With over 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms for sharing photos, videos, and life updates. While much of the content on Facebook is meant to be public, sometimes users want to save or download a private video that was shared with them directly through Facebook Messenger or in a private Facebook group.
Saving or downloading videos from Facebook raises some privacy concerns. Facebook’s terms of service specify that users should not download or share content from the platform without permission from the content owner. However, there are some legitimate personal reasons why a user might want to save a video that was shared privately through Facebook.
Why Would You Want to Save a Private Facebook Video?
Here are some common reasons why someone might want to save a private video from Facebook:
- To preserve personal memories or important life events that were shared privately through Facebook
- To be able to view an inspirational, funny, or meaningful video offline
- To share a private video more securely through a different channel
- To have a backup in case the original video is deleted or lost
- To edit or remix private video content
- To analyze private video content for personal, educational, or journalistic purposes
Of course, it’s essential to get the permission of the person who originally shared the private video before saving or resharing it elsewhere. The methods below should only be used ethically and legally.
Is It Possible to Download a Private Facebook Video?
Facebook does not provide an official way to download or save videos that are shared privately through Facebook Messenger or in private groups. The platform is designed to protect user privacy by limiting the ability to export private content.
However, there are some unofficial workarounds that allow users to save private Facebook videos to their device storage or cloud services.
Using Third-Party Apps or Browser Extensions
Several third-party mobile apps and desktop browser extensions exist that can detect videos as you’re watching them on Facebook and provide options to download them. Some examples include:
- SaveFrom.net browser extensions
- Video Downloader professional browser extensions
- KeepVid Facebook video downloader app
- 4K Video Downloader app
The advantage of using these tools is they provide quick access to download buttons for Facebook videos. However, be cautious installing third-party apps or extensions, as some may request invasive permissions or contain malware.
Using Online Converters
Another option is to use an online video converter tool. To use an online video converter:
- On your computer, go to the private Facebook video and copy the URL from the address bar.
- Visit an online converter tool like online-convert.com, savethevideo, or fbdown.net.
- Paste the video’s URL into the converter tool.
- Select a download format like MP4.
- Click the “Convert” or “Download” button.
- The converted video file will download to your device.
The advantage of online converters is they don’t require installing anything. However, the process is a bit more tedious than using a dedicated app or extension.
Screen Recording
If you’re unable to download a video directly, another option is to use screen recording software to capture footage of the video playing on your device screen.
For example, on an iPhone, you can enable screen recording in Control Center and record the private Facebook video as you play it on your phone. This will produce a video file of your screen that you can crop and edit to isolate the original Facebook video.
Screen recording can produce decent results, but the quality won’t be as high as downloading the original video file.
Are There Risks to Downloading Private Facebook Videos?
While it is technically possible to download private Facebook videos, there are some risks and precautions to consider:
- Copyright violations – You may infringe copyright if you download and reshare content without permission.
- Breaching Facebook’s ToS – Downloading private videos likely violates Facebook’s terms around respecting privacy.
- Account suspension – Facebook may suspend your account if detected downloading private content at scale.
- Malware risks – Use caution with third-party apps, as some carry malware risks.
- Virality – Private content you share could go viral or reach unintended audiences.
- Ownership confusion – Others may not know you aren’t the original owner if you reshare a private video.
To reduce risks, be selective in what you download, get permission from the content owner, and be careful how you store and reshare private videos.
Ethical Considerations
Before downloading a private Facebook video, please carefully consider the ethics:
- Does downloading this video violate the privacy of the user who shared it?
- Do I have permission from the original poster to download and save this video?
- Could sharing this video outside of its original context cause harm or embarrassment?
- Is my intention to download this video positive, or could it enable harassment?
- Does the public need to see this video, or am I just spreading gossip or negativity?
Downloading private content ethically requires respect, consent, and discretion. Make sure any action aligns with positive values.
Conclusion
Downloading videos shared privately through Facebook requires using unofficial workarounds like third-party apps, online converters, or screen recording. This likely violates Facebook’s terms of service. Before taking action, get permission from the content owner and carefully consider ethics and privacy. With discretion, it is possible to save private Facebook videos, but proceed thoughtfully and legally.