shorts downloader: Shorts as MP4 with no watermark, on any phone.
Sources: Facebook Help Center: downloading your videos · Can I use: AV1 video support in browsers · Can I use: WebM / VP9 support.
Questions about this tool
How do I download a Facebook video?
Copy the video's link (Share → Copy link), paste it in the box at the top of this page and tap Get video. Pick a quality and tap Download MP4. It needs no app and no login.
How do I download Facebook reels?
The same way: copy the reel's link, paste it here and tap Get video. Vertical reels keep their 9:16 shape, up to 1080×1920.
Can I download Facebook videos in HD or 1080p?
Yes, when the video was uploaded in 1080p. The box lists the sizes that video really has, with pixels, so you can see before you save.
Can I download Facebook videos in 4K?
Only if Facebook kept that video in 4K, which is rare. Almost every video we tested topped out at 1080p, and no downloader can give more than Facebook stores.
Why does my downloaded video play sound but show a black screen?
Facebook sends the best sizes as VP9 or AV1, which some players cannot show. Download again with Save as H.264 on; at 720p that file is ready at once.
Which quality is best for WhatsApp?
720p with Save as H.264 on. It is Facebook's own H.264 file, so it is fast, small and plays on every phone.
Can I download a private Facebook video?
No. Private and friends-only videos can only be seen by the people allowed to, and we never ask for your Facebook login. Never type your password into a downloader.
Can I download videos from Facebook groups?
From public groups, usually yes. From private groups, no, because the video needs a member's login.
Does the downloaded video have a watermark?
No. We save the video stream Facebook plays, with nothing added.
Where is the video saved on my phone?
On iPhone, in the Files app under Downloads (then Share → Save Video to add it to Photos). On Android, in Files → Download, and it shows up in your Gallery or Google Photos.
Can I download Facebook stories?
Not yet. Stories need a login to see and disappear after 24 hours.
Can I convert a Facebook video to MP3?
Not on this page yet. Save the MP4: its sound is AAC, which every phone and player can play.
Is this Facebook video downloader free?
Yes. It is free with no account, and free use allows up to 20 downloads an hour.
Does Facebook tell the person that I downloaded their video?
No. We open the video the same way any visitor who is not logged in would.
Can I repost a video I downloaded from Facebook?
Only if it is yours, released under Creative Commons, or you have the owner's permission. Credit the creator when you share it.