Saving Facebook videos to your devices can be really handy when you want to watch content offline or keep a copy of important memories. Whether you're using a smartphone or computer, there are several reliable methods to download Facebook videos. In this guide, I'll walk you through simple, step-by-step instructions for saving Facebook videos to both your phone and computer.

Downloading Facebook Videos to Your Phone

Let's start with how to save those funny clips or meaningful moments to your mobile device. I've broken down the process based on different methods and operating systems.

Using the Facebook App (Official Method)

Facebook does offer a built-in way to save some videos for offline viewing, though this doesn't work for all videos and doesn't actually download them to your gallery.

1. Open the Facebook app on your phone
2. Find the video you want to save
3. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the video post
4. Select "Save video" from the menu
5. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines (≡) for the menu
6. Tap "Saved" to access your saved videos

Remember that this method only saves videos within the Facebook app - you won't have an actual video file in your phone's gallery that you can share elsewhere.

Downloading Facebook Videos to Android Phones

Method 1: Using Video Downloader Apps

There are several reliable apps designed specifically for downloading Facebook videos:

1. Open Google Play Store
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Install a highly-rated app like "Video Downloader for Facebook" or "FB Video Downloader"
4. Open the Facebook app and find your video
5. Tap the "Share" button
6. Select "Copy Link"
7. Open the downloader app you installed
8. Paste the link when prompted
9. Select your preferred quality
10. Tap "Download"

The video will save to your device's gallery or the app's designated folder.

Method 2: Using a Browser

You can also download Facebook videos using your Android phone's browser:

1. Open the Facebook app and find the video you want to download
2. Tap the "Share" button and select "Copy Link"
3. Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
4. Visit a Facebook video downloader website like savefrom.net, fbdown.net, or getfvid.com
5. Paste the copied link in the provided field
6. Tap "Download" or the equivalent button
7. Select your preferred video quality
8. The video will download to your device

Downloading Facebook Videos to iPhones

Apple's iOS has more restrictions on downloading videos, but there are still effective methods:

Method 1: Using Shortcut Apps

1. Install the "Shortcuts" app from the App Store if you don't already have it
2. Open Safari and search for "Facebook video download shortcut"
3. Add a recommended shortcut to your library
4. Open Facebook and find your video
5. Tap "Share" and "Copy Link"
6. Open the Shortcuts app
7. Run your Facebook video download shortcut
8. Follow the prompts to save the video to your Photos app

Method 2: Using Browser-Based Services

1. Find the Facebook video you want to download
2. Tap "Share" and select "Copy Link"
3. Open Safari browser
4. Visit a Facebook video downloader website (fbdown.net, getfvid.com, etc.)
5. Paste the video link
6. Tap "Download"
7. Press and hold on the download link that appears
8. Select "Download Linked File"
9. The video will be saved to your Files app
10. You can then move it to your Photos app if desired

Method 3: Using Documents by Readdle App

1. Download the "Documents by Readdle" app from the App Store
2. Find your Facebook video and copy its link
3. Open the Documents app
4. Tap the browser icon (compass) in the bottom right
5. Visit a Facebook video downloader website
6. Paste your link and download the video
7. The video will save to the Documents app
8. You can then move it to your Photos app

Downloading Facebook Videos to Your Computer

Downloading Facebook videos to your computer offers more flexibility and usually higher quality options. Here are the most reliable methods:

Using Online Downloader Websites

This is the quickest method that works on any computer without installing software:

• Open Facebook in your browser
• Find the video you want to download
• Right-click on the video and select "Copy video URL at current time" (or copy the post URL if that option isn't available)
• Open a Facebook video downloader website like:
  • fbdown.net
  • savefrom.net
  • getfvid.com
  • y2mate.com
• Paste the copied URL into the provided field
• Click "Download" or the equivalent button
• Select your preferred quality (HD if available)
• Right-click on the download link and select "Save link as..."
• Choose a location on your computer to save the video
• Click "Save"

Using Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can make downloading even more convenient:

For Chrome:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Install a highly-rated extension like "Video Downloader for Facebook" or "Facebook Video Downloader"
4. Go to Facebook and find your video
5. Play the video
6. Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar
7. Select your preferred quality
8. The video will download automatically

For Firefox:

1. Open Firefox Browser Add-ons
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Install a reliable extension like "Flash Video Downloader" or "Video DownloadHelper"
4. Navigate to Facebook and find your video
5. Play the video
6. Click the extension icon
7. Select your preferred quality
8. Choose where to save the video on your computer

Using Video Downloader Software

Dedicated software offers more features and reliability:

• Download and install video downloader software like:
  • 4K Video Downloader
  • YTD Video Downloader
  • ClipGrab
• Open Facebook and find your video
• Copy the video URL
• Open the downloader software
• Paste the URL (usually with Ctrl+V or by clicking a "Paste" button)
• Select your preferred quality and format
• Choose a save location
• Click "Download"

Using Developer Tools (Advanced Method)

This method requires no additional software but is slightly more technical:

• Open Facebook in Chrome or Firefox
• Find and play the video you want to download
• Right-click on the page (not directly on the video) and select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element"
• In the developer tools panel, click on the "Network" tab
• In the filter field, type "mp4"
• Refresh the page and play the video again
• Look for files with "mp4" in their name
• Right-click on the relevant file and select "Open in new tab"
• In the new tab, right-click on the video and select "Save video as..."
• Choose a location and save the video

