How to Download Facebook Reels to Your Phone (2026 Guide)

Facebook Reels is Meta’s answer to TikTok — short, engaging videos that rack up millions of views daily. But just like TikTok, Facebook doesn’t make it easy to download Reels to your phone.

Whether you want to save a hilarious clip, keep an inspirational video, or back up your own Reels, this guide shows you every method available.

Why Download Facebook Reels?

Offline viewing — Watch your saved Reels without internet, perfect for flights, commutes, or areas with poor signal.
Content repurposing — Creators can download their own Reels to repost on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram.
Archiving — Facebook content can disappear if the creator deletes it or their account gets deactivated. Downloading preserves it.
Sharing outside Facebook — Send a video to someone who doesn’t have Facebook, via WhatsApp, text, or email.

Method 1: MediaTools Facebook Downloader (Fastest)

The simplest method — works on iPhone, Android, PC, and Mac.

Step 1: Find the Reel

Open the Facebook app or website and find the Reel you want to download.

Step 2: Copy the Link

On mobile: Tap the three dots (⋯) on the Reel → Copy link
On desktop: Right-click the Reel or click the three dots → Copy link

Step 3: Download

Go to MediaTools Facebook Downloader.
Paste the Facebook link into the input box.
Click Get Video.
Choose your preferred quality and click Download.

The video saves directly to your phone’s camera roll or your computer’s Downloads folder. No account needed, no fees, no watermark added.

Method 2: Facebook’s Built-in “Save Video” (Limited)

Facebook lets you “Save” videos within the app:

Tap the three dots on any video → Save video
Find it later in Menu → Saved

However, this has major limitations:

The video is only accessible within the Facebook app
You can’t share it outside Facebook
If the original creator deletes it, your saved copy disappears too
You can’t edit or repurpose the video

Verdict: Fine for bookmarking, but doesn’t actually download anything to your device.

Method 3: Browser Developer Tools (Desktop Only)

Tech-savvy users can sometimes extract video URLs through browser developer tools:

Open the Reel in Chrome
Press F12 to open Developer Tools
Go to the Network tab
Filter by “media” and look for .mp4 requests
Copy the URL and open it in a new tab to download

Drawbacks:

Complicated and time-consuming
Doesn’t work if Facebook uses encrypted streams
Desktop-only (impossible on mobile)
Breaks frequently with Facebook updates

Verdict: Too complicated. Use MediaTools instead.

Method 4: Third-Party Apps (Risky)

Various apps claim to download Facebook videos. Most come with serious problems:

Ad overload — Free apps are typically funded by aggressive advertising
Privacy concerns — Some apps require your Facebook login, which is a major red flag
Malware risk — Google and Apple regularly remove video downloader apps for policy violations
App store removals — These apps frequently get banned, leaving you without a solution

Verdict: Too risky. A browser-based tool like MediaTools is safer because it never asks for your login credentials.

How to Download Facebook Reels on iPhone

iPhone users often struggle with video downloads because iOS restricts file downloads. Here’s the exact process:

Copy the Reel link from the Facebook app
Open Safari and go to getmediatools.com/facebook-downloader
Paste the link and click Get Video
Tap Download — the video will appear in your Files app
Open Files, find the video, tap it, then tap the Share button → Save Video
The Reel is now in your Camera Roll!

Tip: On iOS 16+, downloaded videos may go directly to your Photos app without needing the Files app step.

How to Download Facebook Reels on Android

Android makes it slightly easier:

Copy the Reel link from the Facebook app
Open Chrome and go to getmediatools.com/facebook-downloader
Paste the link and tap Get Video
Tap Download — the file saves to your Downloads folder
Open your Gallery app — the video should appear automatically

Can I Download Facebook Live Videos?

Yes, but only after the Live broadcast has ended and been saved as a regular video. While a broadcast is live, it can’t be downloaded. Once it’s converted to a regular video post, you can use the same Facebook Downloader process.

What About Private Videos or Groups?

Our tool can only download public videos. If a video is posted in a private group or on a private profile, it’s not accessible to external tools — and for good reason.

Respecting privacy is important. Only download content that’s been shared publicly.

Is It Legal to Download Facebook Reels?

Personal use: Generally fine. Saving a video to watch offline is widely considered acceptable.
Reposting others’ content: Don’t pass off someone else’s content as your own. Always credit the original creator.
Commercial use: Requires permission from the content creator and potentially from any music rights holders.
See Facebook’s Terms of Service for their full content usage policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What video quality can I download? Most Facebook Reels are available in HD (720p) or Full HD (1080p), depending on the original upload quality. Our tool downloads the highest quality available.

Does this work with regular Facebook videos too? Yes! Our Facebook Downloader works with Reels, regular video posts, videos shared in groups (public only), and Facebook Watch content.

Will the video have a watermark? No. Our tool downloads the original video file as uploaded to Facebook. We don’t add any watermarks or branding.

Can I download Facebook Reels on iPad? Yes, the process is the same as iPhone. Use Safari to visit our Facebook Downloader, paste the link, and download.

Why isn’t my download working? Make sure you’ve copied the correct link. The URL should start with https://www.facebook.com/ or https://fb.watch/. If the video is from a private profile or group, it won’t be accessible.

Save Your Favorite Facebook Reels

Don’t rely on Facebook keeping your favorite content available forever. Download your Facebook Reels now — it’s free, fast, and works on every device.

Related guides: