Download Facebook Videos: 3 Methods for Phone & PC in 2026

Here’s the short answer: to download a Facebook video, first identify whether it is your upload, another person’s public post, or restricted content. That choice determines whether Facebook’s own option, a browser-based Facebook video download, or a desktop workflow can work.

Facebook can provide a download path for some videos you uploaded yourself. For another person’s public video, you generally need a supported browser or desktop method. Private or restricted videos remain limited by access permissions. The Save video option leaves the original video unchanged because it only bookmarks the post for later viewing on Facebook instead of creating a local file.

Download only videos you are authorized to access, and save content you can legitimately watch as local files for personal offline viewing. Permanent or unrestricted saving does not transfer ownership or grant unrestricted reuse rights. Do not redistribute the files, and follow applicable law and Facebook’s terms. Avoid services that advertise DRM removal or defeating access controls, since attempting either may be unlawful. The sections below compare Facebook’s own option, FDOWN, and KeepStreams for phone and computer use.

Download a Facebook Video: Pick the Right Method

Your Own Uploads

Start with Facebook’s own download option when it appears for a video you uploaded. This is the most direct route because it does not require sending the link to another service.

1. Open the video you uploaded in Facebook and check its menu for a Download video option. If it appears, select it and save the file.
2. If that option is unavailable, open Facebook Settings, then go to Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Download your information.
3. Select your Facebook profile and the relevant posts or videos, then choose a date range and media quality before requesting the download.
4. When Facebook notifies you that the export is ready, download the archive to your device and find your video inside it.

The export route may give you an archive rather than a single video file. It applies to your own account information, not someone else’s post.

Other Public Videos

For another person’s public post, a browser downloader can suit a quick, one-time save. A desktop workflow is more practical when you want to save authorized content you can legitimately view as local files and manage several downloads in one place.

Private or Restricted Videos

A private group, restricted post, or audience-limited video requires authorized access. Do not share account credentials or attempt to defeat the post’s privacy controls. A local file can remain on your device, but that does not change ownership or make its use unrestricted.

Quick Method Comparison

 Download Facebook Videos on Windows and Mac

For an occasional public link, a browser workflow is the lighter option. For multiple local files and selectable output settings, a desktop workflow is easier to manage.

Completed browser downloads usually appear in the Downloads folder on Windows or Mac unless you selected another location. Files created by a desktop app appear in the output folder shown in that app's settings.

 KeepStreams for a Local-File Workflow

KeepStreams Video Downloader is designed for users who want to organize supported videos as local files on a computer. For content you're authorized to access, where permitted by platform terms and applicable law, KeepStreams offers a desktop local-file workflow for personal offline viewing.

Output options: KeepStreams is a Windows and macOS desktop app that saves supported Facebook videos as MP4 or MKV files, with batch queues and subtitle controls when the source tracks and current compatibility support them.

Pricing as of September 2026: KeepStreams One costs $69.99 per month, $169.99 per year, or $269.99 for a lifetime plan.

Limitations:

• Support can differ by video and current Facebook compatibility. Paste the target link first, then confirm that analysis completes and shows the output options you need.

I'd recommend the browser route for a single public link with simple needs. KeepStreams is the better fit when you need a managed Windows or Mac workflow for several local video files.

Steps to Download Facebook Videos Using KeepStreams:

1. Download KeepStreams from the official website, install it, and open the desktop app.
2. Enter the Facebook video URL in the built-in browser.
3. Play the accessible video and wait for analysis. If analysis does not begin automatically, click the orange download button.
4. Use the settings window to choose the available video output options.
5. Open Downloads to view the current progress, download speed, and completed video files.

This workflow is for content you are authorized to access and personal offline viewing, with no redistribution, subject to applicable law and Facebook's terms.

 FDOWN in a Web Browser

FDOWN is a free online service that creates links to Facebook videos so that users can save and watch their favorites when they aren't connected to the social media platform.

