Need to grab a video you've posted on Facebook? Whether you want to back up memories, repurpose content, or simply keep a local copy of your videos, downloading your own Facebook videos is a straightforward process. In this guide, I'll walk you through multiple methods to download your Facebook videos on different devices.

Why Download Your Own Facebook Videos?

Before diving into the how-to steps, let's quickly go over why you might want to download videos you've already uploaded to Facebook:

• Create a backup of important memories
• Edit or repurpose content for other platforms
• Access videos offline
• Preserve content in case you delete your account
• Share videos through other channels

Downloading Videos on Desktop

Method 1: Download directly from Facebook

Facebook offers a built-in option to download videos you've personally uploaded. This is the simplest and most secure method:

1. Log in to your Facebook account
2. Go to your profile page
3. Click on the “Videos” tab (you may need to click on “More” first to see this option)
4. Find the video you want to download
5. Click on the three dots (⋯) in the corner of the video
6. Select "Download video"

The video will automatically download to your default downloads folder. The quality will be the same as what you originally uploaded.

Method 2: Using Facebook Settings (Download Your Information)

If you need to download multiple videos or can't find the download option, you can use Facebook's data download tool:

1. Click on your profile picture in the top right
2. Select "Settings & privacy" then "Settings"
3. Scroll down to "Your Facebook information"
4. Click on "Download your information"
5. Select "Videos" from the categories (deselect others if you only want videos)
6. Choose your date range, format (HTML is recommended), and media quality
7. Click "Create file"

Facebook will process your request and notify you when your download is ready. This might take several minutes to hours depending on how many videos you have.

Downloading Videos on Mobile Devices

Method 1: Using the Facebook App (Android)

The Facebook mobile app also allows you to download your own videos:

1. Open the Facebook app
2. Go to your profile by tapping your profile picture
3. Tap on the “More” option (three horizontal lines)
4. Scroll down and tap "Videos"
5. Find the video you want to download
6. Tap the three dots (⋯) in the corner of the video
7. Select "Save video"

The video will be saved to your phone's gallery or designated downloads folder.

Method 2: Using the Facebook App (iPhone/iPad)

For iOS devices, the process is slightly different:

1. Open the Facebook app
2. Go to your profile
3. Tap "More" and then "Videos"
4. Find your video
5. Tap the three dots (⋯)
6. Select "Save to phone"

The video will be saved to your Photos app.

Method 3: Using Facebook Mobile Browser

If the app isn't working for you, try using your mobile browser:

1. Open your mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
2. Go to facebook.com and log in
3. Request the desktop site (usually found in browser settings)
4. Navigate to your profile and videos
5. Find the video and tap the three dots
6. Select "Download"

Alternative Methods for Downloading Facebook Videos

Using Third-Party Websites

If the direct methods aren't working, you can try third-party websites designed for downloading Facebook videos:

1. Find your video on Facebook
2. Copy the video URL (click "Share" and then "Copy link")
3. Visit a Facebook video downloader website like GetfVid, FBDownloader, or SaveFrom.net
4. Paste the URL in the provided field
5. Click "Download" or the equivalent button
6. Select your preferred quality
7. Save the video to your device

Popular Facebook Video Downloader Websites

• GetfVid
• FBDownloader
• SaveFrom.net
• DownloadFacebook.net
• FBDown.net

Remember that third-party websites may come with privacy risks, so only use reputable services and avoid entering any personal information.

Using Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can make downloading videos more convenient:

For Chrome:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Choose a well-rated extension like "Video Downloader for Facebook"
4. Click "Add to Chrome"
5. Navigate to your Facebook video
6. Click the extension icon when viewing your video
7. Select your desired quality and download

For Firefox:

1. Open Firefox Browser Add-ons
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Select a trusted extension
4. Click "Add to Firefox"
5. Go to your Facebook video
6. Use the extension to download

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Video Download Button Not Appearing

If you can't see the download option for your video:

• Make sure you're signed in to the correct Facebook account
• Confirm that you're the original uploader of the video
• Try using a different browser or device
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try one of the alternative methods mentioned above

Download Fails or Produces Corrupted Files

If your download isn't working properly:

• Check your internet connection
• Try downloading a smaller or shorter video first
• Make sure you have enough storage space
• Update your browser to the latest version
• Try a different download method

Low Video Quality After Download

If your downloaded video has poor quality:

• When using Facebook's "Download Your Information" tool, select "High" for media quality
• Try a third-party downloader that offers quality options
• Remember that you can't download a higher quality than what was originally uploaded

Downloading Facebook Live Videos

Facebook Live videos require a slightly different approach:

1. After your live broadcast ends, Facebook automatically saves it to your timeline
2. Go to your profile and find the saved live video
3. Click the three dots (⋯) and select “Download video”

If you can't find the download option, try using the "Download Your Information" tool or a third-party service.

