Facebook is a treasure of entertaining, educational, and inspiring videos. Sometimes, you find a video you’d love to save on your device, but Facebook doesn’t provide a built-in download option for videos.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to easily and safely download Facebook videos whether you’re using your computer, iPhone, or Android phone.
Also, read How to Post Anonymously on Facebook Group
Why Download Facebook Videos?
Sometimes you come across videos you want to save for later or view offline. For me, I’ve saved workout tutorials, cooking recipes, and even memorable family moments shared by friends. Instead of scrolling endlessly to find these videos again, downloading them makes life much easier.
Download Facebook Videos on Phone
Though the Facebook app doesn’t allow direct downloads, you can still save video using a browser or third-party apps. Here’s how I do it:
Method 1: Using Facebook on the Web
From this method, you can directly download a Facebook video directly from the browser on Android. Sadly, iPhone users can only use Method 2 from the guide below to download Facebook videos. This method won’t work on iOS.
- Open Facebook.com on your web browser and find the video you want to download.
- Long-press on the video to see more options and tap Download video. The download will begin automatically.
- Once the video is downloaded, you can locate it in the Downloads folder of your Android device using a File Manager. Alternatively, you can tap Open right after the download is complete to play the video.
Method 2: Using a Third Party App
Many apps on the Play Store can help you download Facebook videos in a flash. These third-party apps simplify video downloads by removing extra steps. I’ve tried a few, and here’s how they work:
1. First, Install the All Socials video downloader from the Play Store and FSave from the App Store.
2. Open the Facebook app and copy the video link: tap the three dots icon and select Copy link.
3. Now, open the video downloader app on your Android phone or iPhone.
4. After that, Paste the copied link into the text box and tap the Download button.
5. Then, choose your preferred quality: SD or HD.
6. That’s it. The video will be saved in the Download folder in your internal storage.
Download Facebook Videos on PC
You can follow a few different ways to download Facebook videos from a PC.
Method 1: Using “mbasic” in the URL
1. Open Facebook.com and find the video you want to download.
2. Click the three dots icon and choose Copy link to copy the video’s link.
3. Open a new browser tab and paste the copied link into the URL box.
4. Now, remove “www” from the URL and replace it with “mbasic.”
5. Then, press Enter, and the old Facebook interface will appear.
6. After that, Click on the video to open it in a new tab.
7. Then, click the three dots icon and select Download to save the video.
Method 2: Download Videos Using a Third Party Website
The simplest way to download Facebook videos is by using third-party video downloaders. Fdown is a popular tool that makes it quick and easy. Here’s how:
1. First, go to fdown.net.
2. Copy the video link from Facebook by clicking the three dots icon and selecting Copy link.
3. Once copied, go to fdown.net and paste the link into the text field. Click Download.
4. Now, It will show you all available video resolutions after a short wait.
5. Select your preferred resolution and click Download again. The video will start downloading.
The video will now be saved to your computer.
Method 3: How to Save a Video on Facebook to Watch Later (No Download Needed)
If you don’t want to download a video but want to save it for later viewing, Facebook offers a built-in feature for both mobile and desktop. This saves the video to your Facebook account so you can easily find it again without cluttering your phone or PC.
On Mobile (Android & iPhone):
- Open Facebook and find the video you want to save.
- Now, tap the three dots on the top-right of the post.
- After that, tap the Save Video option, and it will be added to your saved list.
- To view your saved videos, go to your Facebook menu and tap Saved.
On PC:
- Open Facebook and find the video you want to save.
- On the video post, click the three dots.
- Then, click Save Video, and it will be saved to your Saved Items list.
- On your Facebook home page, click Saved in the left sidebar to access all your saved content.
Whether you’re saving a favourite tutorial or saving a funny video, these methods ensure you can download or save Facebook videos with ease. If you don’t want to download but still want to watch something later, the Save Video feature is a great way to keep it organized on your Facebook account.
FAQs
1. Are third-party apps safe to use?
Ans. Yes, if you use trusted apps like VidMate or Snaptube from their official websites. Avoid downloading apps from unknown sources.
2. Can I download private Facebook videos?
Ans. Private videos are more difficult to download. You can only download them if you have permission from the video owner and use tools like Video Download sites.
3. Is downloading Facebook videos legal?
Ans. It’s okay for personal use, but it’s not legal to redistribute or share downloaded videos without permission from the original creator.
4. What’s the easiest method?
Ans. For me, using third-party applications on Android is the simplest, while browser tools are the easiest for PC.
5. Will downloading videos notify the uploader?
Ans. No, Facebook doesn’t notify users when their videos are downloaded.
Further Reading
- How To Change Facebook Page Name (Step-By-Step-Guide)
- How to Quickly Delete All Facebook Posts in Bulk
- How to securely log out of Facebook on all devices
