Why this Reel downloader
Most complaints about Instagram downloaders come down to the same few problems: nothing happens when you click, the video has no sound, the file is the wrong post, or the photo won't open. Reel Downloader is built around fixing each one.
It tells you what went wrong
When a download can't finish, the panel says why, in plain words. Signed out is one message. "Instagram changed something" is a different one, so you're never told to sign in when you already are. If Instagram is limiting requests, it asks you to wait a minute. A removed or private post says so. A dropped connection gets a Retry button.
Sound, every time
Instagram often sends a Reel's picture and sound as two separate files. Reel Downloader combines them in your browser into one MP4, then checks the finished file has sound before it is saved.
The exact Reel on your screen
In the Reels viewer, Instagram's address bar doesn't follow you as you scroll. Reel Downloader identifies each Reel from the post itself, not the address bar, and checks the creator on screen matches. If the Reel changes while it is preparing, it stops instead of saving the wrong one.
Photos you can open anywhere
Photos are saved as JPG, not WEBP or HEIC, so they open in any photo app, editor or older computer.
Every carousel slide, or just one
Save every image in a carousel, numbered in post order so slide 1 stays slide 1. Or save only the slide on screen.
The real resolution, shown
Reels save at the best quality Instagram's website offers, usually 1080p for vertical Reels. When the download finishes, the panel shows the file's actual size, such as 1080 × 1920, so you know exactly what you got.
A button where you already look
The Download button sits next to Share on every post, and under Save in the Reels viewer. It doesn't float over the video or cover the sound button, and it doesn't appear on other websites.
File names you can find later
Files are named after the creator and the post, like instagram-creatorname-postcode.mp4, with carousel slides numbered 01, 02, 03. No random strings.
Nothing to sign up for, nothing sent to us
No account with us, no password, no ads, no pop-ups asking for ratings, and no download limit in the extension. It doesn't track what you save.
How to download Instagram Reels
With the Chrome extension (desktop)
- Click Add to Chrome and confirm in the Chrome Web Store.
- Open instagram.com in Chrome, signed in, and click Download next to Share on any Reel, photo or carousel.
- The panel shows progress, then "Saved to your downloads." with the resolution. Click Show in folder to find the file.
For a longer walkthrough on Windows and Mac, see how to download Instagram Reels on PC.
With the web tool (any device, including phones)
- In the Instagram app, tap Share, then Copy link.
- Paste the link into the box at the top of this page and press Download.
- Save each file to your device.
The web tool accepts /reel/ and /p/ links to public posts. It runs on our servers, so it has a daily limit and can return smaller photos, for example 720 px wide. The extension has neither limit.
What you can save
- Reels, as MP4 with sound, usually 1080p.
- Photos, as JPG. See the Instagram photo downloader.
- Carousels, every slide numbered, or the slide on screen. See the Instagram carousel downloader.
- Stories, the video or photo on screen, with sound, in the extension. See the Instagram story downloader.
- Captions, with one-click copy in the extension.
Honest limits
- Stories in the extension only, and no highlights or LIVE broadcasts. Stories need your Instagram session, so the web tool can't open them.
- No whole profiles or bulk downloads. One Reel, photo or carousel per click.
- No private posts you can't open yourself. The extension sees only what your own signed-in Instagram shows you.
- Quality is Instagram's ceiling. Some Reels are only offered below 1080p. You get the best version available, and the panel shows its real size.
- Some Reels take a few extra seconds. Instagram sends some 1080p Reels in VP9, which QuickTime and iPhone can't open, so the extension converts them to H.264 in your browser first.
- The extension is for desktop Chrome. It also works in Chromium browsers that install Chrome Web Store extensions. On a phone, use the web tool.
Privacy
With the extension, downloads happen inside your browser and go straight to your computer. Nothing is uploaded, and the extension runs only on Instagram and the servers Instagram streams its media from. It uses the session already open in your browser and never sees your password. With the web tool, files come from Instagram's own servers and we keep no copies. Read the privacy policy.
Please only download posts you own or have permission to reuse.