Downloading Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook videos for your own private viewing is generally low risk, but reposting, editing or earning money from someone else's video without permission can break copyright law and the platform's rules. What you do with the file matters far more than the act of saving it.
This is general information to help you make sense of the topic. It is not legal advice, and laws differ between countries. If you are planning something commercial, or you have received a complaint, talk to a lawyer.
Who owns a video on Instagram or Pinterest
The person who made a video usually owns its copyright, not the platform. When they post it, they give Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest a licence to show it. They do not give that licence to everyone who watches.
A video can also contain other people's work. A Reel may use a song owned by a music label, clips from a film or a photo taken by someone else. Each of those has its own owner.
So "it is public" does not mean "it is free to use". Public only means anyone can watch it on the platform.
Downloading videos for personal use
Keeping a copy to watch offline, saving a recipe video for later, or holding on to a clip of a friend's wedding is what most people do with a downloader. In many countries this kind of private, non-commercial use is treated as low risk, and copyright owners rarely care about it.
Low risk is not the same as zero risk, though. Some laws do not have a clear personal-use exception, and platform terms may still restrict how content is collected. Keep downloads private and do not pass copies around widely.
Reposting is where trouble starts
Uploading someone else's video to your own page is a different matter. That is copying and publishing their work, and it is the main thing copyright law is built to stop.
Credit is not permission. Writing "credit to the owner" or tagging the creator is polite, but it does not give you the right to repost. Only the owner can give that.
Earning money raises the stakes. Running ads on reposted clips, using them to promote a business, or selling them is commercial use, and owners are far more likely to act.
Platforms act too. Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest remove reposted content when the owner reports it, and repeat reports can get an account disabled.
How to get permission the simple way
If you want to share a video on your page, ask the creator. A short direct message saying where you want to post it and how you will credit them is often enough. Save their reply as a screenshot.
For songs, use the platform's own music library inside the app, where the rights are already sorted. Taking an MP3 from a Reel and adding it to your video skips that.
The easiest option of all is the share button. Sharing a Reel to your Story or sending the link keeps the creator's name attached and needs no download.
A note on India
In India, copyright is covered by the Copyright Act, 1957. It allows certain uses without permission, known as fair dealing, such as private use, research, criticism, review and news reporting.
Courts look at each case on its own facts, so these exceptions are not a blanket pass. Re-uploading full videos, running them on a business page or using songs in ads usually falls outside them.
India also has rules that make platforms respond to copyright complaints, which is why reposted content can be taken down quickly here as well.
Platform terms are a separate question
Copyright law is one layer. Each platform's terms of use are another. Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest all ask users to respect other people's rights and not to reuse content they do not own.
Breaking platform terms is usually handled by the platform itself, through warnings, removals or account limits. You can read the rules for each service on the Facebook Help Centre and the help pages of the other platforms.
How The Reels Downloader handles this
The Reels Downloader is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Instagram, Meta or Pinterest. It only reads public posts, never logs in to anyone's account and does not keep copies of the files you download.
We ask everyone to use it for personal use, or for content you own or have permission to use. Our terms of service set this out in full.
If you own a video and want to raise a concern, our DMCA policy explains how to contact us. For tool-related help, the FAQ covers the common questions.
Common situations, in plain words
Saving your own Reels. Backing up videos you made yourself is fine. They are your work.
Keeping a tutorial or recipe for later. Private viewing on your own phone is the kind of use owners rarely object to.
Sending a clip to family. Sharing the link is better than sending the file, since the creator keeps their views and credit.
Making a compilation page. Collecting other people's videos on your own account without permission is reposting, even with credit, and is the case most likely to get reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to download Instagram Reels?
Saving a public Reel for private viewing is generally treated as low risk in many countries. Reposting it, editing it into your own content or using it to earn money without the owner's permission can break copyright law and Instagram's rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I repost a video if I give credit?
Credit alone does not give you the right to repost. Only the person who owns the video can give permission. Ask the creator first and keep a record of their reply, or use the share button instead.
Is downloading Pinterest videos allowed?
Saving a Pin for personal reference is common and generally low risk. Pins are still owned by their creators, so reusing them on your own page, in ads or for sale needs the owner's permission.
Can I use a song from a Reel in my own video?
Only with permission from the rights holder. Inside Instagram and Facebook you can pick songs from the in-app music library, where the rights are already handled. Adding a downloaded MP3 yourself skips that.
What does fair dealing mean in India?
Fair dealing under India's Copyright Act, 1957 allows some uses without permission, such as private use, research, criticism, review and news reporting. Each case depends on its facts, so it is not a general right to reuse other people's videos.
I found my video reposted. What can I do?
Report it through the platform's copyright form, which Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest all provide. If you think our tool was involved in a way that harms you, see our DMCA policy page for how to reach us.
