How to download social media videos on iPhone and iPad

Last updated: 2026-10-19

To download a video on iPhone: copy the post link in the app, paste it on VidFinch in Safari and tap Download. iOS asks to confirm, then saves the file in the Files app → Downloads. To put it in Photos, open the video in Files, tap Share, then Save Video. No app is needed.

Step by step (Safari)

In the social app, open the post and copy its link (see the table below for where the button is).
Open Safari and go to vidfinch.com. Tap the box, then tap Paste (or long-press → Paste).
Tap Download. When the result appears, tap “Download video” (or image / GIF).
Safari shows a small download arrow in the address bar. Tap it to see the file.
To move a video to Photos: open the Files app → Downloads, open the video, tap Share → Save Video.

Where to copy the link in each app

Platform	Where to copy the link	The link looks like
X (Twitter)	Share icon under the post → Copy link	x.com/user/status/1234…
Threads	Share (paper-plane icon) → Copy link	threads.com/@user/post/C9x…
Pinterest	Share → Copy link	pin.it/AbC… or pinterest.com/pin/1234…
Bluesky	Share → Copy link to post	bsky.app/profile/name/post/3k…
LinkedIn	“…” on the post → Copy link to post	linkedin.com/posts/…-activity-1234…
Snapchat	Share on a Spotlight → Copy link	snapchat.com/spotlight/… or t.snapchat.com/…

Where your downloads go

Safari saves files to Files → iCloud Drive → Downloads, or Files → On My iPhone → Downloads, depending on your settings.

You can change the folder in Settings → Safari → Downloads (on recent iOS versions: Settings → Apps → Safari → Downloads). Choose “On My iPhone” if your iCloud storage is full.

Using Chrome or another browser on iPhone

Chrome on iPhone also downloads the file but may first show it in a preview. Use the “Open in…” or share button there, then “Save to Files” or “Save Video”.

If you use Chrome often, its downloads appear in Files → On My iPhone → Chrome.

Saving photos instead of videos

For an image, tap “Download image”. Open it in Files and tap Share → Save Image to add it to Photos. Carousel posts list each photo separately, so save the ones you want.

If something doesn’t work

Copy the link of the post itself, not of the profile, the board or the home feed.
Paste the whole link. Extra text around it is fine: the tool finds the link.
Make sure the post is public: open it in a private browser window without logging in. If you can’t see it there, no downloader can.
Seeing “Too many requests”? Wait one minute and try again.
If the post loads but the download button does nothing on iPhone, check Files → Downloads: the file is often already there.
iPhone storage full? Downloads fail silently. Free some space in Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
Low Power Mode or a weak network can stop large downloads: try on Wi-Fi.

Questions

Do I need an app to download videos on iPhone?

No. Safari can download files since iOS 13. Paste the link on VidFinch and the file goes to the Files app.

Why is the video in Files and not in Photos?

Safari always saves downloads to Files. Open the video there and tap Share → Save Video to copy it to Photos.

Does it work on iPad?

Yes, exactly the same way, in Safari or Chrome.

Can I download several videos at once?

Each post is downloaded on its own. For carousel posts, every item has its own download button.