You can download Instagram stories and feed videos from public accounts by copying the link of the story or post, pasting it into VidGrabo's Instagram page and choosing a quality. The file saves straight to your phone or computer as a regular video. Stories from private accounts and stories that have already expired can't be saved, and this guide explains why.

Stories disappear after 24 hours and feed posts can be deleted at any time, so having your own copy matters, especially for content you created. Here's how to save each type of Instagram video, device by device, plus what to do when a download fails.

Step by step: download an Instagram story or video

1. Open the story or post you want in Instagram.
2. Copy its link. For a feed post, tap the Share icon (paper plane) and choose Copy link, or tap the three dots (…) and find Copy link there. For a story, open it, then look for the Share or three-dots menu on that story and choose Copy link.
3. Go to VidGrabo's Instagram downloader in your browser.
4. Paste the link and tap the download button.
5. Choose a quality, or MP3 if you only want the sound.
6. Save the file when your browser asks.

No sign-up, no app and no cost. Every link is handled on its own, so for several stories or posts you repeat the steps for each one.

Saving Instagram stories

Stories have a few rules of their own:

• Each story needs its own link. A person's story is often a sequence of several clips. Copy the link while the specific clip you want is on screen.
• Act within 24 hours. Once a story expires, it's no longer publicly available, and there's nothing left for VidGrabo to fetch.
• Only video stories become video files. A story that is a single photo isn't a video, so there's nothing to save as MP4.
• The account must be public. Stories shared to "Close friends" or from private accounts are restricted to selected people.

Some menus don't show a copy option for every story. In that case, open the story from the person's profile in a browser, where the address bar shows the story's own link.

Saving feed videos and multi-video posts

Regular feed videos work just like Reels: copy the post link, paste it, choose a quality.

Posts with several slides (carousels) can mix photos and videos. Copy the link of the post as a whole and paste it into VidGrabo, then pick from the video options it shows you. Keep in mind that photo slides aren't videos and won't be offered as MP4 files. If a carousel holds several clips and the one you need isn't among the offered options, try opening the post in a browser, moving to that slide and copying the address again.

For Reels specifically, our guide on saving Instagram Reels covers quality choices in more depth.

On Android

Copy the link in the Instagram app, switch to your browser, open VidGrabo and paste. The downloaded file goes to the Downloads folder and usually also shows up in the Gallery. If you can't spot it, open the Files app and check Downloads, or open your browser's downloads list from its menu.

On iPhone

Copy the link in Instagram, open VidGrabo in Safari or another browser, paste and choose a quality. Tap Download when prompted. The video is saved in the Files app, inside Downloads. To add it to your Photos library, open it in Files, tap Share and choose Save Video.

On a computer

Open Instagram in your browser, click the post or story so it opens on its own page, and copy the address bar. Paste it into VidGrabo in another tab. The file lands in your browser's download folder, normally Downloads. Working on a computer is handy when you're backing up a lot of your own posts, because you can keep the files organized in folders as you go. Our guide to backing up your own social media videos has a simple routine for that.

What can't be saved, and why

Some Instagram content simply isn't available to VidGrabo, and that's by design:

• Private accounts. Their posts and stories are visible only to followers the owner has approved. VidGrabo only works with content anyone can open without logging in, and it doesn't try to get around those settings.
• Expired stories. After 24 hours a story is no longer public. Unless the owner adds it to a highlight on their profile, it's gone from public view.
• Close friends stories. These are shared with a chosen list of people, so they're treated as private.
• Deleted or archived posts. When the owner removes or archives a post, its link stops working.
• Direct messages. Videos sent privately in messages aren't public posts and have no public link.
• Live broadcasts in progress. A live stream isn't a finished video file. Very long replays may also exceed VidGrabo's maximum video length.

If a video belongs to you and sits on a private account, Instagram lets you download your own data from its account settings. The Instagram Help Center at help.instagram.com explains the current steps.

Tips for smooth downloads

• Test the link logged out. Open it in a private browser window. If it plays there, VidGrabo can usually save it.
• Copy fresh links. Old links copied hours ago from a story may point to something that has expired.
• Pick the right quality. Choose the highest for editing or big screens, a lower one to save storage and mobile data.
• Don't paste a profile link. VidGrabo needs a link to one specific post or story, not to an account.

If something still doesn't work, see fixes for video downloads that don't work.

Respect the people behind the stories

Stories are often personal, and their short lifespan is part of why people post them. Saving your own stories, or a public brand's announcement for reference, is fine. Saving someone's personal story to share it elsewhere is not. Download only videos you own or have permission to use, and never re-upload them as your own. You can read more on our copyright page.

Frequently asked questions

Will the person see that I downloaded their story?

VidGrabo doesn't send notifications. Note, though, that viewing a story inside the Instagram app while logged in can still add you to its viewer list; that's how Instagram works, not something VidGrabo controls.

Can I download a story after it has expired?

No. Expired stories aren't public anymore. Only stories the owner saved to a public highlight remain visible on their profile.

Can I save all stories from an account at once?

No. VidGrabo saves one link at a time and doesn't support bulk or profile downloads.

Why did I get audio but no video?

You probably picked the MP3 option. Paste the link again and choose a video quality instead.

Conclusion

Saving Instagram stories and videos comes down to copying the right link while the content is still public and pasting it into VidGrabo. Remember the limits: public accounts only, stories within 24 hours, and one link at a time. Use it to keep copies of your own content and videos you're allowed to use, and start from the Instagram downloader whenever you need it.