How to Download Facebook Videos Free (2025)

Why Facebook Doesn't Let You Save Videos Easily

Facebook has no native "save to device" button for videos. The "Save" option in Facebook saves a bookmark inside Facebook — meaning if the original post is deleted, you lose access. For actual offline viewing or sharing a clip outside of Facebook, you need a third-party tool.

Facebook Reels, video posts from pages, and shared video clips from news outlets are all popular targets for downloading. Whether you want to save a funny clip your friend posted, a recipe video from a cooking page, or a news segment before it disappears, Fetchr handles all of these in a few clicks.

How to Copy a Facebook Video Link

Getting the correct URL from Facebook is the most important step, and the method differs slightly depending on where you are.

On the Facebook App (iOS or Android)

Find the video in your feed or on a page. Tap the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of the post, then tap Copy link. The link is now in your clipboard.

Alternatively, if the video is playing fullscreen, tap anywhere to show the controls, then tap Share and select Copy link.

On Desktop (facebook.com)

Click on the video to open it in the viewer. Then, look at your browser's address bar — the URL should contain a numeric video ID and look something like: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1234567890 or https://www.facebook.com/username/videos/1234567890. Copy that URL directly from the address bar.

If the video is embedded in a post (not on a dedicated video page), right-click the date/time stamp of the post and choose Copy link address to get the post permalink.

How to Download the Facebook Video with Fetchr

Step 1: Open Fetchr

Go to fetchr.cc in your browser (Safari on iPhone, Chrome on Android, or any browser on desktop).

Step 2: Paste the URL and Get Video Info

Paste the Facebook video URL into the input field and click Get Video Info. Fetchr will retrieve the video title and thumbnail so you can confirm it's the right video. This only takes a few seconds.

Step 3: Choose Quality and Download

Facebook videos are usually available in SD (480p) and HD (720p or 1080p). Select HD if available for the best result. Click Download and watch the progress bar. Once it reaches 100%, click Save File to save the MP4 to your device.

Downloading Facebook Videos on iPhone

The Facebook iOS app uses an in-app browser when you tap links — this browser sometimes blocks file downloads. To avoid this, copy the link from the Facebook app, then switch to Safari and manually type or paste fetchr.cc in the Safari address bar. Paste your Facebook URL there and proceed with the download.

When the download finishes and you tap Save File, Safari will show the file in its downloads panel (the arrow icon in the top bar). Tap the file, then tap Share › Save Video to add it to your Camera Roll.

Downloading Facebook Videos on Android

Copy the video link from Facebook, open Chrome, go to fetchr.cc, paste, and download. Chrome saves the file to your Downloads folder automatically. Open the Files app or Google Files to find and play the video, or check your Gallery — most Android devices will pick it up and display it in your media library.

Facebook Reels

Facebook Reels (the short-form vertical videos) are downloadable just like regular video posts. The URL format is typically https://www.facebook.com/reel/1234567890. Copy and paste it into Fetchr the same way. Reels are usually at 1080p vertical (1080×1920) and download as MP4.

If you're also downloading from Instagram, check out the guide on saving Instagram Reels — the process is similar.

What Facebook Videos Cannot Be Downloaded

Fetchr only works with publicly accessible content. The following cannot be downloaded:

• Videos on private profiles or in private groups (visible only to logged-in members)
• Videos on friends-only posts (requires authentication)
• Live streams while they are broadcasting
• DRM-protected content such as licensed movies or TV episodes on Facebook Watch

If Fetchr returns an error on a Facebook URL, the video is almost certainly behind a privacy wall. Check by opening the URL in an incognito/private browsing window without logging into Facebook — if the video plays there, Fetchr can download it. If it prompts you to log in, Fetchr cannot access it.

Facebook Watch Videos and News Clips

Many news organizations and media companies post video on Facebook Watch — these are typically public and fully accessible. The URL format for Watch videos follows the standard facebook.com/watch?v= pattern. Paste into Fetchr and it will work in most cases. Some broadcasters use third-party streaming embeds that Fetchr cannot extract, but natively hosted Facebook Watch videos download without issue.

Video Quality: SD vs HD

When you use the built-in Facebook video player in your browser, you can usually switch between SD and HD in the player settings. Fetchr automatically fetches the highest quality stream available for the video — typically HD (720p or 1080p) if the original was uploaded in HD. Older videos or mobile-uploaded clips may only be available in SD (480p or lower).

Related Guides

• How to Save Instagram Reels
• How to Download Twitter/X Videos
• Download TikTok Videos Without Watermark
• Best Free Video Downloaders Compared

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Facebook account to download videos?
No. Fetchr downloads public Facebook videos without you needing to log in to Facebook or create a Fetchr account. Just paste the URL.

Why does Fetchr say it can't find the video?
The most common reason is that the video is on a private or friends-only post. Test by opening the URL in an incognito window — if Facebook asks you to log in, the video is private and cannot be downloaded.

Can I download Facebook Live videos after the broadcast?
Yes, if the creator saves the broadcast as a replay on their profile or page. Once it's posted as a standard video, copy the URL and use Fetchr normally.

What file format does Fetchr produce?
MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. This is the most universally compatible video format and plays on every phone, tablet, smart TV, and computer without extra software.

How long does the download take?
A typical 2-minute Facebook video at 720p downloads in 10–30 seconds depending on server load and your connection speed. Longer videos take proportionally longer.