Reel Downloaderby PostOnce

Reel Downloader

Reel Downloader is a free tool by PostOnce that saves Instagram Reels, photos and carousels to your device. Paste a public link in the box below, or add the Chrome extension to get a Download button on every post.

On a computer? Reel Downloader for Chrome adds a Download button right on each post, with no daily limit and higher-resolution photos.

The Reel Downloader panel beside a Instagram post, showing a saved file and its resolution

How to download Instagram Reels with Reel Downloader

There are two ways to use it. Both are free and neither needs an account.

With the web tool (any device, including phones)

  1. Open the Reel in the Instagram app or on instagram.com.
  2. Tap Share, then Copy link. The link looks like instagram.com/reel/ followed by a short code.
  3. Paste the link into the box above.
  4. Press Download.
  5. Save each file to your device.

The web tool also accepts photo and carousel links that use instagram.com/p/.

With the Chrome extension (desktop)

  1. Click Add to Chrome and confirm in the Chrome Web Store.
  2. Open instagram.com in Chrome. Make sure you are signed in.
  3. Find the Reel you want. A Download button sits right beside the post.
  4. Click it once. A small panel shows the progress, then "Saved to your downloads." with the exact resolution of the file.

That is the whole process. There are no settings to pick and no pages to wait through. If you mainly save on a laptop or desktop, the step-by-step guide to downloading Reels on PC walks through it in more detail, including Mac.

What quality to expect

Reel Downloader saves the best quality Instagram's own website offers. For Reels, that is usually 1080p, with sound.

Nothing is re-encoded. You get the file Instagram serves, not a compressed copy. Instagram sometimes sends the picture and the sound as separate streams. When that happens, the extension combines them in your browser, so you end up with one video that plays with audio.

For photos and carousels, the extension saves images at up to 1080 px wide. The web tool can return lower-resolution images, for example 720 px wide. If image quality matters to you, use the extension.

Instagram Reels downloader: extension or web tool?

Both do the same basic job. The right one depends on where you are and how often you save posts.

Choose the extension if you

Choose the web tool if you

The web tool runs on our servers, so it has a daily limit. The extension runs in your own browser and has no limit. You can read more about how the extension works on the Instagram downloader Chrome extension page.

What you can save

What is not supported

Reel Downloader keeps to a clear scope. It does not download:

The web tool only works with public posts. The extension works with posts you can open while signed in to Instagram in Chrome.

Troubleshooting

Most problems come down to the post itself or the connection. Reel Downloader tells you which one it is.

"Sign in needed"

The extension uses the Instagram session already open in Chrome. Sign in to instagram.com in the same Chrome profile, then try again. The extension never sees your password.

The post was removed or is private

If a post has been deleted, or the account is private and you do not follow it, there is nothing to download. You will see a clear message saying so.

The download stopped partway

If your connection drops, the panel shows a Retry button. Press it to start that file again.

The web tool will not accept my link

Check that the link points to a single post, using /reel/ or /p/. Profile links and Story links will not work. Also check that the post is public.

I hit the daily limit

The web tool's limit resets each day. If you need more, the extension has no limit.

Privacy

Reel Downloader is free and asks for no account. It does no usage tracking. With the extension, downloads stay on your computer and nothing is uploaded. With the web tool, files are fetched from Instagram's own servers, and we do not keep copies.

Please only download posts you own or have permission to reuse.

Reel Downloader is made by PostOnce. It is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Instagram or Meta.

Frequently asked questions

Is Reel Downloader free?

Yes. Both the Chrome extension and the web tool are free, and neither needs an account. The web tool has a daily limit because it runs on our servers. The extension has no limit.

Do downloaded Reels keep their sound?

Yes. Reels are saved with sound. If Instagram serves the picture and audio separately, the extension combines them in your browser into one video.

What resolution will my Reel be?

Usually 1080p, which is the best quality Instagram's website offers for most Reels. The file is not re-encoded. The extension shows the exact resolution when the download finishes.

Can I download Instagram Reels on my phone?

Yes, with the web tool. Copy the Reel's link, paste it in the box at the top of this page, press Download and save the file. The Chrome extension only works in desktop Chrome.

Can I download Instagram Stories or a whole profile?

No. Reel Downloader does not support Stories, LIVE broadcasts or bulk profile downloads. It saves single Reels, photos and carousels.

Do I need to sign in to Instagram?

For the extension, yes. It uses the Instagram session already open in Chrome and never sees your password. The web tool needs no sign-in, but it only works with public posts.