Video won't download? Common causes and fixes

Most failed downloads come down to a handful of causes, and most of them you can spot in a few seconds. Work down this list. And remember that a download that fails doesn't use a credit, so trying again costs nothing.

1. The video isn't public

We can only fetch what anyone on the internet could watch without logging in. These won't work:

• Private videos and private accounts.
• Friends-only Facebook posts and private groups.
• YouTube members-only videos and some age-restricted videos.
• Protected accounts on X.

Quick test: open the link in a private or incognito window. If the site asks you to log in before it plays, we can't download it either.

2. It's live

Live streams can't be downloaded while they're live. Once a YouTube stream ends and becomes a normal video, try again. TikTok LIVE, Instagram Live and X Spaces usually aren't saved as videos at all.

3. It's a paid or protected film

Movies you rent or buy, and streaming services like Netflix or Disney+, use DRM copy protection. We don't download DRM content.

4. The link is wrong or incomplete

• Make sure you copied the link to the video, not to the profile or a search page.
• Check nothing got cut off when you pasted it.
• Use the app's own Copy link button rather than copying text from a message, which can add extra characters.

Our guide on copying a video link shows where the button is in each app.

5. The video was removed

If the creator deleted it, or the platform took it down, there's nothing left to download. Open the link yourself to check.

6. The site isn't supported

We support YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Vimeo, Twitch clips, Pinterest, Dailymotion, SoundCloud, LinkedIn and many more. Some smaller sites don't expose their videos in a way we can read. If you think a site should work, tell us through the contact page.

7. The download started but you can't find it

Check your browser's Downloads list. On iPhone, open the Files app and look in Downloads. On Android, look in the Downloads album in your gallery. Files stay on our server for 15 minutes after they're ready, so if you've waited longer than that, run it again.

Still stuck?

Try once more in a few minutes. Platforms sometimes change things on their side, and we fix those as fast as we can. If it keeps failing, send us the link via the contact page.

If the video downloads but has a problem, see no sound or won't play on Windows.