How to Save Instagram Videos to Your Camera Roll
Instagram is synonymous with photos. But over the past few years, video has become an increasingly central part of the platform.
Over 500 million users now access Instagram Stories every day, with a third of the most viewed stories being video. And uploads of longer videos to feeds have grown nearly 50% year over year.
With all this video action, it‘s no wonder so many users want to know how to save Instagram videos to their camera roll.
Why Do People Want to Download Instagram Videos?
Beyond reminiscing about memories and re-watching funny clips, there are some key reasons users want to store Instagram videos locally:
Accessibility
Rather than scrolling through feeds or stories to find a video again, downloading it makes it easy to access in your camera roll at any time. No wifi or data required.
Shareability
While Instagram offers internal sharing options, saving a video to your camera roll allows you to send it to non-Instagram users via messaging apps, email, etc.
Storage
The content you create on Instagram belongs to you. Storing it locally means you retain a quality copy even if the content gets deleted or your account is ever deactivated.
Quality
Instagram compresses videos to save bandwidth for smooth streaming. Downloading the raw video file preserves the full original quality.
Usability
Editing software is better equipped to handle files saved locally rather than streaming video. So it‘s easier to edit, manipulate, and manage downloaded video clips.
Why Can‘t You Easily Download All Instagram Videos?
Unlike other social platforms, Instagram purposefully limits options for saving videos directly. There are a few reasons behind this:
Server Load
Allowing bulk downloads would place massive strain on infrastructure with large file sizes to support.
Feature Focus
Instagram wants the focus to be on real-time engagement rather than passive content consumption. This drives more user activity.
Rights Management
Downloading others‘ videos en masse could enable piracy. Instagram wants to protect creator rights and brand safety.
So while not ideal for those wanting to store videos, Instagram‘s constraints around downloads reflect wider concerns.
Fortunately workarounds exist! Now let‘s explore your options for capturing videos…
Save As You Record
Instagram makes it easy to grab videos as you film them – ideal to store original quality copies before uploading.
Both Story and Feed videos can be saved this way:
Stories Workflow
- Open the Instagram Stories camera
- After recording, tap the downward arrow
- The video saves to your Camera Roll
Feed Videos Workflow
- Tap the + icon and select Feed Video
- Film your clip then tap the download icon
- Your video will be stored locally
Saving on-the-fly retains maximum quality rather than the compressed version Instagram stores.
Technical Considerations
Understanding video formats and sizes helps manage device storage better:
- Default is
.mp4format at 720p, but 1080p option is available - 1 minute = ~100MB file size
- 15 second clips around 30MB
So downloading longer viral videos will quickly eat storage! Now let‘s look at saving videos uploaded already…
Use Instagram Collections
Collections allow you to bookmark videos to revisit easily without downloading:
- Navigate to any video on Instagram and tap the bookmark icon
- Go to your profile > Menu > Saved to access all your collections
This keeps videos in-app for quick access rather than device storage.
Screen Record Videos
Can‘t save natively? Screen record clips manually!
iPhone Screen Recording
- Access your control center swiping down from top right
- Press record
- Play the Instagram video
- Stop the recording & find it in your Camera Roll
Android Screen Recording
Use a third party app like AZ Screen Recorder:
- Select video area to record
- Click record
- Play Instagram video
- Stop recording & video saves to gallery
Just note – screen recording bypasses digital protections so use ethically!
Third Party Apps
Apps like QuickSave, Reposter, and SSS Instagram Downloader can grab videos with just the post URL:
- Tap Share below any Instagram video post
- Select Copy Link
- Paste the URL in your chosen download app
- Video will save to your device gallery!
However these are third party tools that access data through unofficial means. So utilize at your discretion.
How Do They Compare?
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Save on Recording | Best quality, easy | Only for videos you record & store unposted |
| Collections | Revisit easily | No camera roll access, in-app only |
| Screen Recording | Works on any video | Compress quality, manual labor! |
| Apps | Fast, least effort | Third party security/data risks |
Evaluate options against your use case needs and personal comfort with workaround tools.
Why Can‘t Instagram Just Add a Simple Download Button?
Enabling bulk downloads sounds great in theory. But Instagram still avoids this to manage:
- Server loads now averaging 58 thousand terabytes daily
- Creator & sponsor rights if pirating becomes rampant
- Maintaining their real-time, interactive focus
Per Nick Cicero, CEO of analytics firm Conviva:
"While other platforms emphasize content ownership, Instagram has always prioritized the user experience and interaction flow first."
Providing some video saving options balances user needs with wider operational & brand concerns.
Final Verdict
Hopefully now you have several solid techniques to store Instagram videos on your device.
- For original quality and effortless saving, use device tools before uploading
- Collections keep videos bookmarked in-app for easy access
- Screen recording gives a manual workaround option
- While third party apps carry risks around rights and data privacy
So choose the method that best fits your preferences and use case! With these Instagram video savers at your disposal, you‘ll never struggle to store those viral clips and special memories again.
What questions do you still have around keeping Instagram videos? Ask away in the comments!
