When a video won't download, the cause is almost always one of a handful of things: the video is private or deleted, the link is the wrong kind, the video is too long, or something on your device is blocking the file. The good news is that most of these take less than a minute to fix. Below you will find each common problem, what the error message means, and exactly what to try.

Start with a 30-second checklist

Before digging deeper, run through these quick checks. They solve a large share of failed downloads.

1. Open the link in a private or incognito browser window where you are not signed in. If you cannot watch the video there, it is not public.
2. Make sure the link points to one specific video, not a profile, a hashtag page or a collection.
3. Copy the link again using the platform's Share button, then Copy link, and paste it fresh.
4. Check that the platform is one VidGrabo supports: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) or Pinterest.
5. Reload the VidGrabo page and try once more on a stable connection.

"This video is private or requires login"

VidGrabo can only save videos that anyone can watch without signing in. If a post comes from a private account, is shared only with friends or close followers, sits in a closed group, or is restricted by age or region, the tool cannot reach it, and it will show the private or login-only error.

There is no workaround for this, and there shouldn't be: the creator chose who can see it. If it is your own video, change the post's audience to public for a moment, or use the platform's official "download your data" option. If it belongs to someone else, ask them to send you the file directly.

"Video not found"

This message usually means the post no longer exists at that address. Common reasons:

• The creator deleted the post or archived it.
• The account was deactivated, suspended or renamed.
• The platform removed the video.
• The link was cut off while copying, so a few characters at the end are missing.

Open the link in your browser. If the platform shows "page not available" or similar, the video cannot be downloaded by anyone. If the video does play, copy the link again and compare it carefully with the one you pasted.

Wrong or shortened links

The most frequent cause of failure is simply the wrong link. A profile link (for example, a link that ends with a username) contains many videos, so the tool doesn't know which one you want. Search result pages, hashtag pages and "For You" style feeds have the same problem.

Shortened links, such as the short addresses some apps create when you tap Share, usually work fine because they redirect to the full post. If one fails, open it in your browser, wait for the video page to load, and copy the full address from the address bar instead. Our guide on how to copy a video link in any app shows what a correct link looks like on each platform.

Extra text after a question mark, such as tracking codes added by the share menu, is normally harmless. If you get an error, try removing everything from the question mark onwards, unless the video's ID itself sits in that part of the address, as it does in some Facebook watch links.

"Playlist links are not supported"

VidGrabo saves one video at a time. If you paste a link to a playlist, an album, a board or any page that groups several videos, you will see the playlist error. Open the specific video you want, copy its own link, and paste that instead. Repeat for each video you need.

"Video too long"

To keep the service fast and free for everyone, there is a maximum length for videos. Long recordings such as full live streams or very long uploads may go over it. Most short-form content like Reels, TikToks and typical X or Facebook clips is well within the limit. If a video is over the limit, look for a shorter version of the same content, such as a clip or highlight posted separately by the creator.

"This site is not supported"

VidGrabo works with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Pinterest. Links from other websites will show the unsupported site error. Also check that you did not accidentally paste a link to an article, a link shortener page, or a page that only embeds a video from somewhere else. The dedicated pages for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Pinterest explain what each one accepts.

The download starts but never finishes

Unstable or slow connection

Large, high-quality files need a steady connection. If you are on weak mobile signal or a busy public Wi-Fi network, the transfer can stall. Move closer to the router, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or pause other downloads and streaming. Then try again.

Try another quality

If a high-quality version keeps failing, choose a lower quality option. It downloads faster and is less likely to be interrupted. For music, talks or podcasts, MP3 is the smallest choice because it saves only the audio. Our article on video quality explains which option suits which screen.

Storage is full

If your phone or computer is out of space, the browser cannot save the file, and it may fail silently or show a generic "download failed" message. Delete a few old downloads, empty your recently deleted folder, or move files to a computer or cloud storage before trying again.

iPhone and iPad: the file seems to vanish

On iPhone and iPad, Safari asks for permission before saving a file. If you tap the download button and nothing seems to happen, look for:

• A small prompt asking whether you want to download the file. Tap Download.
• A download icon (an arrow in a circle) near the address bar. Tap it to see progress and open the finished file.

Finished files go to the Files app, in the Downloads folder, not straight into Photos. To move a video into your camera roll, open it in Files, tap the Share button and choose Save Video. Our guides on where downloaded videos are saved and saving videos to iPhone Photos walk through this step by step.

On Android, check the notification shade for the download, then look in the Downloads folder or your Gallery app.

Browser-related problems

• Old browser version: update your browser; outdated versions sometimes handle downloads poorly.
• In-app browsers: if you opened VidGrabo from inside another app, the built-in browser may block downloads. Open the page in Safari, Chrome or your usual browser instead.
• Content blockers: an aggressive blocker can occasionally interfere with the download step. Try temporarily allowing the site or using another browser.
• Low battery mode or data saver: some power or data-saving settings pause background transfers. Keep the page open until the file finishes.

Frequently asked questions

The video plays on the app but VidGrabo says it is private. Why?

You are probably signed in and allowed to see it, but the video is not public. Test the link in a private browser window. If it doesn't play there, it can't be downloaded.

Can I download a whole profile or playlist at once?

No. VidGrabo works with one video link at a time. Copy and paste each video's own link separately.

Where did my download go?

On iPhone, check Files, then Downloads. On Android, check Downloads or the Gallery. On a computer, check your browser's Downloads folder.

Can I find a file I downloaded last week on VidGrabo?

No. Files are deleted from our servers automatically after a short time and we keep no history, so save the file to your device right away.

Still stuck?

Most download problems come down to a non-public video, the wrong link, or a device that is short on space. Work through the checklist above, try a lower quality, and confirm the link opens in a private window. If a public video from a supported platform still won't save, let us know through the contact page with the link and the error you saw. Otherwise, head back to VidGrabo and try again.