The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Facebook does not provide one universal download command for every video. The method that works depends on who posted the video, its audience settings, whether you need one file or an archive, and whether you are comfortable using the command line.
These are the three dependable approaches:
- Use Facebook’s own download option for a video you posted, when it is available.
- Request an export of videos associated with your account through Accounts Center.
- Use
yt-dlpfor a public video—or an authenticated video you are allowed to access.
Only download videos you own or have permission to save. A video being visible in your browser does not automatically give you permission to reuse or redistribute it.
Method 1: Download a video you posted using Facebook
Facebook has an official procedure for downloading videos you posted. However, the exact buttons and menu labels can vary between personal profiles, Pages, Reels, live videos, mobile apps, and desktop accounts. Facebook’s help page for this feature may also be unavailable temporarily or show different instructions depending on whether you are logged in.
For that reason, do not rely on a fixed path such as “open the video, click the three dots, and choose Download video” as though it works for every account. Instead, use Facebook’s current options for the specific video:
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- Sign in to the Facebook account or Page that posted the video.
- Open the video from your profile, Page, video library, or post history.
- Open the video’s options menu and look for a download command. The label may be Download video or a similar option.
- If Facebook offers the command, select it and choose where to save the resulting file.
If there is no download command, that does not necessarily mean your browser is broken. Facebook can omit the option for videos posted by somebody else, videos shared with a restricted audience, some Reels, live videos, or content whose download option is unavailable in your current interface.
This is the simplest method when it appears, because it uses Facebook’s own access controls and does not require another service. It is also the least flexible: you cannot force Facebook to show a download option for a video that your account is not permitted to download.
Method 2: Export your Facebook videos through Accounts Center
Facebook’s account export tool is useful when you want several videos or a copy of the media associated with your account. It creates an export package rather than instantly saving one MP4 file.
Facebook has moved account-information controls into Accounts Center. Exact labels and groupings can differ by account, device, and rollout, so use the current Accounts Center interface rather than following older instructions that always say Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information.
- Open Facebook and go to Settings & privacy, then open Settings.
- Open Accounts Center. You can also reach it through the Accounts Center link shown in Facebook’s account settings.
- Find the area for your information, permissions, or downloading your information.
- Select the Facebook account to export if more than one Meta account is connected.
- Choose the relevant information categories, including videos or posts and media where those options are offered.
- Set the date range, media quality, and file format. Higher media quality can produce a much larger archive.
- Submit the export request and wait for Facebook to prepare it.
- When Facebook marks the export as ready, download the archive from the export area and extract it on your computer.
The available file can be a ZIP archive containing folders, metadata, and multiple media files. It may not use the original filename, and you may need to browse the extracted folders to locate a particular video.
This method is best for backing up your own account or collecting multiple videos. It is not a general downloader for videos posted by other people. The export also may take time, and the result depends on the account, date range, selected categories, and media quality you choose.
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Method 3: Download with yt-dlp
yt-dlp is a command-line downloader that includes Facebook extractors. Its supported-site list currently includes Facebook, Facebook ads, Facebook Reels, and Facebook plugin videos. That list is not a promise that every Facebook URL will work: Facebook changes its pages and media delivery frequently.
Install or update yt-dlp
Use the official release binary or the installation method recommended by the project. If you already have the release binary, update it with:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesyt-dlp -UFor a Python installation, update the package with:
python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default]"If your package-manager version fails on a Facebook URL, it may simply be old. Third-party package repositories do not always provide the current release.
Download a public Facebook video
Copy the Facebook page URL—not a generated direct media URL—and pass it to yt-dlp:
yt-dlp "https://www.facebook.com/..."yt-dlp normally chooses the best available format. To choose a destination directory and retain the video title as the filename, use:
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yt-dlp -P "downloads" -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" "https://www.facebook.com/..."The -P option sets the download folder. The -o option controls the output filename template.
Check formats before downloading
Some videos expose more than one resolution or separate video and audio streams. List the formats first:
yt-dlp -F "https://www.facebook.com/..."Then download a particular format by replacing FORMAT_ID with the ID shown in the list:
yt-dlp -f FORMAT_ID "https://www.facebook.com/..."If yt-dlp has to combine separate video and audio streams, install the ffmpeg binary. The similarly named Python package is not the ffmpeg program yt-dlp needs for media merging.
