# Is It Legal to Download Instagram Reels and Videos?

Source: https://reelsdl.net/blog/is-it-legal-to-download-instagram-reels
Publisher: ReelsDl.net
Last updated: 2026-10-29

> What copyright and Instagram's terms mean for downloading Reels and videos: watching offline vs. reposting, fair use, giving credit, and asking permission.

## Key takeaways

- The creator owns the copyright in a Reel. Posting it publicly does not give anyone else the right to reuse it.
- Saving a public video to watch privately is very different from re-uploading, editing, or making money from it.
- Reposting or using a Reel in your own content needs the creator's permission, unless an exception such as fair use clearly applies.
- Credit and "no copyright intended" captions are polite, but they are not permission.
- This is general information, not legal advice. Copyright rules differ by country.

Downloading a public Instagram Reel to watch offline is a personal use that rarely causes problems. What gets people into trouble is what they do with the file afterwards: reposting it, editing it into their own videos, or using it to sell something without the creator's permission. The creator owns the copyright in their Reel, and posting it publicly does not change that.

*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Copyright law differs from country to country. If you plan to use someone else's video commercially, ask a lawyer where you live.*

## Who owns an Instagram Reel?

The person who made it. In most countries, copyright exists automatically the moment a video is created; nothing has to be registered. When creators post on Instagram, they keep ownership and give Instagram a license to host, show, and distribute the video on its apps. That license is for Instagram, not for other users.

Music is a separate layer. Songs in Reels are licensed to Instagram for use inside the app. That license does not travel with a copy you download, which is one reason why reposting a Reel with music on another platform can get it muted or taken down.

## Watching offline vs. reusing: where the line is

| What you do | How risky it is | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Save a public Reel to watch later | Personal use; very low risk in practice | Keep the file private |
| Save your own Reels as a backup | You own them | Go ahead |
| Send the file to a friend in a private chat | Gray area | Send the Instagram link instead |
| Repost it on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube | Needs permission; can lead to takedowns and strikes | Ask the creator first and tag them |
| Use it in an ad, product, or monetized video | Needs a license, often for the music too | Get written permission |
| Use a short clip in a review or commentary | May qualify as fair use or fair dealing | Use only what you need and add your own commentary |

Saving is not the problem; distribution is. Copyright protects a creator's right to decide where their work appears and who profits from it.

## Does giving credit make reposting legal?

No. Tagging the creator, writing "all rights to the owner," or adding "no copyright intended" is polite, but none of it grants you any rights. Copyright is about permission, not attribution. Many creators are happy to say yes if you ask, and a repost they agreed to is better for both of you.

## What Instagram's rules say

Instagram's Terms of Use say you must not post content that violates someone else's intellectual property rights. Rights holders can report a repost, Instagram removes infringing content, and accounts with repeated violations can be disabled.

Instagram itself treats saving public Reels as normal. Its own **Download** option in the share menu lets anyone save a public Reel unless the creator turns it off. The saved copy carries a watermark with the creator's username, which shows where the line sits: keeping a copy is fine, passing it off as yours is not.

For reuse inside Instagram, the platform gives you tools that keep the creator credited automatically: **Remix**, sharing the Reel to your Story, or sending it in a DM. These are always safer than downloading and re-uploading.

## What about fair use?

In the United States, fair use allows limited use of copyrighted work without permission. Courts weigh four factors: why you use it (commentary, criticism, teaching, or parody count in your favor), what kind of work it is, how much of it you use, and whether your use replaces the original in the market. The UK, Canada, India, Australia, and many other countries have narrower *fair dealing* rules for purposes such as criticism, review, and news reporting.

A short clip with your own commentary on top is far more likely to qualify than reposting a whole Reel as it is, which almost never does. Fair use is decided case by case, so treat it as a defense, not a plan.

## How to ask a creator for permission

A short, specific DM works best:

> Hi! I loved your Reel about [topic]. Could I share it on my account @yourname? I'll tag you in the caption and won't edit it or use it in ads.

Screenshot the reply in case you need it later. For commercial use, such as an ad or a client project, get permission in writing with the terms spelled out, and check who owns the music.

## Saving your own Reels

You do not need anyone's permission to download your own videos. Paste each Reel's link into the [Instagram Reels downloader](https://reelsdl.net/) to save it as an MP4 without the watermark that Instagram's own download adds, or request a full copy of your posts through **Accounts Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information**. For clean copies, see [how to download Reels without a watermark](https://reelsdl.net/blog/download-instagram-reels-without-watermark).

## What ReelsDl.net does and does not do

ReelsDl.net only works with public posts and never asks for your Instagram login. It does not host Instagram videos: each file streams from Instagram's servers when you request it. Our [Terms of Service](https://reelsdl.net/terms) ask you to download only what you have the right to use, and rights holders can ask us to block a link through the [DMCA page](https://reelsdl.net/dmca).

## The short answer

Download public Reels to watch, study, or keep for yourself. Ask before you repost, credit creators when you share, and never sell or claim someone else's video as your own. When in doubt, share the Instagram link instead of the file.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it illegal to download Instagram Reels?

Downloading a public Reel to watch privately is a common personal use, and it is very different from redistributing it. What usually breaks copyright is what happens next: reposting, editing it into your own content, or using it commercially without the creator's permission. Rules differ by country, so this is not legal advice.

### Can I repost an Instagram Reel if I give credit?

Credit alone is not permission. Ask the creator first, keep their reply, and tag them when you post. Instagram's own Remix and share-to-Story features are the safest way to reuse a Reel inside Instagram.

### Can I download my own Instagram Reels?

Yes. You own your Reels. You can download them one at a time by link, or request a full copy of your account data through Instagram's Download your information tool in Accounts Center.

### Does the creator know if I download their Reel?

No. Downloading a public Reel by link does not send the creator a notification.

### Is it legal to use an Instagram downloader website?

Using a downloader to save a public post for personal viewing is generally treated as a personal use. You are still responsible for what you do with the file, so do not repost, sell, or claim someone else's video as your own.