How to Download Instagram Reels: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

Instagram, a popular social media platform, has 1.5 billion members

offers a plethora of content to keep its users engaged.

From stunning images to captivating reels,

the app has become a hub for creators and influencers.

However, there might be times when you want to download Instagram reels to save them for offline viewing, share them with friends, or repost them on your own profile.

But how can you do that?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various methods on how to download Instagram reels, focusing on different tools and techniques for your convenience.

Get ready to explore these easy-to-use solutions that will allow you to enjoy your favorite Instagram content anytime, anywhere.

Table of Contents:

1. Is it legal to download Instagram videos?
2. How to download Instagram videos using online tools
3. How to download Instagram videos using browser extensions
4. How to download Instagram videos on mobile devices

Is it legal to download Instagram reels?

Before we dive into the details of how to download Instagram reels, it’s essential to address the legality of the process.

Downloading reels without the creator’s permission could infringe on their copyrights.

To avoid any legal issues, always obtain permission from the reel owner and provide credit when you share or repost their content.

How to download Instagram reels using online tools

Online tools are the most convenient way to download Instagram reels, as they don’t require any software installation. Here are three popular online tools that can help you download reels from Instagram:

DownloadGram

DownloadGram is a simple, user-friendly tool that allows you to download Instagram reels in just a few clicks. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Instagram post containing the reels you want to download.
2. Copy the Reels URL from the address bar or by clicking on the three-dot icon and selecting “Copy Link.”
3. Visit DownloadGram’s website.
4. Paste the copied URL into the text box and click “Download.”
5. Click “Download reel” again to save the reel to your device.

Ingramer

Ingramer is another popular tool for downloading Instagram reels. Follow these steps to use Ingramer:

1. Copy the Reel URL from the Instagram post.
2. Visit Ingramer’s website.
3. Paste the copied URL into the text box and click “Search.”
4. The tool will process the URL, and the reel will appear below. Click “Download” to save the reel to your device.

InstaOffline

InstaOffline is a reliable tool for downloading Instagram reels. Follow these steps:

1. Copy the reel URL from the Instagram post.
2. Visit InstaOffline’s website.
3. Paste the copied URL into the text box and click “Download.”
4. The tool will process the URL, and the reel will appear below. Click “Download reel” to save it to your device.

How to download Instagram Reels using browser extensions

Browser extensions offer a convenient way to download Instagram reels directly from your browser. Here are two popular browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox:

Reel Downloader for Instagram (Chrome)

Reel Downloader for Instagram is a Chrome extension that allows you to download Instagram Reels effortlessly.

Follow these steps to use the extension:

1. Install Reel Downloader for Instagram from the Chrome Web Store
2. Go to the Instagram post containing the reel you want to download.
3. Click the extension’s icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
4. The reel thumbnail will appear in the extension’s dropdown menu. Click “Download” to save the reel to your device.

Download Reels and Photos: Instagram & IGTV (Firefox)

Download Reels and Photos: Instagram & IGTV is a Firefox extension that allows you to download Instagram Reels with ease.

Follow these steps to use the extension:

1. Install the extension from the Firefox Add-ons website
2. Go to the Instagram post containing the reels you want to download.
3. Click the extension’s icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
4. The Reel thumbnail will appear in the extension’s dropdown menu. Click “Download” to save the Reel to your device.

How to download Instagram reels on mobile devices

Downloading Instagram reels on mobile devices is possible with the help of dedicated apps. Here are two popular apps for Android and iOS users:

Reel Downloader for Instagram (Android)

Reel Downloader for Instagram is a popular Android app that allows you to download Instagram Reels with ease. Follow these steps to use the app:

1. Install the app from the Google Play Store
2. Open the Instagram app and go to the post containing the Reel you want to download.
3. Tap the three-dot icon and select “Copy Link.”
4. Open the Reel Downloader for the Instagram app and paste the copied URL.
5. The app will process the URL, and the Reel will appear below. Tap “Download” to save the Reel to your device.

Regrammer (iOS)

Regrammer is a popular app for iOS users to download Instagram Reels.

