TikTok has its own Save video button, but many creators switch it off, and the in-app download is often compressed and carries a moving watermark. If you need an offline copy of a clip you are allowed to keep, such as your own upload or a video a creator has given you permission to reuse, a browser-based downloader is the simplest route. This guide walks through the whole process on Android, iPhone and computer, explains where the file ends up, and covers what to do when something goes wrong.
Before you start: what you need
- The TikTok app, or tiktok.com open in any browser.
- A phone or computer with a modern browser: Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox or Samsung Internet all work.
- A public video. Videos from private accounts can only be seen by approved followers, so no outside tool can fetch them.
- A few megabytes of free space. A one-minute HD clip is usually between 5 and 20 MB.
Step by step on Android
- Open the video in the TikTok app and tap the Share arrow on the right side of the screen.
- Tap Copy link. A short message confirms the link is on your clipboard.
- Open Chrome (or your usual browser) and go to the TikTok video downloader.
- Tap the link box and choose Paste, or use the Paste button next to the box.
- Tap Download. After a few seconds you will see the video title, the account name and the formats available.
- Pick the quality you want. The file is prepared and Chrome shows a download notification when it is saved.
Step by step on iPhone and iPad
The steps are the same, with one difference at the end: Safari saves files to the Files app instead of Photos. After the download finishes, tap the download arrow in Safari’s address bar to open it. To add the video to your camera roll, follow our guide on finding downloaded videos on iPhone.
On a computer
On Windows, Mac or Linux, open the video on tiktok.com, copy the address from the browser bar, and paste it into the downloader. Files go to your normal Downloads folder. A computer is handy if you are saving several of your own clips for editing.
Which quality should you choose?
| Option | Best for | Typical size per minute |
|---|---|---|
| Highest video quality (often 1080p) | Editing, big screens, archiving your own work | 10 to 20 MB |
| Lower resolution | Sending in chats, saving phone storage | 3 to 8 MB |
| Audio only (MP3) | Voice-overs, podcasts, listening offline | about 1 MB |
The quality list depends on what TikTok stores for that video. If a creator uploaded in 720p, there is no 1080p version to download.
Short links work too
Links copied from the app often look like vm.tiktok.com/AbCdEf/ or vt.tiktok.com/AbCdEf/. You can paste these as they are; the tool follows them to the full video page. Links with tracking text after a question mark are fine as well.
If the download does not start
- “We could not get this video”: open the link in a private browser window. If TikTok asks you to log in, the video is private or age-restricted.
- Nothing happens after tapping Download: check that only the link is in the box, with no extra words or emoji copied from a chat.
- A timer appears on the button: you have reached the short limit on lookups. Wait until it finishes.
- Photo slideshows: these are image posts, not videos, and are not supported yet.
More causes and fixes are in our troubleshooting list.
Be fair to creators
Saving a clip for personal offline viewing is very different from re-uploading it. Only download videos you made yourself or have permission to use, and never repost someone else’s work as your own. TikTok’s own copyright policy explains how creators can report reposted content, and our plain-English guide covers what the law says about downloading. If a creator asks you to remove their content, respect that.
Frequently asked questions
Does the creator know if I download their video?
No notification is sent by the downloader. Remember that the video still belongs to the creator, so the usual rules about reusing it apply.
Can I save only the sound?
Yes. Choose Audio only in the format list, or read how to save just the audio as MP3.
Is there a limit on video length?
Most TikTok videos are short and finish in seconds. Very long videos take longer to prepare, so keep the page open until the download begins.
