How to Download Facebook Videos on iPhone and iPad
To download a Facebook video on iPhone or iPad, copy the video’s link in the Facebook app, paste it into FbVideoDownloader in Safari and tap Download — the MP4 lands in the Files app under Downloads. You need no app, no login and no extension.
Below you’ll find the exact steps, where the file is saved, how to move it to Photos, which quality plays best on iOS and how to fix the problems iPhone users run into most.
How Do You Download a Facebook Video on iPhone?
You download a Facebook video on iPhone by pasting its link into an online downloader in Safari and saving the MP4 to Files.
- Open the video or Reel in the Facebook app, tap Share and choose Copy link.
- Open Safari and go to the free Facebook video downloader at fb-video-downloader.com.
- Paste the link into the box and tap Download. The available qualities appear in a few seconds.
- Tap Download next to the HD file. If Safari asks whether you want to download it, confirm with Download.
- When the download finishes, the video is waiting in Files → Downloads.
The same steps work on iPad. You get an HD MP4 with sound, and no watermark is added to the file.
Where Are Downloaded Facebook Videos Saved on iPhone?
Safari saves downloaded Facebook videos to the Files app, in the Downloads folder.
Open Files, tap Browse and choose Downloads. Depending on your Safari settings, that folder sits in iCloud Drive or under On My iPhone (On My iPad on a tablet). Videos in iCloud Drive sync to your other Apple devices and use iCloud storage; you can switch the location in Safari’s Downloads setting in the Settings app.
Downloaded videos don’t appear in the Photos app on their own — that takes one more step.
How Do You Move a Facebook Video From Files to Photos?
To add a downloaded Facebook video to Photos, open it in the Files app, tap Share and choose Save Video.
- Open Files → Downloads and tap the video.
- Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow).
- Choose Save Video. The video now appears in your Photos library.
Which Facebook Video Quality Plays Best on iPhone?
On iPhone and iPad, the HD 720p file is the safe choice: it uses H.264 video and AAC audio, which every Apple device plays.
| Download option | Resolution | Format | On iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD with sound | Usually 720p | MP4 (H.264 + AAC) | Plays on every iPhone and iPad |
| SD with sound | 360p | MP4 (H.264 + AAC) | Plays everywhere, smallest file |
| Higher resolution with sound | 1080p, 1440p or 4K | MP4 (AV1 video) | May not play on older iPhones |
| Audio only | — | M4A (AAC) | Original soundtrack |
1080p, 1440p and 4K appear only when the video was uploaded in that quality. If one of those AV1 files won’t open or shows a blank picture, download the 720p file instead — Facebook video quality explained covers why. Want just the sound? Save the M4A, or use the FB to MP3 converter, which creates an MP3 right in Safari.
Can You Download Facebook Reels and Live Videos on iPhone?
Yes — Reels, Watch videos and Live replays download on iPhone exactly like any other Facebook video.
In the Facebook app, Share → Copy link gives a /share/r/ link for a Reel and a /share/v/ link for a regular video; both work, as do facebook.com/reel/…, facebook.com/watch/?v=… and fb.watch links. Reels save as vertical MP4 files with their original sound, and a Live video becomes downloadable once the broadcast ends and the replay is posted. For Reel-specific tips, see how to download Facebook Reels in HD.
Stories are the exception: they aren’t regular videos, so use our sister tool Facebook Story Viewer for them.
Do You Need an App to Save Facebook Videos on iPhone or iPad?
No — Safari and the Files app are all you need, with nothing to install and no Facebook login.
The Facebook app’s own Save option only bookmarks a video inside Facebook, and the bookmark stops working if the owner deletes it. An online FB video downloader gives you a real MP4 you keep offline, and FbVideoDownloader doesn’t store the videos you download. Other browsers such as Chrome also work on iPhone, though they may keep downloads in their own folder in Files. On other devices, follow the Android guide or the PC and Mac guide.
How to Fix Facebook Video Downloads That Fail on iPhone
Most iPhone download problems come from the link, the video’s privacy setting or the file format.
- The video plays instead of downloading: go back, long-press the Download button and choose Download Linked File.
- The file won’t play: it’s probably a high-resolution AV1 file; download the 720p version.
- The video isn’t public: videos for Friends, Only me, a custom audience or a private group can’t be downloaded by any online tool — see why private videos stay protected.
- A download stopped working later: download links expire after a few hours, so paste the Facebook link again.
- You can’t find the file: check Downloads in both iCloud Drive and On My iPhone.
For any other error, see the nine fixes for a Facebook video downloader that isn’t working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch downloaded Facebook videos on iPhone without internet?
Yes. You need Wi-Fi or mobile data to download the video, but once the MP4 is in Files or Photos it plays offline.
Is downloading Facebook videos on iPhone free?
Yes. FbVideoDownloader is free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark to the video.
Does a downloaded Facebook video keep its captions?
Captions that are part of the picture stay in the video. Facebook’s separate captions, when available, download as an SRT subtitle file.
Is it legal to save Facebook videos to my iPhone?
Saving a public video for personal offline viewing is generally tolerated, but the video still belongs to its creator. Download your own videos or ask permission before reusing anyone else’s; this isn’t legal advice.