Pros:

• Works in supported browsers on Android phones and tablets.
• Works in supported browsers on iPhone and iPad.
• Can detect some public Facebook Live videos after the live stream ends.
• Offers a Chrome extension as an optional workflow.

Cons:

• Does not support additional streaming services.
• Displays advertisements on the website.

FDOWN's official site showed maintenance updates in 2026, including fixes for links, Reels, video detection, audio, and performance. Availability may still be intermittent when Facebook changes its link formats.

FDOWN is convenient for a quick public-link download in a browser. It is less suitable when a post is private or when the service cannot detect matching video and audio tracks.

Steps to Download Facebook Videos Using FDOWN:

1. Open facebook.com in your browser. Log in only if you need an account to view the post.
2. Look for the video you wish to download to your computer.
3. Click the menu icon (three dots) in the upper right corner of the video.
4. Choose Copy link from the menu.
5. Switch to a new window or tab and open FDOWN.
6. Paste the video link into the box in the center of the page.
7. Follow the instructions on the next page to choose Normal Quality or High Quality.
8. Wait until the Download video option appears, and then choose it.
9. The video will be downloaded to your device, where you may watch it whenever you choose without an internet connection.

 Download Facebook Videos on iPhone and Android

Facebook can provide a download path for some videos you uploaded yourself; saving another person's public video generally requires another method, and private or restricted videos remain limited by access permissions. For a public Facebook video download on a phone, copy the link and use a currently supported browser workflow rather than an old URL substitution.

On a phone, confirm that the post opens in your account before copying its link, especially when it comes from a private group or an audience-limited post.

The mbasic URL-substitution route is obsolete or unreliable; current mobile workflows use a supported browser or app method and save completed files to Photos, Gallery, Files, or Downloads according to the device.

1. Open Facebook on your iPhone or Android phone and locate a video you are authorized to access.
2. Select Share, then choose Copy link.
3. Open a maintained browser-based downloader, such as FDOWN.
4. Paste the Facebook link and choose an available quality option.
5. Confirm the browser download and wait for the file to finish saving.

Find the Saved Video

• iPhone or iPad: Check the Downloads folder in the Files app. If the browser offers a Save Video action, the file may appear in Photos instead.
• Android: Check Downloads in Files, Files by Google, or My Files. Videos saved to the media library may also appear in Gallery or Google Photos.

Fix Common Facebook Download Failures

Invalid, Private, or Changed Links

If a downloader says the link is invalid, first reopen the post in Facebook and copy a fresh link from the video's Share menu. Redirect links, deleted posts, changed audience settings, and unsupported link formats can prevent detection.

Private groups, restricted posts, and audience-limited videos require authorized access. In my view, the most common mistake is treating an access restriction as a downloader failure; use your own account to confirm that the post still opens, but do not share credentials or try to defeat its permissions.

Missing Audio or Browser-Only Playback

A downloaded file with no sound usually means the method captured the video track without the matching audio track. Retry with another listed quality or use a maintained method that detects and combines both tracks.

If the result opens only in a browser instead of downloading, use the browser's download control rather than the playback button. On a phone, check Files or Downloads before assuming the save action failed.

Outdated Sites, Extensions, and App Tweaks

A downloader website may go offline, while browser extensions and Facebook app tweaks can fail after a site or app update. Use one of the browser or desktop workflows covered above instead. Remove extensions that request unnecessary account permissions and avoid legacy mbasic substitutions.

Reels and Stories can also fail when Facebook changes their link format or when a Story has expired. Copy a fresh link while the public post is active; private, restricted, deleted, or expired content will not work through a public-link method.

 The Final Thought: Which Facebook Download Method Should You Use?

Use Facebook's own download path when it is available for a video you uploaded. For another person's public video, FDOWN offers a lighter browser workflow, while KeepStreams is better suited to authorized Windows or Mac downloads that need organized local files and selectable output settings.

Private or restricted videos remain limited by their access permissions. I would not rely on old URL substitutions or frequently broken extensions. If a managed desktop workflow fits your needs, you can download KeepStreams for Windows or Mac from the official site.