Why a video link won't download, and how to fix it

First, a quick test

Open the link in a private or incognito window, where you're not logged in to anything. If the video plays there, it's public and should download; the cause is one of the temporary or link problems below. If it asks you to log in, or says the content isn't available, it's private, deleted or restricted, and no downloader can fetch it without your account.

1. The post is private or gone

Private accounts, friends-only posts, Close Friends stories and private groups are only visible to people who are logged in and allowed to see them. Deleted, archived and removed posts stop working for everyone. In both cases, the only way to get the video is to ask the person who posted it to send you the file.

Posts can also disappear between the moment you copy the link and the moment you paste it. If it worked a minute ago and now doesn't, check whether the post is still there.

2. You copied the wrong link

Links to profiles, hashtags, sounds, LIVE streams, shops, playlists or search results don't point at a single video. Open the video itself and copy the link from its Share menu. On a computer, make sure the address bar shows the video's own page: on Facebook, for example, click the post's timestamp first.

Watch out for links copied from the middle of a scrolling feed. On some platforms, the address bar still shows the feed, not the video you're watching.

3. The short link expired or is incomplete

Short links such as vm.tiktok.com, v.douyin.com, pin.it or fb.watch redirect to the full address, and some of them stop working after a while. Copy a fresh one from the app. Also check the link wasn't cut off when you copied it: chat apps sometimes break long links across lines.

You don't need to clean up extra text around the link. Pasting a whole share message, like Douyin's Chinese share text, works because we find the link inside it.

4. The platform is rate-limiting

Platforms occasionally slow down or block bursts of requests to protect their servers. If you see “Too many requests” or a temporary error, wait a minute and try again. It usually clears on its own. If you're saving a lot of videos, a short pause between them helps.

5. The video is region-locked or age-restricted

Some videos are only available in certain countries, usually because of music or broadcast rights, and some are hidden behind an age check that requires a signed-in account. Those show an error here even though they play for you. A VPN can help with region locks, but not with age checks or private content.

6. The site isn't supported

We support TikTok, Douyin, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), Pinterest, Snapchat and Dailymotion. We don't support YouTube, and we can't download from streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video, which protect their videos with DRM. No legitimate downloader can save DRM-protected video.

The video downloaded but won't play

• Black picture with sound on Windows: the video is in H.265 (HEVC). Install Microsoft's HEVC Video Extensions or use VLC.
• File is tiny or won't open: the download was interrupted. Delete it and download again on a stable connection.
• Video opens in the browser instead of saving: right-click it and choose Save video as, or long-press it on a phone.
• No sound: check your phone's silent switch, and whether the platform muted the music for copyright reasons.

Platform-specific causes

• TikTok: LIVE replays, Shop product pages and links to a sound or effect aren't videos. Photo posts need Download TikTok Slideshow.
• Instagram: Close Friends stories, posts from private accounts, and links to a profile grid or the Reels tab instead of one Reel.
• Facebook: posts in private groups, friends-only posts, and feed links that don't point at the video. Click the post's timestamp to get its own link.
• X (Twitter): protected accounts, posts behind a sensitive-content warning, Spaces, and videos that are really embedded YouTube links.
• Pinterest: Pins on secret boards, and Pins whose video is hosted on another site.
• Snapchat: anything that isn't public. Private Snaps and chats are never downloadable.
• Dailymotion: private or password-protected videos, and broadcasters' content limited to some countries.

Still stuck?

Try the link in a different browser, or on your phone instead of your computer, to rule out an extension or a corporate network blocking the request. If a public video keeps failing after a few minutes, email us the link through the Contact page. Platforms change their sites often, and a report helps us fix things for everyone.

Why we don't ask you to log in

Some downloaders fix private-video errors by asking for your Instagram or Facebook password, or for a browser extension that reads your cookies. That gives a stranger full access to your account. We only fetch public content, so some links will always fail here, and that's the trade-off for never touching your account.