To save an Instagram Reel, open it, tap the three-dot (More) icon and tap Save. The Reel goes into a private Saved folder on your profile that only you can see. To find it later, go to your profile, tap the menu icon and tap Saved.
To keep a copy on your phone instead, tap the Share (paper airplane) icon and look for Download. That option only appears on Reels from public accounts that haven't turned downloads off, and the saved video includes an Instagram watermark and the creator's username.
Below, you'll find every way to save Reels, what each method includes, how to keep clean copies of your own Reels, and where downloading other people's videos crosses a line.
Instagram Reel saving methods at a glance
| Method | Best for | Watermark? | Audio? | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save (bookmark) | Rewatching later in the app | No (stays in Instagram) | Yes | Any Reel you can view |
| Save to a collection | Organizing Reels by topic | No (stays in Instagram) | Yes | Any Reel you can view |
| Share, then Download | An offline copy on your phone | Yes, plus the creator's username | Original audio can be included; licensed music may not be | Public Reels with downloads turned on |
| Download your own Reel | Backing up your own content | Yes, if downloaded after posting | Licensed music may be dropped | Reels you posted |
| Keep your original export | Reposting your own Reel elsewhere | No | Yes, whatever you edited in | Videos you made |
The catch: downloads, watermarks and permissions
Saving and downloading sound similar but work very differently. Saving is a bookmark. Nothing leaves Instagram, and the creator keeps full control. Downloading puts a copy of someone else's video on your device, so Instagram attaches rules to it.
- Who can be downloaded: according to Instagram's help center, anyone can download Reels from public accounts unless the creator turns downloads off. Reels from private accounts can't be downloaded. For users under 18 with public accounts, downloads are off by default.
- What you get: downloaded Reels include an Instagram watermark, the creator's username and audio attribution.
- What you can do with it: Instagram says downloaded Reels aren't allowed to be used for commercial purposes. Personal use, like rewatching offline or sending to a friend, is the intended use.
Why saves matter for creators
If you make Reels yourself, saves are worth paying attention to. A like takes a split second. A save means someone wants to come back to your video, which is a stronger sign that it was useful.
Professional accounts can see how many times each Reel was saved in their insights. Only the number is shown: Instagram's help center says people can't tell who saved their post.
What makes a Reel worth saving
- Step-by-step tutorials people want to follow later.
- Recipes, workouts, checklists and templates.
- Lists of tools, places or resources.
- Tips dense enough that one viewing isn't enough.
A simple on-screen prompt like "save this for later" at the end of a tutorial reminds viewers the option exists.
How to save Reels with Instagram's built-in feature
Save a Reel
- Open the Reel.
- Tap the three-dot (More) icon.
- Tap Save.
Instagram moves buttons around between app versions. If you don't see Save under the three dots, check the Share menu. On regular feed posts, the Save (bookmark) icon sits right below the post.
Save a Reel to a collection
Collections let you sort saved Reels into folders, like "Recipes" or "Video ideas." Tap and hold Save, then pick an existing collection or tap New collection. You can rename, edit or delete collections later from your Saved folder.
Find your saved Reels
- Go to your profile.
- Tap the menu icon in the top right.
- Under How you use Instagram, tap Saved.
On a computer, open instagram.com, go to your profile and look for Saved. Depending on the layout, it's a tab on your profile or an item in the More menu.
Unsave a Reel
Open the Reel from your Saved folder and tap Save again to remove it. It disappears from your Saved folder and any collections it was in.
How to download Reels to your device
Download a public Reel
- Open the Reel.
- Tap the Share (paper airplane) icon.
- Scroll the row of options at the bottom and tap Download.
- The video saves to your camera roll or gallery.
If Download isn't there, the account is private, the creator turned downloads off, or the account belongs to someone under 18 who hasn't turned downloads on.
Download your own Reel
You have a few options, and they don't produce the same file:
- Before posting: the Reels editor has a download icon near the top of the screen that saves your edited video to your phone. How it handles licensed music varies by app version, so play the saved file back to check the audio.
- After posting: open your Reel, tap the three-dot icon and tap Download. This copy can include a watermark, and Reels with licensed music may download without the track.
- Your original export: if you edited the Reel in CapCut, Premiere Pro or another app, the file you exported is the cleanest copy you'll ever have. Keep it.
- A full archive: Meta's Accounts Center lets you request a download of your Instagram information, including the media you've posted. Look for "Download your information" under your information and permissions.
Third-party Reel downloaders: risks and ethics
Search for "Instagram Reel downloader" and you'll find dozens of sites and apps promising watermark-free files. Be careful.
The risks
- Your account. Never give a downloader your Instagram password. Any tool that asks for it can take over your account.
- Your device. Some downloader sites are packed with aggressive ads, fake download buttons and malware.
- Instagram's rules. Scraping and bypassing a creator's download settings goes against Instagram's terms.
The ethics
The watermark exists to keep credit attached to the creator. Removing it to repost someone's work as your own is copying, and it can get your account reported or your post taken down for copyright. If you want to feature another creator's Reel, ask them first, credit them clearly, or use Instagram's own Share and Remix features, which keep the credit in place.
Repurpose your own Reels with ViralFarm
Saving other people's Reels is for inspiration. Your own Reels are assets you can reuse. The same 9:16 video that works on Instagram fits TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook too.
ViralFarm lets you schedule one video to Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook from a single queue, with a different caption for each channel. Upload your original export rather than a downloaded copy, so it publishes without a watermark. For more on getting the file right, see our Instagram Reel size guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to download someone else's Instagram Reel?
Instagram's built-in Download option is allowed for personal use on Reels where the creator has kept downloads on. Instagram says downloaded Reels can't be used for commercial purposes. Reposting someone's Reel without permission can break copyright law and Instagram's rules, whether or not you downloaded it through Instagram.
Why can't I download a certain Instagram Reel?
The account is private, the creator turned off downloads for that Reel or their whole account, or the creator is under 18 and downloads are off by default. Some app versions also place Download in a different spot, so scroll the full Share menu.
Can I download an Instagram Reel without the watermark?
For your own Reels, yes: keep your original export, or download from the Reels editor before posting. For other people's Reels, Instagram's download always includes the watermark. Removing it to repost someone else's video isn't fair to the creator.
Does saving a Reel help the creator?
Yes, in two ways. Creators with professional accounts can see save counts in their insights, which tells them what's useful. And a save is a deliberate action that shows the video was worth coming back to.
Can people see who saved their Reel?
No. Instagram's help center says only you can see the posts you've saved, and the owner can't tell that you saved theirs. Creators only see the total number of saves.
Where do saved Reels go?
To the Saved folder on your profile. Tap the menu icon on your profile, then Saved. Reels you added to a collection also appear inside that collection.
Save what inspires you, download only what you're allowed to, and keep the original files of everything you make. When you're ready to put your own Reels on every channel, Start free — no credit card required.