The VidMate Facebook downloader saves public Facebook videos and Reels to your phone or computer in HD, in a smaller SD size, or as an MP3. Paste a link from the Facebook app, from facebook.com, or a fb.watch short link someone sent you on WhatsApp. You don’t need to log in, and there is no app to install.
Quick answer: on the video tap Share › Copy link → paste it above → Download → choose HD or SD.
Facebook links VidMate understands
| Link | Example | Works |
|---|---|---|
| Reel | facebook.com/reel/1234… | Yes |
| Video on a page | facebook.com/PageName/videos/1234… | Yes |
| Watch link | facebook.com/watch/?v=1234… | Yes |
| Short link | fb.watch/abc123 | Yes |
| Share link | facebook.com/share/v/… or /share/r/… | Yes |
| Post with a video | facebook.com/…/posts/… | Usually |
| Story | facebook.com/stories/… | No |
| Private group | facebook.com/groups/… | No |
This page is for Facebook only. If you paste a TikTok or Instagram link, VidMate points you to the right downloader instead.
How to download a Facebook video
On a phone
- Open the video or Reel in the Facebook app.
- Tap Share (the arrow), then Copy link. On some Reels it’s under the three dots › Copy link.
- Open VidMate in Chrome or Safari and paste the link in the box above.
- Tap Download, then Download HD or Download for the smaller copy.
- Android saves to Files › Downloads; on iPhone open Files › Downloads and use Share › Save Video to put it in Photos.
On a computer
Click the video’s date or time stamp to open it on its own page, copy the address from the browser bar, then paste it here. Copying the address of your news feed won’t work, because it doesn’t point to one video.
HD vs SD on Facebook
Facebook doesn’t keep a long ladder of qualities like YouTube does. For most videos it keeps exactly two files, which VidMate shows as the two buttons:
| Button | Typical resolution | Typical size per minute | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download HD | 720p, sometimes 1080p | 8–20 MB | Watching on a TV or laptop, editing |
| Download (SD) | 360p–480p | 2–5 MB | WhatsApp, mobile data, old phones |
| Download MP3 | audio only, 192 kbps | about 1.4 MB | Speeches, nasheeds, songs |
Older uploads and some videos posted from phones only have an SD file. Then both buttons give the same video, because VidMate never stretches a small video to look bigger.
Facebook Reels and silent videos
Reels with music from Facebook’s licensed library sometimes play with sound only in the app. The file Facebook sends to browsers has no audio track at all. If you download one of those, the picture is fine but there’s no sound, and the MP3 button reports that there is no audio to save. That’s Facebook’s choice, not a download error, and no web tool can work around it.
Reels with the creator’s own voice or original audio download with sound normally.
Downloading Facebook videos as MP3
Many Facebook pages post lectures, Islamic talks, poetry and cricket commentary. The MP3 button keeps only the sound, so an hour-long talk becomes a file of about 85 MB instead of several hundred. It’s good for listening while you drive or with the screen off.
When a Facebook link fails
| Message | Likely reason | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Private or unavailable | Video isn’t Public, or was deleted | Open the link in a private window without logging in |
| No video found | Link points to a photo post or the feed | Open the video itself and copy that link |
| Only SD available | Facebook kept no HD copy | Nothing more to get |
| No audio | Licensed music muted on the web | The app version is the only one with sound |
| Link expired | Buttons last 10 minutes | Paste the Facebook link again |
The private-window test is the quickest check: if the video doesn’t play there, it isn’t public, and no downloader can fetch it.
Respect the people who posted it
Save your own uploads, videos from your business page, or clips the owner allows you to keep. Don’t re-upload other people’s videos as your own. Facebook can remove copied content, and the original creator owns the rights.
Downloading Instagram too? The Instagram Reel downloader works with the same steps.
Why use the VidMate Facebook downloader
Facebook’s Save button only bookmarks a video inside the app; if the owner deletes it, it’s gone. This Facebook downloader gives you a real MP4 file on your device. You can download Facebook videos from public pages, watch links and fb.watch links shared on WhatsApp, and you can download Facebook Reels too.
A Facebook video downloader that respects data limits
Every video comes in two sizes. Take HD over Wi-Fi for TV and laptop viewing, or the much smaller SD file when you’re on a mobile package. The MP3 option is ideal for lectures and talks you only need to hear.
Checklist
- Copy the link of the video itself, not of the news feed.
- Make sure the post is set to Public.
- If a Reel has no sound, its music was muted by Facebook outside the app.
With those three checks, the Facebook video downloader works first time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download videos from private Facebook groups?
No. VidMate doesn't log in to Facebook, so it only sees videos that are set to Public. Group, friends-only and 'Only me' videos can't be reached.
What's the difference between HD and SD?
Facebook keeps two versions of most videos. HD is usually 720p or 1080p; SD is around 360p–480p and much smaller, which is handy on mobile data or for sharing on WhatsApp.
Why does my downloaded Reel have no sound?
Some Reels use licensed music that Facebook only plays inside its own app. The file Facebook serves to the web is silent, so there's nothing for any downloader to save. VidMate tells you when a video has no audio track.
Can I download Facebook live videos?
Not while they're live. Once the stream ends and Facebook posts the replay on the page, paste the replay link and download it like any other video.
Does it work with fb.watch links from WhatsApp?
Yes. VidMate follows fb.watch short links to the real video page automatically.
Can I download Facebook Stories?
No. Stories need a logged-in account and vanish after 24 hours, so VidMate doesn't support them.
Can the Facebook downloader save Reels?
Yes. Paste a facebook.com/reel/ or share/r/ link and the Facebook downloader offers HD, SD and MP3.
Is this Facebook video downloader safe for my account?
Yes. The Facebook video downloader never asks you to log in, so your account is never involved.