Save Facebook videos and Reels to your iPhone
Facebook's Save button only bookmarks a video inside the app. Paste the link here in Safari to get the actual MP4, then add it to Photos.
How to save a Facebook video to Photos on iPhone
- 01
Copy the video link
Tap Share under the video, then Copy link.
- 02
Download it in Safari
Paste the link above, tap Get video, pick HD or SD, then Download MP4.
- 03
Move it to Photos
Open the Files app, go to Downloads, tap the video, tap Share, then Save Video.
Skip the copy and paste with a Shortcut
Build this once and "Download video" shows up in the share sheet of Facebook and every other app. It takes about a minute.
- 1.Open the Shortcuts app and tap + to start a new shortcut.
- 2.Tap the ⓘ button, turn on Show in Share Sheet, and set it to receive URLs and Text.
- 3.Add the URL Encode action. Its input is Shortcut Input.
- 4.Add the Open URLs action and set it to https://www.phylix.com/video-downloader?url= followed by the URL Encoded Text variable.
- 5.Name it "Download video". Next time, tap Share in Facebook, then More, and pick it.
HD or SD on a phone?
HD looks sharper on a big screen but can be several times larger. SD is usually plenty for watching on a phone and leaves more room on it.
Why save Facebook videos this way
A real file
The video lives in your camera roll, so it stays even if the post is deleted.
You pick the size
Choose HD for sharpness or SD to save storage.
No Facebook login
Nothing to sign in to. The tool only reads public videos.
Supported links
- facebook.com/page/videos/1234567890/
- facebook.com/reel/1234567890/
- facebook.com/watch/?v=1234567890
- fb.watch/abc123/
- facebook.com/share/v/… and /share/r/…
Frequently asked questions
What does Facebook's Save button actually do?
It adds the video to your Saved list inside Facebook. No file lands on your phone, and the video disappears from Saved if the owner deletes it.
Where do Facebook downloads go on iPhone?
Safari puts them in the Downloads folder of the Files app. From there, tap Share and Save Video to add one to Photos.
Why won't a video from my feed download?
Many feed videos come from private profiles or groups that only signed-in members can see. Only videos a logged-out visitor can watch will download.
Is the video downloader free?
Yes. There's no account, no ads and nothing to install. Each connection can look up 25 links every 5 minutes, which keeps the service quick for everyone.
Do you keep a copy of the videos I download?
No. The tool reads the public post to find its video file and hands you the link. When you tap Download MP4, the file passes straight through to your device and no copy stays on our servers.
Why does a direct link stop working after a while?
TikTok, Instagram and Facebook sign their video links and let them expire. TikTok's last a few hours, Instagram's and Facebook's a few days. Paste the post link again for a fresh one.
Can I download videos from private accounts?
No. The tool sees exactly what a logged-out visitor sees, so private accounts, close-friends posts and members-only groups can't be downloaded.
Is it legal to download these videos?
The video belongs to the person who made it. Save videos for your own offline viewing or with the creator's permission, don't re-upload someone else's work, and follow each platform's terms. PhylixTools isn't affiliated with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Meta.