You Can Download Instagram Reels From The App Itself, But There’s A Catch

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On Nov 23, 2023

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The Meta-owned social media platform Instagram has released a new feature that allows users to download Reels directly from its app without using third-party websites. Initially, the feature was rolled out in the United States, but now it’s available globally. Here’s everything you need to know about downloading reels from Instagram and what accounts are eligible for enabling the feature.

Instagram Allows Users To Download Reels From Public Accounts

Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, announced the feature via a broadcast channel on the app. The new feature allows users to save reels from public accounts on the platform to their gallery or downloads section. Mosseri also mentioned that all the downloaded reels will have an Instagram watermark and an account name, something similar to what TikTok has done.

How To Download Reels From Instagram App

Once the feature is available for everyone, downloading an Instagram reel will become as simple as tapping a button. All users have to do is tap the share button and select the download option, and the reel will download as a video. On the other hand, creators who wish to deactivate the feature should go to Settings, select the Privacy option, Choose Reels, and turn off the “Allow people to download your Reels” option.

Reels With Licensed Audio Won’t Have Sound

When it comes to audio clips, reels with licensed audio clips won’t have any audio. For instance, downloading a reel with a trending song playing in the background won’t be audible in the saved video. However, reels with original audio will have sound. Since the feature is rolling out, reaching your account may take some time.

Here’s How To Download Instagram Reels From Third-Party Apps

If you haven’t received the Instagram reel download feature yet, you can save it using third-party websites. To save a reel, copy its link, type Instagram downloader on Google, and paste the link in the first result that you get. If the first link doesn’t work, you can try pasting the link to the second or the third result. The website might take some time to load the video, and then you can hit the download button to save it to your gallery. Some examples that work are snapinsta.app and saveinsta.app.

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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