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Use a logged-in browser session
A video can play in your browser but fail from a plain yt-dlp command because Facebook requires your session, audience permissions, or login cookies. You can ask yt-dlp to read cookies from a supported browser profile:
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "https://www.facebook.com/..."The option supports browsers including Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera, Safari, Vivaldi, and Whale. Replace chrome with the browser containing your Facebook login. Close the browser first if yt-dlp cannot read its cookie database.
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You can also export cookies to a Mozilla/Netscape-format file and reuse that file:
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome --cookies cookies.txt
yt-dlp --cookies cookies.txt "https://www.facebook.com/..."Protect cookies.txt like a password. It can contain active login credentials. Do not upload it to a website, send it to another person, or leave it in a shared folder. Avoid the old Chrome extension called Get cookies.txt; yt-dlp’s FAQ warns that it was reported as malware and removed from the Chrome Web Store. If you use a browser extension, distinguish it from the separately named Get cookies.txt LOCALLY, and verify the project and permissions yourself.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You posted one video and Facebook shows a download option | Facebook’s built-in option | Fastest and requires no extra software |
| You want to back up many videos from your account | Accounts Center export | Designed for account data and bulk retrieval |
| You have a permitted public video URL | yt-dlp | Offers format, filename, and folder controls |
| The video is visible only after logging in | yt-dlp with browser cookies, or an account export if it is your video | A plain public request may not have the required permissions |
| You want another person’s private or restricted video | No reliable legitimate downloader | Access controls may prevent downloading, and permission is required |
Why a Facebook video may not download
- Unsupported URL: The link may point to a post, profile, image, or redirect rather than a video. The extractor may also be broken after a Facebook site change.
- Login required: Friends-only, group, age-restricted, and other gated videos may need cookies from an account that can view them.
- Browser playback is not enough: Facebook may use session-bound requests or headers. A direct media link copied from developer tools can expire or fail on another device.
- Deleted or region-limited content: No downloader can retrieve media that Facebook no longer serves to your account.
- Old yt-dlp installation: Update yt-dlp before troubleshooting. If the stable build still fails, the project documents a nightly channel that can be tried before reporting a bug.
- Missing ffmpeg: The download may contain only one stream or fail during merging when separate audio and video streams are selected.
Do not treat Facebook’s Save video or bookmark feature as an MP4 download. Saving a video inside Facebook and downloading a local file are different functions. Likewise, changing www to mbasic is an outdated workaround, not a dependable current method.
FAQ
Can I download any Facebook video for free?
No. Downloading depends on the video’s privacy settings, your account permissions, whether the content still exists, Facebook’s current interface, and whether a compatible extractor is available. You should also have permission to save and reuse the video.
Why is the Download video option missing on Facebook?
The option may not be available for a video posted by someone else, restricted-audience content, some Reels, live videos, or a particular profile, Page, app, or interface version. A missing command is not necessarily a browser problem.
Does Facebook’s Save video option download an MP4?
No. Save is a bookmark or in-Facebook collection feature. It does not, by itself, create a video file on your computer.
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Can yt-dlp download a private Facebook video?
It may work only when the logged-in account has permission to view the video and yt-dlp receives the required session cookies. Use --cookies-from-browser with care, and do not attempt to bypass Facebook’s access controls.
What should I do when yt-dlp says Unsupported URL?
Confirm that the URL identifies a video, update yt-dlp, and try the original Facebook page URL rather than a copied direct media URL. If the video requires login, try an authorized browser session with --cookies-from-browser. Facebook changes can still make a supported extractor fail.
Where does yt-dlp save the downloaded file?
Unless you specify another location, it uses the current working directory. Use -P "downloads" to choose a folder and -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" to control the filename.
The Bottom Line
For one of your own videos, try Facebook’s current download command first. For a larger backup, request an export through Accounts Center. For a permitted public or logged-in video URL, yt-dlp provides the most control, but keep it updated and use browser cookies only when your account is authorized to view the content.
None of these methods guarantees access to every Facebook video. Privacy restrictions, expired media links, deleted posts, and changes to Facebook can all prevent a download.
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