Before I get started with the main focus of this post, here is a little backstory:
I love Instagram for sharing photos of my life with my close friends and family, but soon after I started using it, I realized that accessing those images from my computer was rather tricky.
I could export my photos with Instaport.me but I wanted to automate the process.
I later discovered IFTTT, one of my favorite online tools. Using it, I created a trigger (known as a 'recipe') that saves a copy to Dropbox of any photo that I (or my husband) post to Instagram. Then, I can easily access all of our photos for printing, sharing or creating an annual yearbook of our life together, which I'm pretty sure will become a tradition.
And now, back to the reason for my post...
Instagram released video sharing functionality recently. After waiting a bit for the Android version to roll out, I was finally able to test it out today.
As soon as I was able to test out the video functionality, I wondered how it would interact with my IFTTT recipe. It seems that IFTTT doesn't support Instagram videos yet. Neither my video nor the still I chose to represent the video have been passed to Dropbox.
But, I found a manual workaround. I'm using Chrome, but I'm sure something similar could be accomplished with any other modern browser although a few steps might be different.
How to Save a Local Copy of an Instagram Video using Chrome:
1. Log into Instagram on your computer.
2. Locate the video.
3. Right click and choose 'Inspect Element.'
4. Locate the .mp4 file in the code that appears. It should be hyperlinked. Click on it.
5. Right click on the video that opens in a new tab.
6. Choose 'Save Video As'.
7. Choose a location to save the video on your computer.
And that's it!
Do you have any thoughts about the new video sharing functionality in Instagram? Feel free to share them by leaving a comment.
| Jenna Weiner is a rather geeky girl with average social skills and an affinity for: Google Apps, Salesforce.com, Pinterest, Firefly, dresses, indoor plants and life-hacking.
Have a suggestion for a post or a question? Feel free to get in touch.
Email: rathergeeky@gmail.com Twitter: @RatherGeeky LinkedIn: View My Profile |
Can't you just look in your camera roll and email the video to yourself and/or others?
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle.
DeleteI'm sure that's possible.
I personally hate that extra step of emailing things to myself from my phone. If I'm on my computer and want to embed the video or images in a blog post, I want my media accessible from my computer. That's why using IFTTT works so great for me! I've connected Dropbox to Instagram with their new video trigger. That gives me an online backup of all my pics/vids too.
doesn't seem to work correctly on android
DeleteAnonymous: What doesn't seem to work? I'm not sure if you are referring to IFTTT or Dropbox or Instagram based on the thread you commented in.
DeleteThis post is about saving an instagram video *from your computer*... without having to send it to yourself via email or some other sort of method.
If you can be more specific about what you are asking, I'm happy to help.
it's not working
ReplyDeleteHi there Anonymous. I just tried the same method I outlined here and it worked just fine for me, although Step 4 was a bit complicated and I had to click around a bit to be able to highlight and copy the url.
DeleteIf you need help, please be more specific regarding what step isn't working for you.
if searching for the url is tricky for you, press F3 to highlight the word "mp4". the url should end with ".mp4", mind you
Deleteit's actually working this article is very helpful thank you
DeleteTHANK U SO MUCH FATIHAH AHMED FOR THAT SEARCHING ADVICE
DeleteThank you!!! It worked for me, but them again, I'm also using Chrome.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It worked for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, worked for me using Firefox. Although, I had to copy and paste the entire code into word, then find the mp4 link and copy it from there as it wasn't a hyperlink.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this! I used Firefox and it worked a treat. I did have to double-click on the link for it to highlight just the URL itself and not the stuff around it.
ReplyDeleteYou've saved the day - thank you!
Easy peasy, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
ReplyDeleteThis Was awsome!!!...thank you..and Im hanging around with you now...Gems throughout your blog!! keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! This trick really comes in handy sometimes.
ReplyDeleteOn Google Chrome if you log into your account through statigr.am you can just play the video first then right-click it and select "save video as".
ReplyDeleteGreat tip!
