How To Download Instagram Reels In 2023: A Step-By-Step Guide

Nov 6, 2023 8:30:00 AM | Instagram How To Download Instagram Reels In 2023: A Step-By-Step Guide

Learn how to download Instagram Reels videos in 2023 with this step-by-step guide. Find out how to save Reels videos to your iPhone.

 “How to download Instagram reels” is a common question among content creators who want to add their unique touch to other users’ reels or use a template. If you wonder why people are so interested in reels today than images or text, the numbers speak for it.

Did you know that reels get 22% more engagement on Instagram than standard video postings?

The best part is that you can also repurpose your reels by downloading and posting them on other platforms. Sometimes, users want to use a particular template or some part of a video to create another video. Downloading Instagram reels allows you to easily post them on any other platform like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Kwai.

Creating interactive content and using the right Instagram reel hashtags helps you reach a wide audience. But it is important to create stories that interest viewers, and they keep coming back for more. Reel and story-making applications have proved revolutionary in helping content creators.

Download Lift: Reels & Story Maker to add life to your Instagram stories and reels.
Download from the App Store

We have compiled a simple guide on “how to download reels from Instagram” so you can download reels quickly!

Table of Contents

How To Download Reels From Your Own Instagram Profile

Downloading your reel on Instagram is super-easy and takes less than five minutes. You can directly save the reel to your camera roll.

Here’s how to save Instagram reels to camera roll:

  1. Open the Instagram application on your mobile phone. 
  2. Go to your account and find the “Reels” icon. 
  3. Click on the Reels tab.
  4. Now click on the reel you want to download to view it in full-screen reel dimension
  5. Find the three dots in icons on the right side of the screen. 
  6. Click on the three dots and select Download.

The video will be downloaded to your camera roll. 

download Instagram reel 

Download Instagram Reels Using Screen Recording

While it is incredibly easy to download your reel, Instagram does not allow you to download another user’s reel to your camera roll. Instead, you can save the reel within the application. 

But you can use screen recording if you want to keep the content for viewing offline.

How to Download Instagram Reels Using Screen Recording on iPhone

iPhone has a built-in screen recorder that you can use to save a screen recording of the reel you want to save to your camera roll.

Follow these steps to screen-record Instagram reels on iPhone:

  1. Find the Settings icon on your phone and open it.
  2. Look for Control Center and add Screen Recording to the control center.
  3. Now go back to the home screen and launch Instagram.
  4. Find the video you want to download.
  5. Open the Control Center.
  6. Click on the screen recording icon in your control center. 
  7. Play the video to record it.
  8. Now click on the red button to stop screen recording.

Trim the length of the Instagram reel recording according to your need.

How to Download Instagram Reels Using Screen Recording on Android

Screen recording in iPhone and Android is slightly different but equally convenient. However, some Android phones do not have a built-in screen recorder. 

Here's how to download reels from Instagram on Android phones with a screen recorder. 

  1. Open Instagram and find the video you want to record.
  2. Drag the drop-down menu on the screen.
  3. Search for the screen recording icon and click on it.
  4. Now play the video to record it.
  5. Click on the red icon after recording the video. 
  6. Crop the video according to your requirements.

Screen Recording Instagram Reel

Use A Trusted Third-Party App To Download Instagram Reels

A screen recorder lets you download other users' Instagram reels on your device. But you cannot use them directly. You will have to remove the extra elements by editing the video to make it usable. 

However, there is one alternative—use a third-party application to download Instagram reels.

Third-Party Applications for iPhone

InSaver is the most widely used third-party application iPhone users use to download Instagram reels. Downloading and using the application is quite convenient, making it a top choice for Instagram users.

  1. Go to App Store and look for InSaver.”Tap on the first application.
  2. Click on Install to download InSaver and allow access to media.
  3. Now, go to Instagram and open the reel you want to download.
  4. Click on the three-dot icon and select copy link.
  5. Jump to InSaver and paste the copied link.
  6. Next, select Watch it and go to Options
  7. Click on Share and choose Save.

It will save the reel to your photos app. 

Besides InSaver, InstDown is another popular iOS application that allows you to download Instagram reels. 

Third-Party Applications for Android

Now that you know how to download Instagram reels for iPhone, here’s a quick look into downloading Instagram reels on Android phones:

  1. Go to Google Play Store and find Video Downloader for Instagram.
  2. Click on “Install” and allow access to media.
  3. Now open Instagram and find the reel you want to download.
  4. Once you have opened the reel, click on the three dots on the right side.
  5. Select "copy link" to copy the link to the video.
  6. Next, paste the link in “Video Downloader for Instagram.”
  7. Tap on “download” to save the reel to your camera roll.

After the video is saved in your camera roll, you can edit and use it per your preference. 

You can also opt for other trusted third-party apps like AhaSave Video Downloader and ETM Video Downloader to download reels. 

Save Your Instagram Reel to your Saved Collection

If you do not want to repurpose a reel, why take space on your camera roll by downloading it?

Sometimes you see a post, story, or reel and want to save the idea for later; using the "save" feature is better than downloading or screen recording it. You can also save your reels to the Saved Collection.

The process of saving reels and posts is pretty simple:

  1. Tap on the Instagram icon on your phone to launch the app.
  2. Click on your profile in the bottom right corner. 
  3. Go to the reels section in your profile. 
  4. Tap on the reel you want to save.
  5. Click on the three dots on the right side of the screen.
  6. Next, select Save.

Instagram gives you the option to save the reels to different folders. Now, you can also create collaborative folders allowing friends to save reels to that folder. 

Besides knowing how to save Instagram reels to camera roll, you can also save reels by other content creators. If you want to save reels by another user, click the reels icon in the bottom row of the Instagram screen. Click on the three dots on the reel you want to save and save it to the folder of your choice.

Save Instagram Reels

How to Access Saved Reels on Instagram

Access the saved reels on your Instagram by going to your profile and clicking on the three lines in the top right corner of the screen. 

Select “Saved” from the menu to access your saved content. Now you can see the saved reels and posts in their separate folders. There’s also a folder for saved music.

Bonus Tip: Create Reels with Lift: Story Maker Like a Pro

Instagram has 2.35 billion users, expected to reach 2.5 billion by the end of 2023. An increased number of users means higher chances of reaching a wider audience. But you can only get more views on your content when you offer interesting, high-quality content.

If you struggle to create good quality reels, Lift: Reels & Story Maker can be your savior. It has a wide variety of editable templates to choose from. You can edit your reels as much as you want or create interactive ones without much effort.

Lift: Reels & Story Maker

The font styles and unique elements allow you to stand out from the crowd and make your content go viral!

Lift: Reels & Story Maker

Download Instagram Reels in Less Than Five Minutes!

Now that you know how to download Instagram reels, you can easily save them to a camera roll within less than five minutes. Go to the reels icon on your Instagram profile and open the reel you want to save. Click on the “download” option to download it on your device. Alternatively, you can use the screen recorder or third-party apps like InSaver and ETM Video Downloader to download Instagram reels on your phone. 

Learn more about Instagram reels in our Instagram reels guide. 

Ruslana Lishchuk

Written By: Ruslana Lishchuk

Ruslana is a Content Manager for the Lift Blog. She's been writing articles on social media, app reviews, macOS troubleshooting for over 3 years.