How to download a Facebook video on PC or Mac in HD

Step by step

1. Step 1: Open the video on its own page

   Click the video's date or timestamp so the address bar shows facebook.com/…/videos/… or /reel/….

2. Step 2: Copy the address

   Copy the URL from the address bar, or use Share → Copy link.

3. Step 3: Paste and choose HD

   Paste it into Download Facebook Video and pick the HD option.

Getting the right link

Facebook shows videos in the news feed, on Pages, in groups, in Watch and in Reels, and the address bar doesn't always change when a video starts playing in the feed. The reliable way to get a video's own link is to click its date or timestamp (for example “2 h” or “14 March”), which opens the post on its own page. The address then looks like facebook.com/username/videos/1234567890 or facebook.com/watch?v=1234567890.

Alternatively, click Share under the video and choose Copy link. That gives you a short fb.watch/… link, which works too.

HD or SD?

HD is the best version Facebook stores for that video, usually 720p or 1080p, and occasionally higher for videos uploaded in 4K. SD is around 360p to 480p and about a quarter of the size. If you plan to watch on a laptop or TV, pick HD. For a quick clip you'll send on WhatsApp, SD is often enough.

Some HD videos are stored with picture and sound in separate streams. When that happens, we combine them as the file downloads, so you still get one MP4 with sound.

When the video opens instead of downloading

Some browsers play MP4 files instead of saving them. Right-click the video and choose Save video as, or press Ctrl+S (⌘+S on Mac). In Chrome you can make every download ask for a location in Settings → Downloads → Ask where to save each file.

Windows: where the file goes and how to play it

Downloads go to the Downloads folder (press Ctrl+J in most browsers to see the list). Facebook videos are standard MP4 files with H.264 video, so they play in the Windows Media Player and Photos apps that come with Windows 10 and 11, and in VLC.

To trim the video, the Clipchamp editor built into Windows 11 opens it directly, or use Video Cutter in your browser.

Mac: Safari, Chrome and QuickTime

In Safari, downloads go to the Downloads folder in the Dock; click the arrow in Safari's toolbar to see progress. The MP4 opens in QuickTime Player, which can also trim it (Edit → Trim). If you want to edit it further, iMovie imports it directly.

Long videos and live replays

Facebook videos can be long, especially replays of live streams from churches, schools, local news and gaming creators. An hour at 720p is often 1 to 2 GB, so make sure you have the disk space and a stable connection. A live stream that's still running can't be downloaded; wait until it ends and the replay is posted.

If you only need the audio from a long talk or sermon, Download Facebook MP3 gives you a much smaller file.

Group and private videos

Videos in private groups, or posts shared with friends only, are only visible to logged-in members. Our tool can't see them, and that's by design: we never ask for your Facebook login. For your own videos, Facebook has a Download option in the video's menu, and Accounts Center → Download your information exports everything you've uploaded.

Do I need a browser extension or software?

No. Extensions that add download buttons to Facebook need permission to read every page you visit, which is a lot of access for a small convenience, and several have been removed from browser stores for collecting data. Desktop downloader programs often come bundled with adware. A website you paste a link into needs no permissions at all.

Why the download looks worse than on Facebook

If a downloaded video looks blurrier than it did on Facebook, you probably picked SD, or the video was only uploaded in low quality. Facebook's player sometimes upscales low-resolution videos smoothly on a big screen, which hides it. Check the resolution in your video player's info panel, and choose HD when it's offered.

Keeping track of where a video came from

Downloaded files get names based on the video, which can be hard to recognise later. If you save videos for work, research or evidence, rename each file with the Page name and date, and keep the original link in a note or spreadsheet. If the post is deleted later, you'll still be able to show where it came from.

Sending the video on to someone else

A one-minute HD Facebook video is usually 10 to 20 MB, which fits in most email services. Longer videos don't: Gmail and Outlook cap attachments at around 20 to 25 MB. Share those as a Google Drive or OneDrive link instead, or shrink them first with Video Compressor, which runs in your browser and keeps the quality good enough for phone screens.