How to Save Instagram Reels to Your Phone (2026)
Download Instagram Reels Now
Paste the Reel URL below and save it to your device — no account required.
⬇ Open FetchrWhy Instagram's Built-In Save Doesn't Work
Instagram's built-in "Save" feature saves a Reel to your Instagram collection, but it doesn't actually download the video file to your device. The moment you lose internet access — or if the original creator deletes the Reel — it's gone. There's no way to export it from the app to your camera roll or files directly.
That's where Fetchr comes in. Fetchr downloads the original Reel video file so it lives permanently on your device, independent of Instagram, with no TikTok-style watermark overlays.
Step-by-Step: How to Download an Instagram Reel
Step 1: Get the Reel's URL
Open Instagram on your phone and find the Reel you want to save. Tap the
three-dot menu (⋯) on the top right of the Reel, then tap
Copy Link. The URL will look something like:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/XXXXXXXXXX/
On desktop, right-click the share icon under the Reel and choose Copy link address, or copy the URL directly from your browser's address bar.
Step 2: Open Fetchr and Paste the URL
Go to fetchr.cc in any browser on your phone or computer. Tap the URL input box and paste the Instagram link (Ctrl+V on desktop, or tap the Paste button on mobile). Fetchr will automatically detect it as an Instagram Reel and show you the video thumbnail and title to confirm you have the right one.
Step 3: Download the File
Select your preferred quality (720p is recommended for Instagram Reels — that's the native resolution most Reels are uploaded in), then tap Download. Within a few seconds, a green "Save File" button will appear. Tap it to download the video to your device.
Saving to Your Camera Roll (iPhone)
On iPhone, Safari will download the file to your Downloads folder in the Files app. To move it to your Camera Roll (Photos app), open the Files app, find the downloaded video, tap and hold it, and choose Save to Photos. After that, it'll appear in your Photo Library as a regular video.
Saving to Your Gallery (Android)
On Android, downloaded files go to your Downloads folder automatically. Open your Files or Gallery app and look for the video there. Most Android Gallery apps automatically include the Downloads folder in their library view.
Can I Download Reels from Private Accounts?
No. Fetchr can only download Reels from public Instagram accounts. If you try to download a Reel from a private profile, you'll get an error — Instagram's servers block access to private content. The account must be publicly visible for the download to work.
What About Instagram Stories?
Stories can also be downloaded with Fetchr, but there's a catch: Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours. Once a Story expires, it's no longer accessible from the public URL and cannot be downloaded. You need to grab the Story URL while it's still live.
To get a Story's URL on mobile: go to the Story, tap and hold the screen, and copy the link from the share sheet. On desktop, the Story URL appears in your browser's address bar while you're viewing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a watermark on downloaded Reels?
No. Fetchr downloads the original video file directly, without adding any branding or overlays.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free. No account, no payment, no limit on how many Reels you download.
Does it work on TikTok and YouTube too?
Yes — see our guides for TikTok and
YouTube.