How to Save Instagram Reels on iPhone
To save a public Instagram Reel on iPhone, copy its link, open ig.tools in Safari and download the MP4. The file may go to Files rather than Photos. This guide covers where to find it, how to move it to Photos and what to check if saving does not start.
Ready to try it? Open the Instagram Reels Downloader
Download the Reel in Safari
Use the link to the Reel you want to save. A profile username opens a list of available Reels instead of selecting one video. Menu positions in Instagram and Safari can vary by app and iOS version.
- Open the Reel in Instagram. Tap its sharing control and choose Copy link when available.
- Open Safari and visit the Instagram Reels Downloader. Paste the copied link, select Download and complete verification if requested.
- Wait for the video preview, then use the download icon on the media card or opened preview. This saves the file; the first Download button finds it.
- Keep Safari open while the file downloads. If Safari asks whether to download the file, confirm and wait for its Downloads entry to finish.
Open the Instagram Reels Downloader
Find the MP4 in Files
Open Safari’s Downloads list from its toolbar or page menu, depending on your iOS version. A completed entry can open the video or show its location in Files. If there is no download entry and the video opened in a tab, use the Share menu and Save to Files when available.
In Files, select Browse and check Downloads under iCloud Drive or On My iPhone. The destination depends on your Safari Downloads setting. If necessary, search Files for ig.tools- or look in Recents. A video in Files has been saved even if it is not yet in Photos.
Move the video from Files to Photos
For a compatible MP4, iOS can offer Save Video in the Share menu. A filename starting with ig.tools- is normal; the .mp4 ending identifies the video format.
- In Files, open the completed MP4 and check that it plays.
- Tap Share and choose Save Video when offered. You can also try touching and holding the file, then selecting Share.
- Open Photos and check recently saved items. The exact view depends on your iOS version; adding the video to Photos does not remove the copy in Files.
If the download or Save Video option is missing
Use the symptom below to choose the next action. Switching browsers can help with a save dialog, but it does not make a private or deleted Reel public.
- The page is inside Instagram or another app
- Open ig.tools in Safari, paste the Reel link again and use the media download icon. In-app browsers may handle downloads differently.
- The download started, but the video is not in Photos
- Check Safari Downloads and Files first. Open the MP4 and use Share → Save Video if available.
- Safari opens a video tab instead of saving
- Use Share → Save to Files when offered. If ig.tools shows Open original file after a failure, it offers another way to let Safari handle the source.
- Save Video is absent or saving to Photos fails
- Confirm that the file is fully downloaded and plays. Check free storage and try Share from Files. If iOS does not support the file, keep it in Files rather than repeatedly downloading it.
- A preview loaded, but its download now fails
- Check your connection and resolve the link again once. Media links can expire while the Reel itself remains available.
Check the saved video’s sound and quality
ig.tools saves the available source MP4 without adding a watermark or upscaling it. It cannot remove marks already embedded in the video or guarantee the creator’s original upload. If sound is missing, test volume and another player before retrying.
Download the MP4 in Safari, find it in Files, then use Share → Save Video when available to add it to Photos. Files and Photos are separate destinations.