There are a few different methods you can use to download someone else’s Facebook video to your iPhone. The easiest options are to use the Facebook mobile app, a third party app, or a website/extension that allows you to download Facebook videos.
Things to Know Before Downloading
Before downloading someone else’s Facebook video, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Make sure you have permission from the video owner to download their content. Downloading videos without permission could get your Facebook account suspended.
- Facebook’s terms of service prohibit downloading videos directly from their platform. You’ll need to use a third party app or website to get around this limitation.
- Some methods of downloading videos will only give you low resolution versions. For HD quality, you may need to use a desktop based solution.
- Downloaded Facebook videos do not contain sound. You’ll need to download the audio separately if you want a video with sound.
As long as you follow Facebook’s rules and respect the video owner’s rights, downloading Facebook videos to your iPhone is straightforward. Now let’s look at the different options for getting those videos onto your device.
Using the Facebook Mobile App
The Facebook mobile app for iPhone actually doesn’t allow you to directly download videos. However, there is a bit of a workaround that lets you save videos to your Camera Roll:
- Open the Facebook app and find the video you want to download. Tap on it to open the video viewer.
- Tap on the three dots “…” icon in the top right corner of the video.
- Choose “Save Video” from the menu.
- The video will now be saved to your iPhone’s Camera Roll. You can find it in your Photos app.
This method adds the video file to your Camera Roll, allowing you to access it like any other video you’ve recorded on your iPhone. The resolution won’t be great, but it’s a quick and easy way to grab a Facebook video for offline viewing.
One major limitation is that the saved video won’t have any audio. Facebook strips out the sound when using the “Save Video” option. If having the audio is important, you’ll need to use a different downloading method.
Using a Third Party App
Your next option is to use a third party app to download Facebook videos. There are a number of free apps available on the App Store that are designed specifically for this purpose. Here are some of the best options:
Video Downloader for Facebook
One of the top rated apps for downloading Facebook videos is aptly named Video Downloader for Facebook. Here are its key features:
- Lets you download videos in HD 720p and 1080p quality.
- Can download the audio portion of videos as an M4A file.
- Simple user interface for searching and downloading.
- Completely free with no ads or popups.
To use this app:
- Install Video Downloader for Facebook from the App Store.
- Open the app and login with your Facebook account.
- Search for the video you want to download. Tap the download icon on the video.
- Select video quality and whether to download audio. Tap Download.
- Downloaded videos are saved to your Camera Roll.
Facebook Video Downloader
Another solid option is Facebook Video Downloader. Features include:
- Download in a variety of formats like MP4, MOV, and GIF.
- Download videos from both Facebook and Instagram.
- Option to download audio only.
- Browse trending and popular videos.
- No login required.
To use:
- Get Facebook Video Downloader from the App Store
- Open the app and tap Browse to search for videos.
- Tap the download arrow on a video to select options.
- Pick video quality, file format, and if you want audio.
- Download will save to your Camera Roll.
Other Apps
Some other apps to check out:
- Documents by Readdle – Includes Facebook video downloader along with other file management tools.
- FastSave – Quickly download videos with just a tap.
- Video Keeper – Download videos and convert formats.
The process is essentially the same with any third party Facebook video downloader. Just install the app, search for the video to download, choose options like quality and format, and save the video to your device storage.
Using a Website or Browser Extension
If you don’t want to install a separate app, another option is using a website or browser extension on your iPhone to download Facebook videos.
Here are some recommended tools:
SaveFrom.net
SaveFrom.net is a popular website for downloading videos from Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and more.
To use on iPhone:
- Go to SaveFrom.net in your mobile web browser.
- Paste the link to the Facebook video you want to download into the box.
- Tap the download icon next to the video quality you want.
- Your download should begin instantly.
Videos will be saved to your default Download folder. One limitation is max quality is 720p HD for Facebook videos.
FBDown.net
FBDown.net is another website specifically focused on downloading Facebook videos.
To use:
- Go to FBDown.net in your mobile browser.
- Paste the link to the Facebook video into the input box.
- Tap the Download button.
- Tap the file to view the video after download completes.
FBDown provides download options for many social media sites. Quality is limited to 720p for Facebook.
Video Keeper Browser Extension
For desktop-like downloading capabilities, use the Video Keeper extension for Mobile Safari browser.
Features include:
- Download videos up to 4K quality.
- Extract and download audio into M4A files.
- Download from Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.
- Easily save to Camera Roll or Files app.
To set up:
- Install Video Keeper extension from the App Store.
- Open link to Facebook video in Safari.
- Tap download icon in toolbar to open downloader.
- Select quality, format, location to save.
This gives you full control over the download right within your mobile web browser.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Mobile App | – Convenient – Easy to save to Camera Roll |
– No audio – Lower quality |
| Third Party Apps | – Good quality – Download audio – Dedicated FB tools |
– Need to install app – Some ads |
| Websites & Extensions | – Use within browser – HD quality options – Extract audio |
– More steps to download – Mobile site limitations |
Conclusion
Downloading Facebook videos to your iPhone is easy with the right tools. For quick saving, use the Facebook app workaround. For best quality and audio, a dedicated third party app works well. And if you want a seamless desktop-like downloading experience, try a mobile browser extension.
Just remember to respect the video owner’s rights and follow Facebook’s terms of use. As long as you download responsibly, you’ll be able to safely save Facebook videos to watch offline on your iPhone.