Downloading Facebook Stories

Facebook Stories disappear after 24 hours, but you can download your own stories before they vanish:

1. Open your active story
2. Click the three dots (⋯) in the top right corner
3. Select "Save video" or "Save photo"

For expired stories, check your Facebook archive:

1. Go to your profile
2. Click on the "Archive" button (clock icon)
3. Find your story
4. Click the three dots and select "Save"

Understanding Facebook's Video Policies

Copyright Considerations

When downloading videos from Facebook, keep these points in mind:

• You can freely download videos you created and uploaded
• Downloading videos created by others may violate copyright laws
• Even if you're in a video, if someone else created it, you should get permission before downloading
• Using downloaded videos for commercial purposes may require additional permissions

Privacy Settings and Downloads

Your privacy settings affect who can see and potentially download your videos:

• Public videos are viewable by anyone, increasing the chance of downloads
• Videos shared with "Friends" are only visible to your connections
• Private videos have limited visibility based on your settings

To adjust your video privacy settings:

1. Find your video on your timeline
2. Click the three dots (⋯)
3. Select "Edit post"
4. Click the privacy dropdown menu (globe or friends icon)
5. Choose your preferred audience

Managing Your Downloaded Videos

Organizing Your Video Library

Once you've downloaded your videos, keeping them organized will save you headaches later:

• Create a dedicated folder structure (by year, event, or topic)
• Rename files with descriptive names including dates
• Consider using video management software for larger collections
• Back up your videos to cloud storage or external drives

Editing Downloaded Videos

After downloading, you might want to edit your videos:

• Basic can be done with free editing software like Windows Video Editor or iMovie
• For more advanced editing, consider tools like DaVinci Resolve (free) or Adobe Premiere Pro
• Online editors like Clipchamp or WeVideo offer browser-based editing

Sharing Downloaded Videos

Your downloaded videos can be shared through various channels:

• Upload to other social media platforms
• Share via messaging apps
• Create a personal video library on cloud storage
• Burn to DVD for physical backup

Comparison of Facebook Video Download Methods

Method	Ease of Use	Speed	Quality Options	Security
Direct Facebook Download	Very Easy	Fast	Original quality	Very High
Download Your Information	Easy	Slow (hours)	Low/High options	Very High
Mobile App	Easy	Fast	Original quality	High
Third-Party Websites	Moderate	Moderate	Multiple options	Low to Moderate
Browser Extensions	Easy	Fast	Multiple options	Moderate

Tips for Better Video Management

• Download important videos soon after posting them
• Keep a backup of original video files before uploading to Facebook
• Use cloud storage services for additional backup
• Regularly check your Facebook video library for content you want to preserve
• Consider downloading videos before deactivating or deleting your account

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 your own videos from Facebook doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you prefer using Facebook's built-in tools or third-party solutions, you now have multiple methods to save your content. Remember to respect copyright laws and privacy considerations when downloading and sharing videos.

By keeping local copies of your Facebook videos, you ensure your memories and content remain accessible regardless of platform changes or account issues. Start building your personal video archive today using the methods outlined in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download someone else's Facebook videos?

Facebook doesn't provide an official way to download videos posted by other users. While third-party tools exist that claim to do this, downloading content created by others may violate copyright laws and Facebook's terms of service. Always get permission from the content creator before downloading or using their videos.

Why can't I see the download option for my Facebook video?

If you can't see the download option, first make sure you're logged into the account that originally uploaded the video. The download option might also be missing if you're using an outdated app version or if the video was uploaded through a third-party app. Try accessing Facebook through a desktop browser as an alternative.

Will downloading my Facebook videos reduce their quality?

When you download your videos directly from Facebook using official methods, you should get the same quality as the original upload. However, if you use third-party tools or select "low quality" in the Download Your Information tool, the video quality might be reduced. For best results, choose "high quality" when available.

How long does it take to download videos using Facebook's Download Your Information tool?

The time varies based on how many videos you're downloading and their size. For a few videos, it might take minutes, but for many videos or very large files, it could take several hours. Facebook will send you a notification when your download package is ready.

Can I download Facebook videos to my iPhone directly?

Yes, you can download your own videos on an iPhone. Use the Facebook app to find your video, tap the three dots, and select “Save to phone.” The video will be saved to your Photos app. If this doesn't work, try using Safari in desktop mode or the Download Your Information tool as alternatives.