This article explains how you can download a video from the Facebook Messenger app on an iOS or Android device. The only video files that can be downloaded from Messenger are those that are shared directly from the device's "Camera Roll" album. Since Facebook Messenger does not allow you to directly save videos, you need to use a free third-party program and a website called "SaveFrom" to achieve this goal. Remember that it is not possible to download videos from Facebook that are not public or that contain protection for viewing.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Saving a Submitted Video
Step 1. Make sure the video you want to save on your device has been shared from the "Camera Roll" album
If the video in question was shared directly from Facebook, you will not be able to download it to your device using this method. However, if you or the person who sent you the video shared it via your smartphone, tablet or computer, you should be able to download it from the chat and store it on your "Camera Roll".
Step 2. Launch the Messenger app
Tap the corresponding icon characterized by a white balloon with a blue flash inside. Use the smartphone or tablet on which you want to save the movie.
If you are not logged into Messenger with your Facebook account, you will need to do so now by providing the corresponding login credentials
Step 3. Find the video to download
Select the conversation that contains the video in question, then scroll through the messages until it appears on the screen.
Step 4. Keep one finger pressed on the video tile
This will display a list of options and a toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Choose the Save item
It is one of the options in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. This will ask you to store the video in the "Camera Roll" of the device. It may take a few minutes for the download to complete and for the video file to appear in the media gallery of your smartphone or tablet.
- If you are using an Android device, you will need to choose the option Save video.
- If after a couple of minutes the download still hasn't finished, restart Messenger and try again. Make sure the app is running while the video download is in progress.
Part 2 of 4: Copy the URL of a Shared Video to Facebook
Step 1. Understand which videos cannot be downloaded
While most public videos can be downloaded without any problems, private and shared videos with the "Friends of Friends" access level cannot be downloaded.
Remember that you will not be able to download even public videos that integrate some form of viewing protection (for example, those that contain a warning message about the type of content)
Step 2. Launch the Facebook Messenger app
Tap the corresponding icon featuring a balloon with a lightning bolt visible inside. If you are already logged in with your account, the main program screen will be displayed.
If you are not logged in yet, you will need to provide your phone number and password when prompted
Step 3. Select a conversation
Tap the chat that contains the video you want to download. The conversation detail screen will be displayed.
- If there is no conversation on the screen to select, tap the stylized house icon for the card Home located at the bottom of the screen.
- If after starting the Facebook Messenger app a specific conversation page is displayed, you can return to the main screen by pressing the "Back" button located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Find the video of your interest
Scroll through the messages in the chosen conversation until you find the video you want to save.
Remember that the video must have been shared via a public post. If the video is placed in a post intended for "Friends" (or "Friends of Friends"), you will not be able to download it to your device
Step 5. Keep your finger pressed on the movie frame
A context menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Step 6. Choose the Save to Facebook item
It is one of the options in the menu that appeared at the bottom of the screen. The video will be placed in the "Saved Items" section of your Facebook account.
Step 7. Log in to Facebook
Close or minimize the Messenger app then start the Facebook one by tapping the blue icon inside which the white letter "f" is visible.
Again, you will need to log in with your Facebook account if you haven't already
Step 8. Press the ☰ button
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen (on iPhone) or in the upper right corner (on Android). The main program menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Scroll down the list to be able to select Saved Items
It features a purple icon. A list of all the items you have saved will be displayed, for example links, videos and posts.
Step 10. Find the video you saved
It should be the first item in the "Saved Items" section.
Step 11. Press the ⋯ button
It is placed on the right of the video. The context menu of the corresponding item will be displayed.
Step 12. Scroll down the menu to be able to select the Copy Link option
It is located at the bottom of the menu. The video URL will be copied to the device's system clipboard. At this point you can proceed to download the file on iPhone or Android device.
Part 3 of 4: Download a Video from Facebook to iPhone
Step 1. Download and install the Documents app
It is a free program that allows you to download a video from Facebook and store it on your device. Access the iPhone App Store by tapping the icon
then follow these instructions:
- Select the tab Search for;
- Tap the search bar;
- Type in the keyword documents;
- Push the button Search for;
- Push the button Get placed on the right of the heading "Documents by Readdle";
- Authenticate using Touch ID or by entering your Apple ID password.
Step 2. Launch the Documents app
Push the button You open displayed on the App Store page or tap the program icon characterized by the multicolored letter "D" placed on a white background.
Step 3. Skip the initial tutorial
Swipe the screen left or right three times, then press the button Not now located in the upper right corner of the screen. This will bring up the main screen of the Documents app.
Step 4. Launch your device's internet browser
Tap the compass icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Visit the SaveFrom website
Tap the search bar at the top of the screen, then type the URL savefrom.net and press the button Go.
If an advertisement appears after loading the main page of the SaveFrom website, tap the icon X placed in one of the corners of the screen to close it.
