Meta introduced Reels on Instagram in 2020, presenting its own take on the popular short-video platform TikTok. Instagram Reels enable users to craft videos lasting up to 60 seconds, prominently featured on the Instagram Explore Page. Serving as Meta’s fastest-growing content format, these TikTok-inspired videos empower creators to earn ad revenue. Recently, the photo and video-sharing platform has unveiled the ability for users to download Reels shared by others through Stories, facilitating later viewing or sharing outside the app. Learn how to download Instagram Reels on Android or iPhone with the following steps.
Steps to Download an Instagram Reel:
1. Launch the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Open the Reel you wish to save and click on the Share icon.
3. Add the Reels to your story by tapping accordingly.
4. Zoom in on the preview, click on the three-dot menu at the top, and select Save.
5. Discard the story.
The downloaded Reel can be accessed from your camera roll, featuring the absence of the Instagram watermark and displaying the account username. Currently, only Reels shared from public accounts are eligible for download. If Reels have been shared from private Instagram accounts, they cannot be downloaded. Public account users can also control the ability to download Reels in the app settings.
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In June, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that users in the US could download Reels shared by public accounts directly to their camera roll. Prior to this, users could only share Reels on public accounts through Stories or chat, accessed by tapping the share icon and selecting the Download option. In Mosseri’s shared image, the Download option is visible in the bottom menu, alongside Add to Story, Share, and Copy Link.