With Facebook being one of the most popular social media platforms, users often want to save videos they see on Facebook so they can watch them later without an internet connection. However, Facebook’s default video quality is not always the best, especially for longer videos. So a common question is: How can I save a video from Facebook in HD quality?
Why You May Want to Save Facebook Videos in HD
Here are some of the main reasons you may want to download and save a video from Facebook in HD quality:
- Watching videos offline – If you want to watch videos when you don’t have an internet connection, such as on a plane or somewhere without WiFi, you’ll need to save them to your device first.
- Better viewing experience – HD videos look much crisper and clearer on big screens like TVs or desktop monitors. The default Facebook video quality is often only 360p or 720p.
- Editing videos – If you want to edit together clips and segments from longer Facebook videos, it helps to have the highest quality version.
- Archiving content – You may want to save a special video like a friend’s wedding video at the highest possible quality for archiving purposes.
- Avoid quality loss after sharing – Every time a video gets downloaded and re-uploaded, some quality is typically lost. Saving the original HD file prevents this.
In most cases, downloading the HD version of a Facebook video will lead to the best viewing experience and avoid quality loss from compression. This is especially true for longer videos.
Requirements for Downloading Facebook Videos in HD
Before we get into the specific methods for saving Facebook videos in HD, here are some requirements to keep in mind:
- The original video must have been uploaded in HD. You can only save a Facebook video in the highest quality it was originally uploaded in. If the uploader only used a 360p or 720p file, you won’t be able to get a 1080p HD version.
- You need permission from the copyright holder. Technically, you can only download and re-post videos on Facebook that you own the copyrights to or have explicit permission for.
- Videos are downloaded to your device’s storage. You’ll need enough available storage space on your phone, tablet, or computer to save the HD video file.
- HD videos take longer to download and save. The higher the quality, the bigger the video file size and longer the download time.
As long as you have permission, a good internet connection, and enough device storage, the process for actually saving the videos is straightforward using the right tools.
Method 1: Save Facebook Videos on Desktop Computer
Saving Facebook videos in HD quality is easiest using a desktop computer browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Here are the steps:
- Locate and open the Facebook video you want to save on your computer browser.
- Look below the video for the download icon (downward facing arrow). Hover over it and select “Download HD”.
- A window will open showing the video file download progress. Wait for it to fully complete.
- Once done, locate the downloaded video file in your computer’s Downloads folder.
- Right click the video > Properties to confirm it is an HD file like 1280×720 or 1920×1080 resolution.
This straightforward process works on both Windows PCs and Mac computers. The video gets saved in .mp4 format to maintain quality. Just note that HD downloads take much longer than lower quality, sometimes up to 10-20 minutes for very long videos.
Using Browser Extensions
An alternative option is using a browser extension or add-on to download Facebook videos. Some popular options include:
- Video DownloadHelper – Chrome extension with easy HD downloads.
- SaveFrom.net Helper – Works on Chrome and Firefox.
- FBDown – Dedicated Facebook video downloader for Chrome.
These extensions often provide faster one-click downloads right from the Facebook interface. However, you still need to ensure you pick the HD quality setting before downloading.
Method 2: Use the Facebook Mobile App
You can also save Facebook videos directly within the Facebook mobile app for iPhone or Android. Here is how:
- Open the Facebook app and locate the video post you want to save.
- Tap on the three dots (…) menu icon in the upper right corner of the video.
- Choose “Save Video” from the menu options.
- On Android, toggle the “HD” switch on for best quality. iOS downloads HD by default.
- The video will now save to your device’s local storage. Typically in the device’s Download folder.
This gives you an easy way to quickly save videos right within Facebook to your phone or tablet. One limitation is that you can only download videos that are under 20 minutes using the mobile app.
Using Third-Party Facebook Video Downloader Apps
There are also various apps you can install to download videos from Facebook to your mobile device:
- Video Downloader for Facebook – Android and iOS app that downloads in HD and other formats.
- Facebook Video Downloader – Simple downloading app for Android.
- SaveFrom.Net – Video downloader that works with Facebook and other sites.
These apps provide fast one-tap downloading. Though again, you need to select the HD quality option first. Some apps require a paid subscription for HD support.
Method 3: Use an Online Facebook Video Downloader
If you can’t download straight from the desktop or mobile app, another option is using an online tool or website downloader.
Here are some of the top options:
- SaveFrom.Net Video Downloader – Allows pasting in the Facebook video URL to download in HD.
- OnlineVideoConverter.com – Converter with dedicated Facebook video downloader supporting HD.
- FBDown.net – Website specifically focused on downloading Facebook videos in HD.
- VideoProc Converter – Software with a Facebook video download feature and editing tools.
The steps are basically:
- Go to the video on Facebook and copy the URL.
- Paste the URL into the website downloader tool.
- Select HD as the download video quality.
- Convert and download the HD video file to your computer.
Online downloaders are a convenient option if you can’t use the Facebook app or desktop site downloader for some reason. Just be wary of download limits or needing to create an account.
Tips for Successfully Downloading Facebook Videos in HD
Here are some tips to ensure you are able to download the highest quality HD version of Facebook videos:
- Double check the original video source – Make sure it was uploaded in HD quality like 720p or 1080p initially.
- Use the desktop website if possible – The browser download options tend to be faster and more reliable.
- Pick a reputable third-party app – Read reviews and ratings before downloading an app to avoid bugs or malware.
- Test with short videos first – Try downloading a 1 or 2 minute HD video clip before longer videos to make sure everything works.
- Connect to solid WiFi – Downloading large HD video files consumes a lot of data bandwidth.
- Be patient and plan ahead – HD video downloads take much longer to complete, especially longer videos.
Following these tips will help ensure you can reliably download and save videos from Facebook in full high definition quality for the best watching experience.
Common Issues When Downloading Facebook HD Videos
Here are some common issues users encounter when trying to get HD videos from Facebook and how to resolve them:
Only Lower Quality Options Available
If you don’t see the “HD” download button, only lower quality options, then the video was not originally uploaded in HD quality. You can only download the maximum resolution that was uploaded.
Very Long Download Times
HD videos contain much larger file sizes. Be prepared for very long download times, like 20+ minutes for longer videos. Make sure you are on a solid WiFi connection and remain patient.
Download Fails to Complete
If the HD download gets interrupted or fails to fully complete, restart it and make sure your internet connection is stable throughout the full download. Try again on a different network if needed.
Can’t Find HD Video File After Downloading
On desktop browsers, downloaded Facebook videos go to the computer’s Downloads folder. On mobile, check the device storage/Downloads folder. If you still can’t find it, try the download steps again.
HD Quality Looks the Same as Lower Resolutions
To see the true HD quality, watch the downloaded video on a larger screen like a TV or monitor. Smaller device screens may not show the full resolution difference. Also try playing from the original file location, not forwarding compressed versions.
Conclusion
While it takes a few extra steps compared to simply viewing Facebook videos in your browser or app, downloading the HD versions is worthwhile for archiving important videos and getting the best playback quality. The desktop website downloader provides the fastest and most reliable HD downloading experience, but mobile apps and online converters work as well. Just make sure to check the original video source quality, use a stable internet connection, and be patient with larger file sizes. Following this guide will have you downloading and saving Facebook videos in full high definition quality.