Deletethanks so much for this!! it worked easily and like a charm!! :D
ReplyDeleteDoes it work on firefox
ReplyDeleteIt should. You're able to use 'View Source' when right clicking on a webpage in Firefox, I'm sure. Easiest way to find out is to give it a try yourself. :)
DeleteOMG YOU ARE SO BRILLIANT!! THANK YOU! IT HELPS! :)
ReplyDeleteHi there. I got to the part where I can save the video, however, its just a black page and wont play :( What could I do
ReplyDeleteSometimes, when you download something, your internet browser opens a blank page. But, if you find the video that you saved on your local computer, you should be able to play it by double clicking on the file.
DeleteThis is one technology that I would love to be able to use for myself. It’s definitely a cut above the rest and I can’t wait until my provider has it. Your insight was what I needed. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing, thank you!
ReplyDeleteam speechless. It is a unbelievable weblog and very partaking too. Great work! That's probably not a lot coming from an beginner blogger like me, but it's all I may assume after having fun with your posts. Nice grammar and vocabulary. Not like different blogs. You actually know what you are speaking about too. So much that you made me want to learn more. Your blog has turn into a stepping stone for me, my fellow blogger. Thank you for the detailed journey. I actually enjoyed the 6 posts that I have learned so
ReplyDeleteIt worked...thank you!!
ReplyDeletedoes it show if you download someones picture
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you mean. This post is about Instagram videos. If you're trying to save a picture, it won't work quite the same way. But, the person who owns the account won't get a notification that you've downloaded it, if that's what you are asking.
DeleteThis was so helpful, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you enough!!!! This was quick, easy effective. We have a small business and can use our customers cool Instagram videos to spread the word about our items. :) Really appreciate your clear, excellent advice. Rather Geeky Yay!!
ReplyDeleteHm,
ReplyDeleteWas hoping i could get this to work but for some reason i'm not seeing any mp4 files when i do this. Pressed F3 and did a search and nothing...
Dope
ReplyDeleteWorked great!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! You're a life saver! Lots of love! <3
ReplyDeleteworked a charm Thanks
ReplyDeleteAwesome!.it works on my chrome I've downloaded up to 4 videos now...haha
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. Worked great!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing!!! Works like a charm!!!!! And for those saying, well can't you just email it from your computer? Well what if i already erased a video i took a long time ago but need to use it again?!?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ITS A BIG HELP. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use allavsoft VideoGo to convert Instagram to MP4
ReplyDeletevideo format to burn.
Thanks much for this info!
ReplyDeleteHi, I think now I have a strong hold over the topic after going through the post. The subject that you have discussed in the post is really amazing; I will surely come back for more information.
ReplyDeleteon step 4 I don't know how to find the mp4 file and there is nothing hyperlinked ?
ReplyDeleteTry using CTRL + F to open up the little search box in your browser. Then search for .mp4 to locate the file.
DeleteThank you so much! very helpful! 💙
ReplyDeleteI cannot get this to work still.. I cannot seem to find any mp4 function in the elements... would you be comfortable logging into an Instagram to help me do this??
ReplyDeleteHi there - sorry, I don't recommend sharing your login information with a stranger. But, I can help troubleshoot. What step are you getting stuck on? #4? Did you try using CTRL + F to bring up the search window in your browser and typing 'mp4'?
DeleteThanks! Super worked for me! Been wanting to do this for quite some time now!
ReplyDeleteI found easy way to download Insta and Vine Video. Just paste link via: Download Instagram Videos (http://instadownloader.cf).
ReplyDeleteStep 1: Copy your video link from Instagram
Step 2: Paste this link to Downloadbox
Step 3: Get it by Right mouse click > Save Video As.
Done !
i couldnt understand how to locate video in the code ... help please!
ReplyDeleteIf you were able to get to the page with the code, you can use the Find function in your browser (if you're using Chrome, use the CTRL or CMD + F keyboard shortcut) then type 'mp4' in the search box. That should help.
DeleteHi! I'm trying this as well but can't seem to find any mp4 files although using the search tool. I also have a problem when wanting to download a video that was posted in a series of photos/images but that is not the "cover", how do I solve that? Using chrome on a mac. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteHi there! I just tested out viewing a multiple image post and I haven't figured out yet how to view the individual photos (or videos) that make up the post. Sorry! :-(
DeleteThank you so much
ReplyDeleteYou shared such a great Article.
ReplyDeleteI was looking for a tool to download my Instagram videos. Now I can download my all the videos.
Thanks
Work's perfectly fine... Thanks
ReplyDelete