2 Ways to Download Instagram Reels Directly From the App

Instagram Reels have become hugely popular for creating and sharing short entertaining videos. With the rise of Reels, many users want to download these videos to their camera roll to share elsewhere or keep for later. Instagram has made this easy by providing a couple of straightforward ways to download Reels directly within the app itself. In this post, we will cover the two main methods that allow you to save Instagram Reels to your phone's storage without the need for any third-party apps.

Method 1: Download Instagram Reels with dedicated download button

This is a new feature to download Instagram reels directly from the app. But as it's new so currently does not work with all reels. But it's the best way to download Instagram reels in full size. Follow these steps:

1. Open the App Store/Play Store on your Mobile phone and search for the Instagram app. Tap on the Instagram app and ensure you have the latest version installed. If not, update to the latest version.

2. Launch the Instagram app once it has finished updating. Navigate to the reel post you want to download by either searching for it or going directly to the user's profile who posted it.

3. Tap on the reel video to open it. In the bottom right corner, you will see a paper airplane-shaped "Share" icon. Tap on this Share icon.

4. A share menu will appear with various options. Towards the bottom of this menu, you will see the "Download" option, represented by a downwards arrow. Tap on the Download option.

5. Once you tap on Download, you will briefly see a message at the bottom of the screen that says "Downloading..." indicating the video is being downloaded. After a few seconds, this will change to say "Finished downloading" confirming the reel has been successfully saved to your camera roll. You can access your downloaded reels in your Photos app.

Method 2: Download Instagram Reels without the download button

This is an old method & indirect method to download Instagram reels directly from the app. It'll give you scaled-down video but you can crop it later if you want. Good thing about this method is this works on all Instagram Reels. Follow these steps:

1. Launch the Instagram app and navigate to the reel video you want to save to your camera roll. Tap on the reel video to open it in full screen. In the bottom right corner, tap on the paper airplane "Share" icon again.

2. A share menu will appear. Scroll down towards the bottom of this menu and you will see an "Add to Story" option. Tap on the "Add to Story" button.

3. Tapping this will take you to the Instagram Story creation page, with the reel video added. In the top right corner, tap on the three dots icon to open more options. A menu will appear - tap on the "Save" option. This will save the reel video to your camera roll.

Conclusion

As we have covered, Instagram now provides intuitive ways for you to keep copies of Reels you enjoy watching by letting you download them straight from the app. The introduction of the dedicated Reel download button makes grabbing videos you like a breeze, while the sharing menu method reliably works as a fallback when the download option isn't available. With either technique, you can quickly save entertaining Reels to relive later or share with friends elsewhere. So next time you come across a fun Reel, go ahead and download it - Instagram has implemented great native tools specifically for preserving these short viral videos you love.

FAQs related to downloading Instagram Reels:

What is the video quality when downloading Reels?

The dedicated download button saves Reels at full, original quality. The sharing menu method results in a slightly compressed version.

Does downloading Reels notify the creator?

No, downloading a Reel does not send any notification to the user who posted it or indicate in any way that you saved it. It downloads discreetly.

Can I download Reels without the Instagram app?

While the methods outlined require the Instagram app, there are some third-party apps and sites that allow Reel downloads too. The app experience is simplest though.

How many Reels can I download at once?

You are only able to download one Reel at a time. This limit applies across both methods covered. You'll need to repeat the steps for each additional Reel you wish to save.

Where do my downloaded Reels get saved?

Instagram saves any Reels you download directly to your camera roll/gallery so you can access them like normal photos and videos.

Does downloading Reels work on both iOS and Android?

Yes, the Reel downloading capability functions equally well through Instagram on both iPhone and Android devices. All main steps are the same.

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