📅 January 2026 ⏱ 5 min read ✍️ VideoDL Team

How to Download Instagram Videos, Reels and Photos — Complete Guide

Instagram still doesn't give you a built-in way to save content to your device. This guide explains exactly how to use VideoDL to download any public Instagram content in just a few steps — on iPhone, Android or PC.

The basic steps (works on all devices)

01

Find the Instagram post you want to save

Open Instagram in your browser or app. Navigate to the video, photo, Reel or Story you want to download. It must be a public post — private account content cannot be downloaded.

02

Copy the post link

On the Instagram app, tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right of the post and select Copy Link. On a browser, you can simply copy the URL from the address bar.

03

Paste the link into VideoDL

Go to videodl.xyz and tap the Paste button, or press Ctrl+V (PC) / long-press (mobile) inside the input box to paste your link.

04

Click Download and save your file

Hit the Download button. In a few seconds, your file will be ready. Tap Save to Device to store it in your Downloads folder or Photos app.

💡 Tip: If the download button doesn't respond on mobile, try opening the link in a different browser. Safari works best on iPhone, Chrome works best on Android.

Downloading on iPhone

iPhone users need one extra step because iOS handles downloads differently from Android or PC.

  1. Use Safari browser on your iPhone for best results.
  2. After clicking Download on VideoDL, a video preview may appear.
  3. Long-press the video and select "Save to Photos" or "Download Linked File".
  4. The file will appear in your Photos app or the Files app under Downloads.

If you can't save directly, try the Documents by Readdle app — it has a built-in browser that handles downloads smoothly on iOS.

Downloading on Android

Android is more straightforward. Use Chrome or any standard browser:

  1. Paste the Instagram URL into VideoDL and tap Download.
  2. When prompted, tap Download in the browser popup.
  3. Find your file in the Downloads folder or your Gallery app.

Downloading on PC or Mac

  1. Open Instagram in one browser tab and copy the post URL.
  2. Open VideoDL.xyz in another tab, paste the URL and click Download.
  3. Your browser will download the file automatically to your Downloads folder.

How to download Instagram Reels

Reels work exactly the same as regular videos. Open the Reel on Instagram, tap the Share button (the paper plane icon), and select Copy Link. Paste into VideoDL and download. The Reel will be saved without any watermark.

How to download Instagram Stories

Stories are slightly trickier because they disappear after 24 hours. To download a Story, open the Story on Instagram, tap the three dots in the bottom right and select Copy Link. If this option isn't available, copy the URL from your browser's address bar while the Story is open. Then paste into VideoDL as normal.

Common issues and fixes

The download button does nothing

This usually happens when a browser extension (like an ad blocker) is interfering. Try temporarily disabling extensions, or open VideoDL in a private/incognito tab.

"Invalid URL" error

Make sure the link starts with https://www.instagram.com/. App-generated share links sometimes have different formats — try copying the link directly from a browser instead.

File not appearing after download

Check your browser's download history (usually Ctrl+J on PC). On mobile, check both your Downloads folder and your Photos/Gallery app.

Ready to download?

Head back to the homepage, paste your Instagram link and save your content in seconds.

Go to Downloader →