Step 6. Enter the URL of the Facebook video to be processed
Touch the "Enter the URL" text field located at the top of the page to display the virtual keyboard of the device, touch the text field again to bring up the toolbar, then select the item Paste. The video URL will be inserted into the selected text field.
Step 7. Press the Download button
It is green in color and placed in the center of the page. The Documents app "Save File" screen will appear.
- The SaveFrom website will automatically determine and set the maximum resolution available for the video, but according to your needs you can manually change this setting by accessing the drop-down menu MP4 HD and choosing one of the options present.
- If the message "Download link not found" appears, it means that the video is not public and therefore cannot be downloaded.
Step 8. Press the Done button
It is blue in color and located in the upper right corner of the screen. The video in question will be downloaded to the "Downloads" folder of the Documents app.
If necessary, you can rename the video file before it is saved to your device by replacing the text displayed in the "Name" field with the name you want to use
Step 9. Tap the "Downloads" icon
It has a downward pointing arrow and is located at the bottom of the screen. The list of downloads in progress will appear, then the name of the video you are downloading should appear.
Step 10. Navigate to the video folder
Tap the eye icon to the right of the video name to go directly to the "Downloads" folder.
Step 11. Save the video within the iPhone Files app
The Documents app does not allow you to save the video directly within the Photos app of the iPhone, but you can copy the corresponding file within the Files app of the device. Follow these instructions:
- Push the button ⋯ located in the lower right corner of the video icon;
- Select the item Share present in the appeared menu;
- Choose the option Save to File located at the bottom of the screen;
- Select the tab On iPhone, then choose one of the folders that will appear;
- Push the button add located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 12. Launch the Files app by tapping the icon
Press the iPhone Home button to minimize the Documents app window, then tap the Files app icon with a blue folder on a white background.
Step 13. Save the video inside the Photos app
Now that the file is available within the Files app, you can move it to the Photos app folder by following these instructions:
- Select the tab Browse located in the lower right corner of the screen;
- Choose the option On iPhone;
- Select the folder where you want to copy the video file;
- Tap the video icon;
-
Press the "Share" button
Iphoneshare located in the lower left corner of the screen;
- Choose the option Save video displayed at the bottom of the appeared menu.
Part 4 of 4: Download Facebook Video to Android Device
Step 1. Install the ES File Explorer app
If you have already done so, skip this step. To download and install the app in question, log in to Google Play Store by touching the icon
then follow these instructions:
- Tap the search bar;
- Type in the keywords es file explorer;
- Select the app ES File Explorerfrom the list of results that appeared below the search bar;
- Push the button Install;
- Push the button I accept when required.
Step 2. Launch Google Chrome by tapping the icon
It is characterized by a red, yellow and green circle with a blue sphere inside.
Step 3. Visit the SaveFrom website
Tap the address bar at the top of the screen, then type the savefrom.net URL and press the button Enter of the virtual keyboard.
Step 4. Enter the URL of the Facebook video to be processed
Touch the "Enter the URL" text field located at the top of the page to display the virtual keyboard of the device, touch the text field again to bring up the toolbar, then select the item Paste.
Step 5. Press the Download button
It is green in color and is located in the center of the page below the box showing the preview of the movie, on the left of the entry MP4 HD. The video will be displayed in the browser's media player.
- By default, the highest video resolution available is selected.
- If the message "Download link not found" appears, it means that the video is not public and therefore cannot be downloaded.
Step 6. Press the ⋮ button
It is located in the lower right corner of the pane where the media player is located. A context menu will be displayed.
Step 7. Choose the "Download" option by tapping the icon
It is one of the items in the menu that appeared. The video will be downloaded automatically to the internal memory of the Android device or to the SD card if present.
Step 8. Launch the ES File Explorer app
Close the Chrome app, then tap the ES File Manager program icon to launch it. It is visible within the "Applications" panel.
If this is your first time using the ES File Explorer app, you may need to skip the tutorial starting by swiping your finger across the screen to the right or left
Step 9. Select the memory drive
Choose the voice Internal memory or SD card based on the folder where the files you download from the web are normally stored.
Step 10. Choose the Download item
It should be the folder located in the center of the page. In some cases, you may need to scroll down the list to be able to select it. All files you download to your Android device, including videos extracted from Facebook Messenger, will be present in the folder under consideration.
On some Android devices the name of this folder might be Downloads.
Step 11. Move the video file into the Android Gallery app
Move the video file from the "Download" folder to the "Camera" folder where all the images from the Gallery app are stored:
- Press and hold your finger on the Facebook video to display its contextual menu;
- Press the ⋮ button located in the upper or lower right corner of the screen;
- Choose the option Move to;
- Select the folder DCIM;
- Select the folder Room;
- Push the button OK placed in the lower part of the appeared window.
Advice
Unfortunately, third-party apps that allow you to download videos from Facebook are automatically removed from the app stores of the various hardware platforms (iOS and Android for example) as soon as they acquire sufficient popularity among users
Warnings
- When you save videos received via Messenger, the image quality tends to be lower than the original one.
- Download videos from Facebook for personal use only.
