You know how it is: you’re scrolling through Instagram, and suddenly a video comes across that’s just too good to miss. Maybe it’s funny, really helpful, or just something you want to keep. You think, “I should save this.” Sure, you can save clips in the app, but what if you want to download reels from Instagram and save them to your Camera Roll? That way, you can revisit it anytime or share it outside of Instagram.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to save Instagram clips right in the Photos app – no questionable apps, no torturous workarounds. Whether it’s your own clip or one you found online, I’ve got simple and safe steps that work.

Let’s get down to the actions because there are clips you don’t want to lose in your feed.


How to download Instagram reels?

Let’s break it down — there are several ways to save Instagram videos depending on where the video is from. Are you trying to save your own video before you post it? Or maybe you found something in your feed that you really need to save? Either way, there are steps that work. Here’s how to download Instagram clips to your iPhone, step by step.


Before posting your own reels

If you haven’t shared your Reel yet, this is the best time to save it — you’ll get the cleanest version. Here’s what to do:

  • Go to the Instagram Settings and scroll down to “Archiving and downloading”
  • Toggle the option you want to save to your Camera Roll (photos and reels)
    • The settings in Instagram
  • Now all your posts and reels will be saved to your iPhone

Already published reels

Already shared the Reel but forgot to save it beforehand, or you would like to download a reel from another user? No worries, you can still download it. (Still, not all the audio will be saved due to copywriting rules). Here’s how:

  • Open the video and tap on the Share icon
    • Share icon in Instagram
  • Find the Download (↓) icon and tap it
    • Download Instagram
  • That is it, the reel will be saved automatically to your Camera Roll

That’s it – just a couple of taps and the clip is saved right in the Camera Roll. It’s a quick way to keep your favorite content from getting lost in endless scrolling and always have it in the Photos app in just a few taps.

You can also edit the reels after you save them to the Camera Roll.


No download button

Instagram doesn’t always offer a download button for clips shared by other accounts, and that’s for a good reason. Copyright protection is one of the main reasons why this feature can be hidden. But if you just want to save something for personal use (and not repost it), there’s an easy way out: the iPhone built-in screen recorder.

Screen recording is fast, secure, and requires no additional apps – just your iPhone and a few taps. All it does is record everything that plays on the screen, including the sound, so it’s perfect for saving clips as they appear in the app. Here’s how it works:

  1. Unlock your iPhone and open the Control Center

    2. Before you start, it’s worth turning on Do Not Disturb mode so you don’t get notifications or calls while you’re recording.

  2. Find the screen record icon and tap on it. The recording will start.
    3. How to add Screen Recording to a Control Centre
  3. After you finish all the actions, tap the red status bar at the top of the screen and select “Stop”. The recording will be saved to the Camera Roll.
    4. How to stop screen record

Please check our detailed guide on how to screen record and enjoy the process.

This method allows you to record both the video and the audio, including the music, the voiceover and sound effects, so you get the full picture, just like on Instagram.

A small note: this technique is great for personal use, but always remember to repost other people’s content. If you want to share someone else’s work, credit them or ask permission.


How to save Instagram reels on PC?

You can save clips on your iPhone for a while, but if you’re constantly running out of storage or just want to keep things more organized, it makes sense to move them to your computer. Maybe you’re collecting videos for some project or just want to keep a backup in case you suddenly lose stuff on your phone. Either way, having your clips stored on your PC will give you more space, more control, and more peace of mind. It’s easy to do with CopyTrans Studio — no cables, no digging through endless folders. Just open the app and move your reels the way you want.

  1. Download and install CopyTrans Studio.

     Download CopyTrans Studio

  2. Click on the CopyTrans Studio icon. Open the program.

    3. How to open CopyTrans Studio

  3. Choose your iPhone and then click on Photo Library.

    4. Open iPhone gallery on Windows

  4. In the main window, you will see different options. Choose one:

    Option 1: back up the whole library in one click. Note: it does incremental backups without duplicates.

    Option 2: open the “All photos” folder and copy images manually to the PC.

    Option 3: choose between iPhone and iCloud photos.

    Option 4: drag-and-drop photos separately by categories.

    CopyTrans Studio functions
  5. Now, drag-and-drop photos to your PC.

How to download Instagram reels video?

FAQ

1. Will anyone know if I upload their clip?

No, Instagram does not notify users that someone is saving, downloading or recording their clips. So if you’re just saving a funny video or a helpful tutorial for personal use, that’s fine. Just be respectful: don’t repost someone else’s content without permission or thanks.

2. Can I save Instagram videos in HD?

Yes, but only under certain conditions. If you save your clip before posting, Instagram will usually retain the original quality. Recording from the screen, however, depends on your iPhone settings.

3. I used fancy sound – can I keep it when I save the clip?

If you download a clip inside Instagram using the download icon, you won’t get the sound if it’s taken from the Instagram music library due to copyright rules. But if you record it on the screen during playback, yes, you’ll get the sound, too. Just make sure to turn on the volume while recording!

4. Why can’t I find clips saved in the Instagram app?

Ah, classic! The Instagram “Save” feature doesn’t actually download anything — it just saves the videos to your bookmarks in your account. To find your saved videos, go to your profile, tap on the hamburger menu (☰) in the top right corner, and then on “Saved”. But remember — these videos are only available as long as the original post is saved. If the creator deletes it, it will disappear from your saved list as well.

5. Can I transfer my Instagram clips to an external hard drive?

Absolutely, and it’s a great idea for backup. First, save the clip to your iPhone. Then, use CopyTrans Studio to transfer the clip to your computer, or plug in an external drive and transfer the files to it.

6. Is there a way to automatically organize saved clips into folders?

Yes – but not within Instagram. If you use CopyTrans Studio, you can sort photos and videos by date, location, or even device name as you transfer them to your computer. That way, your clips won’t just be piled into one huge folder – they’ll be neatly organized and easy to find later. This is ideal if you have hundreds of clips and want to bring order.


How to save a reel to Camera Roll?

Final Thoughts

Instagram clips aren’t just quick videos you can scroll past — sometimes, they’re moments you want to rewatch. It may be a clip that made you laugh at just the right moment, a tutorial you’ll actually use, or something you created yourself. These are the kinds of videos that are worth saving. And now you know exactly how to do it.

Save your clips directly to your iPhone, record someone else’s ones from your screen, or transfer videos to your PC to free up space — you now have an easy and safe way to save your favorite clips, without all the fancy apps and complicated hacks. So, next time you see a clip that stops you mid-scrolling, don’t just save it in the app — save it for real. Save a reel in the Camera Roll or on your computer and come back to it whenever you want.