How to download Facebook videos

Facebook hosts millions of videos every day: viral clips on the feed, full episodes on Facebook Watch, short Reels, and family videos you cannot find anywhere else. The problem is that the platform offers no native download button for the vast majority of its content. This guide explains how to download Facebook videos easily, quickly, and for free from any device, using PullVid's Facebook downloader.

If you want to understand the download process for any platform, also check the ultimate guide to downloading videos. And if you are on mobile and do not want to install anything, the guide to downloading videos on mobile without apps gives you all the details.

Types of Facebook videos (Watch, Reels, fb.watch, groups)

Before explaining the process, it helps to understand the different types of videos that exist on Facebook, because each has its own URL and its own way to access the link:

• Feed and page videos: the most common videos, uploaded directly by users or public pages. Their URL typically has the format facebook.com/pagename/videos/123456.
• Facebook Watch: Facebook's video section, similar to YouTube. It hosts series, news clips, and creator content. URLs follow the format facebook.com/watch/?v=123456.
• Facebook Reels: short vertical videos, similar to Instagram Reels. Accessed via the Reels section of the app or from the creator's profile.
• fb.watch: short URLs that Facebook automatically generates for sharing videos via WhatsApp, Messenger, or any other platform. They redirect to the original video.
• Group videos: open groups allow their videos to be viewed and shared publicly. Closed or secret groups are only accessible to members.

For all types of public videos, the download process with PullVid is the same. The only difference is how you copy the link in each case.

How to download a Facebook video step by step

PullVid's Facebook downloader works directly from your browser with nothing to install. Follow these steps:

1. Open the video on Facebook: navigate to the video you want to download. Make sure it is public (if you see a lock icon or the group is closed, you will not be able to download it).
2. Copy the link: tap the three dots (···) that appear in the corner of the video and select "Copy link". In the desktop browser, you can also copy the URL directly from the address bar. fb.watch links also work as-is.
3. Paste the link into PullVid Facebook: open the downloader, paste the link into the search field, and press search. PullVid will analyze the video in seconds.
4. Choose the quality: the available options will appear, typically HD (720p or 1080p) and SD (480p or 360p). Select the one you prefer.
5. Download: press the download button. The video will be saved directly to your device's downloads folder.

The whole process takes under a minute. No account required, no invasive ads, and the service is completely free.

Download Facebook Reels

Facebook Reels work like any other video on the platform for downloading purposes, with one small difference: in the mobile app, the share button on Reels sometimes does not show "Copy link" directly. Here are the two most reliable ways to get a Reel link:

• From the app: tap the three dots (···) on the Reel → "Copy link". If that option does not appear, try "Share" → "Copy link".
• From the desktop browser: go to facebook.com/reel/123456 (the ID appears in the URL when you open the Reel on desktop) and copy the full URL.

Once you have the link, paste it into PullVid's Facebook downloader and follow the same steps as always. Reels download without watermarks, at original quality.

Download from fb.watch / shared links

fb.watch links are shortened URLs that Facebook automatically generates when you share a video via WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, or any other app. They look like fb.watch/aBcDeF123/ and PullVid accepts them directly without needing to expand the URL first.

If someone has sent you an fb.watch link and you want to download the video:

1. Copy the fb.watch link you received (press and hold the link in WhatsApp and select "Copy link", or copy it from the message).
2. Paste it into PullVid's Facebook downloader exactly as you would any other Facebook link.
3. PullVid will resolve the redirect automatically and show you the download options for the original video.

On mobile (iPhone and Android)

PullVid works perfectly in the mobile browser. No app installation required. The process is identical to desktop: copy the link in the Facebook app and paste it into PullVid from your browser.

• Android (Chrome): Chrome downloads the file directly to the internal storage Downloads folder. From there you can move it to your gallery with the file manager.
• iPhone (Safari): Safari saves the video to the built-in Files app on iOS. Press and hold the file → "Save to Photos" to move it to your camera roll.
• Mobile tip: in the Facebook app the share button sometimes opens a menu with many options. Scroll down to find "Copy link" if it does not appear immediately.

For a detailed guide on managing downloads on mobile without installing apps — including solutions to the most common problems on iOS and Android — see the dedicated article: download videos on mobile without apps.

Private videos and groups: what is and is not possible

It is important to be upfront about this limitation: PullVid can only download public Facebook videos. If a video requires you to log in to Facebook to watch it, or if it is in a closed or secret group you belong to, no external tool can download it without your session credentials.

• Public feed and page videos: downloadable without issue.
• Facebook Watch (public content): downloadable if the video is publicly accessible.
• Open groups: videos are visible to anyone, so they are downloadable.
• Closed groups: only accessible to members. Not downloadable with PullVid.
• Private profile videos: if the person has their video privacy set to "Friends only" or "Only me", they are not accessible.
• Paid or restricted-access videos: not available.

This is not a technical limitation of PullVid but a basic security rule: if Facebook does not show you the video without authentication, PullVid cannot access it either. This same barrier protects your own private videos.

Also, always download for personal and private use. Redistributing, publishing on another platform, or commercially using someone else's content without their permission may infringe their copyright, regardless of whether the video is technically public. For more legal context, see how videos and GIFs from X are downloaded — the same rules apply across all social networks.