Learning how to save a video for Instagram gives you more control over your content. It will also help you hold onto funny posts that can disappear overnight. Going back to these videos might even unlock great ideas for your next post.
Keep reading to learn more about downloading IG videos and putting them in collections.
Why Save Instagram Videos?
Downloading Insta posts and even saving videos to collections can really help your account. So long as you do this ethically, that is. You shouldn’t save somebody’s explicitly-private stories, for example. Here are some good reasons for saving IG videos:
- Content inspiration: You might want to build a mood board of pics and videos that fit your account. Saving them in one location helps you brainstorm great ideas.
- Reference videos: This video may be a tutorial you want to keep close by. Downloading it lets you simply go back to the video for when you next need it.
- Offline viewing: Similarly, you might just want to keep a fun video to watch even without a Wi-Fi connection. Saving it to your device makes this easier than ever.
- Preserving posts: Not every Instagram page will last forever. Saving a video is perhaps necessary to make sure you can still view it this time next year.
- Memories: Many people save Insta videos that they’re in. They can then keep the file for themselves. Use the screen recording feature if this is a temporary story post.
- Brand research: You can save your competitors’ videos and see their latest social media strategy. This shows you where there’s a gap in the market you can take advantage of.
- Archiving your own work: Instagram won’t let you save your own posts directly to your camera roll. An online tool can help you get the source file back.
How To Save a Video for Instagram
Saving IG videos will let you hang onto your own content or get inspiration from other pages. It’s possible to save most Insta videos, including someone else’s Reels. Here are four ways you can hold onto an Instagram video post.
1. Use Third-Party Tools
There are plenty of tools that can help you save online content — and not just on Instagram. SurFast Video Downloader, for example, lets you download content from over 1,000 websites. However, the free plan only lets you save three videos. Many of these tools come with a paywall.
2. Save a Video Story
You can save any of your stories to your camera roll, no matter their format. Simply click on the three-dot icon and either select Save Story or Save Video. The former will export your whole story as a single video. Save Video just downloads that specific story post.
3. Download DM Videos
If somebody sends you a video via direct message, you can usually download it. Simply hold down on the video and tap Save when the option appears. You can’t save disappearing videos, however. The point of this particular format is that you only watch the video once.
4. Record Your Screen
Most phones come with a screen recording function. You can alternatively download an app that has this feature. This is ideal for recording somebody else’s story videos or a video on a private account. They won’t get a notification if you do this — even on their stories.
How Does an Instagram Downloader Work?
There are browser-based and app-based Insta saving tools. The former runs on a website (and is more likely to be free). You must download the latter to your computer or mobile. These tools are also more likely to cost money.
Most IG downloaders just ask for the post’s URL. You can get this by clicking the paper airplane logo on a post and pressing Copy Link. Paste the URL into your tool of choice. Please note that you can’t save private videos this way — even if you have the link. The downloader simply won’t work.
After a quick confirmation that it can download the file, choose the video quality. Remember that higher quality naturally means a higher file size, though. Either way, the download shouldn’t take too long. You can then watch the video whenever you want.
Building Your Instagram Collections
You can make themed collections full of videos and photos. These could include your own posts but will probably focus on other types of content you find across the app.
Collections are mini-galleries you can sort posts into at your leisure. Click the bookmark logo on the right side of any post. This brings up a menu that confirms you’ve saved the post. You can then click New Collection to start a new “album” of sorts.
Name the collection so you remember its theme. You will then be able to sort future saves into it with ease. For example, you can save a competitor’s Reel to collections about market research.
These collections are fully private unless you specifically make them collaborative. You can then open them up to your whole team. Anyone can add great content inspiration to the collection. In fact, each collaborator will bring a wider range of Instagram content ideas to the table.
You can view your collections by clicking your profile photo icon in the bottom right of your Insta feed. Then, you have to press the three horizontal lines in the top right. In your settings, click Saved. This shows All Posts as well as the collections you’ve created.
Saving Videos From Private Accounts
An Instagram downloader won’t work on private accounts. This includes your own, so you might have to make your account public for a short while. For somebody else’s page, your only option is to record your device’s screen. This might not offer the most seamless experience, though.
This isn’t ideal if you want to share private Reels with people. But you have to respect a person’s privacy. They might not want anyone except their followers to see this content. This goes double if you’re on that person’s Close Friends list. Some posts should stay exclusive — and IG stories are meant to be temporary.
You could instead ask the creator to send you the video via a DM on Instagram. You can then save it like any other message video. Alternatively, ask them to put their stories in highlights to preserve them. If they refuse, respect this. You can’t force them to share their content.
FAQs
How long can an Instagram video be?
An Instagram video can be as short as 3 seconds and as long as 60 minutes. Reels can be from 15 to 90 seconds, and Stories from one to 60 seconds.
Is it legal to save Instagram videos?
It is not illegal to save Instagram videos.as long as you’re downloading them for yourself and not sharing them for nefarious purposes.
Can you save a video from an Instagram message?
Yes, you can. The process just involves tapping and holding the video you want to save from your DMs.
Save a Video for Instagram and Grow Your Account
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