The quick answer is yes, it is possible for someone without a Facebook account to watch a Facebook video. There are a few different ways this can be accomplished.
Viewing Public Facebook Videos
Many videos posted to Facebook pages and profiles are publicly accessible. This means someone can watch the video directly on Facebook without needing to log in or have an account. As long as the video has been shared publicly, the content will be viewable to anyone who has the link to the video.
For example, say your friend shared a cute video of their dog on their Facebook profile. If they didn’t change any privacy settings, that video would likely be visible to anyone on the internet who came across it. You could share the link to that video with someone else who doesn’t have Facebook, and they could click on the link and watch the video directly on Facebook.com without logging in or creating an account.
The same is true for videos posted to public Facebook pages, like those belonging to brands, celebrities, media companies, etc. As long as the video is public, you don’t need a Facebook account to see it.
Finding Public Facebook Videos
There are a couple ways to find public Facebook videos to share:
- Search directly on Facebook – Use the search bar to search for keywords related to the type of video you want to find. When results come up, look for videos shared from public pages or profiles.
- Google search – Search on Google using keywords along with “Facebook video” or “Facebook page video.” Click through to videos from public pages in the results.
- Shared links – If you already follow public Facebook pages, you may see links to videos shared directly in your newsfeed. These can easily be shared with friends who don’t have Facebook accounts.
As long as the video is visible to “Public” and not just to a specific group of friends or page followers, anyone should be able to view it by clicking on the direct link to the video.
Using a Video Downloading Site or App
If you want to download a Facebook video to share and watch offline, or if the video has privacy settings limiting who can see it, you’ll need to use a third-party website or app to download the video.
There are many free online tools and mobile apps that allow you to input a link to a Facebook video, then download a copy of the video to your device. Some popular options include:
- SaveFrom.net – Web-based tool, inserts video link and downloads MP4 video file
- FBDown – Web and mobile app, download private and public videos
- 4K Video Downloader – Desktop app with Facebook video download feature
- Video Keeper – Chrome extension for downloading Facebook videos
To use one of these tools:
- Copy the link to the Facebook video you want to download
- Paste the link into the tool/app and start the download process
- Once downloaded, you can share and watch the MP4 video file offline or send it to someone who doesn’t have Facebook access
Is Downloading Facebook Videos Legal?
Downloading videos from Facebook to share offline is technically against Facebook’s Terms of Service. However, many people do this and it’s unlikely you’ll get in trouble for downloading a video once in awhile for personal use. Just don’t share or distribute the downloaded video publicly.
Some additional precautions you can take include:
- Only download videos you have permission to use from the content creator
- Credit the original source when sharing the video
- Don’t use the video for commercial purposes
As long as you’re being responsible about how you use the downloaded videos, downloading an occasional video to share privately with friends and family is generally considered okay.
Screen Recording a Facebook Video
If you want to save a Facebook video without actually downloading it, another option is to screen record the video as you play it on Facebook.com.
You can use built-in screen recording features on desktop and mobile devices to record yourself playing the video on Facebook’s website. Then you’ll have a new video file of the screen recording that you can share anywhere.
Here are some ways to screen record Facebook videos:
| Device | Screen Recording Method |
|---|---|
| Windows PC | Use Xbox Game Bar by pressing Windows Key + G |
| Mac | Use QuickTime Player |
| iPhone/iPad | Swipe up and tap Screen Record |
| Android | Use built-in screen recorder in settings |
The resulting screen recording won’t be the same quality as downloading the direct video file, but it can work in a pinch to capture and share Facebook videos you don’t have a way to download.
Using a Proxy Server or VPN
If all else fails and you really want someone to be able to access Facebook videos that aren’t publicly viewable, you can use a proxy server or VPN service.
Connecting through a proxy server or VPN routes your internet traffic through an intermediary server, masking your identity and location. This essentially lets you disguise the fact that the person watching the video doesn’t have their own Facebook account.
To use this method:
- Choose and connect to a proxy server/VPN service. Some options include Hola, VPNBook, or Hotspot Shield.
- Once connected through the proxy, open Facebook and navigate to the video you want the other person to watch.
- Copy the URL of the video while your connection is still active through the proxy service.
- Send them the video link – they can now open the link and watch the video through the proxy connection.
This makes it a bit more convoluted, but does provide access for someone to view Facebook videos as if they had their own account. Just keep in mind that accessing private content through unauthorized proxy connections is legally questionable.
Conclusion
There are a variety of methods that allow someone without a Facebook account to view Facebook videos in certain situations:
- Watch publicly shared Facebook videos by directly clicking the video link
- Download videos through third-party apps and tools
- Screen record videos as you view them on Facebook.com
- Use a proxy server or VPN to disguise the lack of Facebook account
In general, public videos don’t require any special effort – simply share or send the link and they can watch it on Facebook.com. Private videos take a bit more effort to record or download for sharing offline. And proxy connections provide backdoor access but come with legal concerns.
With the right method based on the specific video, almost anyone can get access to view Facebook videos without needing their own account!