Facebook Video Downloading on Different Browsers

Different browsers may have specific methods that work best. Here's a comparison:

Browser	Best Method	Alternative Method
Chrome	Video Downloader extensions	Developer Tools
Firefox	Video DownloadHelper extension	Online downloader websites
Safari	Online downloader websites	Developer Tools
Edge	Chrome extensions (Edge supports Chrome extensions)	Developer Tools

Downloading Private or Restricted Facebook Videos

Some videos have restricted sharing settings that make downloading more challenging:

For Videos Shared Only with Friends:

1. You must be logged into your Facebook account
2. Most online downloaders will work if you have permission to view the video
3. Copy the video URL while logged in
4. Use any of the methods above

For Videos in Private Groups:

1. You must be a member of the group
2. The developer tools method often works best for these
3. Browser extensions may also work while you're logged in

Note that downloading videos from private groups may violate Facebook's terms of service or the group's rules. Always respect privacy and copyright considerations.

Troubleshooting Common Download Issues

If you're having trouble downloading Facebook videos, try these fixes:

Video Won't Download

• Make sure you have permission to view the video
• Try copying the post URL instead of the direct video URL
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try a different downloader website or app
• Check your internet connection

Poor Video Quality

• Select HD quality when available
• Try a different downloader that offers quality options
• Use a computer rather than a phone for better quality options

Download Starts But Fails to Complete

• Check your internet connection
• Make sure you have enough storage space
• Try downloading at a less busy time
• Use a different browser

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Before downloading any Facebook video, consider these important points:

Copyright Concerns

Many videos on Facebook are protected by copyright. Downloading videos you don't own rights to may violate copyright laws, especially if you plan to redistribute them or use them commercially. Always:

• Get permission from the content creator before downloading
• Only download videos for personal use
• Never redistribute copyrighted content without permission
• Be especially careful with music videos, TV clips, and professional content

Facebook's Terms of Service

Facebook's Terms of Service don't explicitly forbid downloading videos, but they do prohibit:

• Using automated methods to collect data
• Violating others' rights, including intellectual property rights
• Using content in ways the creator didn't authorize

The safest approach is to only download videos you created or have explicit permission to download.

Comparing Video Download Methods

Here's a quick comparison of the different methods to help you choose:

Method	Ease of Use	Quality Options	Works Offline?	Requires Installation?
Online Downloader Sites	Easy	Good	No	No
Browser Extensions	Very Easy	Good	No	Yes (extension only)
Mobile Apps	Easy	Variable	No	Yes
Software Programs	Moderate	Excellent	Yes (after install)	Yes
Developer Tools	Difficult	Original quality	No	No

Tips for Managing Your Downloaded Videos

Once you've downloaded your Facebook videos, here are some tips to keep them organized:

On Your Computer:

• Create a dedicated folder for downloaded videos
• Use subfolders to categorize videos by theme, date, or source
• Rename files with descriptive names rather than keeping the default names
• Consider backing up important videos to an external drive or cloud storage
• Use video management software to organize larger collections

On Your Phone:

• Move videos to a dedicated album in your gallery
• Use file manager apps to create specific folders
• Back up important videos to cloud services like Google Photos or iCloud
• Regularly clean up videos you no longer need to save space
• Consider using video vault apps for private videos

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Conclusion

Downloading videos from Facebook doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're using a phone or computer, there are multiple reliable methods to save those important clips. For casual use, online downloaders and browser extensions offer the best balance of simplicity and quality. For more serious collectors, dedicated software provides more options and reliability.

Just remember to respect copyright laws and Facebook's terms of service. Only download videos you have the right to save, and be mindful about how you use downloaded content. With the methods outlined in this guide, you'll be able to easily save Facebook videos for offline viewing, sharing with friends, or preserving important memories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it legal to download videos from Facebook?

The legality depends on the video's copyright status and how you plan to use it. Downloading videos you created is completely legal. For others' videos, it's generally acceptable for personal viewing, but redistributing or using them commercially without permission could violate copyright laws. Always get permission when possible.

2. Why can't I download some Facebook videos?

Some videos can't be downloaded because they're protected by Facebook's content protection systems, especially if they contain licensed music or are from verified pages. Private videos or those with restricted sharing settings may also be difficult to download. In some cases, the video format might be incompatible with your downloader.

3. What's the highest quality I can download Facebook videos in?

Facebook videos can typically be downloaded in the same quality they were uploaded, up to 1080p HD in most cases. Some newer videos may be available in 4K, but this depends on the original upload quality. Using a computer rather than a mobile device often gives you access to higher quality options.

4. Will Facebook know if I download videos from their platform?

Facebook doesn't receive direct notifications when you download videos using third-party tools or methods. However, they can track your activities on their platform, including which videos you watch and interact with. Using browser extensions or apps that require Facebook login permissions could potentially give the platform more visibility into your activities.

5. Can I download Facebook Live videos?

Yes, you can download Facebook Live videos, but only after the live stream has ended and the video has been posted to the page or profile. The methods for downloading are the same as for regular videos. Some live streams may not be saved by the creator after broadcasting, in which case they can't be downloaded later.