Follow these steps to use the app:

1. Install the Regrammer app from the App Store
2. Open the Instagram app and go to the post containing the Reel you want to download.
3. Tap the three-dot icon and select “Copy Link.”
4. Open the Regrammer app and paste the copied URL into the text box.
5. Tap “Preview,” and the reel will appear below. Tap “Share” and then “Save Reel” to download the reel to your device.

How to download Instagram reels using screen recording

If you’d rather not use third-party tools or apps, screen recording is another way to download Instagram reels.

This method involves recording your device’s screen while the reel plays.

Keep in mind that the reel quality may not be as high as with other methods, and you’ll need to trim the recording to remove unwanted portions.

For Android users, screen recording features are typically built into your device.

For iOS users, you can use the built-in screen recording feature in the Control Center.

Follow these steps to download Instagram reels using screen recording:

For Android:

1. Locate your device’s built-in screen recording feature. This may vary depending on your device model and Android version. You can typically find it in the Quick Settings menu or the Settings app under “Advanced features” or “Display.”
2. Open the Instagram app and go to the post containing the reel you want to download.
3. Start the screen recording feature on your device.
4. Play the Instagram reel and allow it to play in its entirety.
5. Stop the screen recording once the reel has finished playing.
6. Locate the screen recording in your device’s gallery or file manager, and trim the reel as necessary to remove unwanted portions.

For iOS:

1. Open the Settings app, then tap “Control Center” and “Customize Controls.”
2. Add the “Screen Recording” option to your Control Center if it’s not already enabled.
3. Open the Instagram app and go to the post containing the reel you want to download.
4. Access the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or swiping up from the bottom on older devices).
5. Tap the “Screen Recording” button and wait for the countdown to finish.
6. Play the Instagram reel and allow it to play in its entirety.
7. Stop the screen recording by accessing the Control Center and tapping the “Screen Recording” button again.
8. Locate the screen recording in your Photos app, and trim the reel as necessary to remove unwanted portions.
9. Final thoughts

There are numerous methods to download Instagram reels, each with its own set of advantages and limitations.

Whether you prefer using online tools, browser extensions, mobile apps, or screen recording, you can now enjoy your favorite Instagram reels offline and share them with friends and family.

Remember to respect the original creator’s copyrights and always ask for permission before downloading and sharing their content.

By following these guidelines and the steps outlined in this guide, you can download Instagram reels with ease and enjoy them anytime, anywhere.

Alternative methods to consider

While we’ve covered various methods to download Instagram reels, there are additional options worth exploring. Here are two alternative methods for downloading Instagram reels:

Using IFTTT (If This, Then That)

IFTTT is a powerful automation tool that can connect different apps and services to perform specific actions.

By creating an IFTTT applet, you can automatically download Instagram reels to cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox. Follow these steps to set up IFTTT:

1. Sign up for an IFTTT account at
2. Connect your Instagram account and your preferred cloud storage service (Google Drive or Dropbox) to IFTTT.
3. Create a new applet using the “Instagram” service as the “If This” trigger and select “New reel by you” or “New reel by a specific user.”
4. Choose your cloud storage service as the “Then That” action and select “Upload File from URL.”
5. Customize the applet settings and click “Finish” to activate it.

Now, whenever you (or the specified user) post a new reel on Instagram, IFTTT will automatically download it to your connected cloud storage account.

Using command-line tools

For more advanced users, command-line tools like youtube-dl offer a way to download Instagram reels. Follow these steps to use youtube-dl:

1. Install youtube-dl on your computer. Instructions for installation can be found on GitHub
2. Open a terminal or command prompt on your computer.
3. Type the following command and replace “INSTAGRAM_REEL_URL” with the actual URL of the Instagram reel you want to download: youtube-dl INSTAGRAM_REEL_URL
4. Press “Enter” to start the download process. The reel will be downloaded to the current directory.

Note that youtube-dl is a powerful tool with many options and features.

You can refer to the documentation at github.com for more information on its capabilities.

Popular Tools: Date of Birth Calculator, Home Loan EMI Calculator, Word Counter