How to Download Twitter (X) Videos on iPhone, Android, and Computer

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The safest way to download a Twitter video is to use X’s own Download video command when it appears. Open the post, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Download video. X documents this as a feature for Premium subscribers and only for eligible posts. Videos uploaded beginning July 25, 2023 may be downloadable unless the creator disabled downloads; older videos are not eligible through X’s official download feature. See X’s current video-download rules.

If the button is missing, a public-post downloader can sometimes save a video without Premium, but it is unofficial and its safety and reliability vary. On Windows, macOS, or Linux, yt-dlp is the most repeatable option for public posts. Screen recording is a fallback, not a way to obtain the original media file.

Downloading a video and having permission to reuse it are separate questions. Saving a clip for offline reference does not automatically give you the right to repost, edit, publish, or monetize it.

Which method should you use?

Method	Best for	Main trade-off
X’s built-in download	Eligible posts and users with the required Premium access	Simple and official, but unavailable for many posts
Browser-based downloader	An occasional public-post download on a phone or computer	No installation, but sites change frequently and may contain deceptive ads
yt-dlp	Desktop users, repeat downloads, format inspection, and batch work	Requires command-line comfort; X changes can temporarily break extraction
iOS Shortcut or Android app	Frequent users who want a share-menu workflow	Third-party code, permissions, advertising, and availability require scrutiny
Screen recording	A video that plays but cannot be retrieved another way	Captures the screen rather than the original file and may lose quality or audio

1. Download a video with X’s built-in option

X now provides an official Download video option for certain posts. The documented path is:

1. Open the post containing the video in the X app.
2. Open the post or video detail view.
3. Tap the three-dot icon, usually in the upper-right corner.
4. Tap Download video.
5. Wait for the file to finish saving, then look in your device’s normal downloads or media location.

X describes this as a Premium subscriber feature. Its help page does not clearly identify which individual Premium tier is required, so check the live subscription screen before paying solely to download one video. As of August 10, 2026, X’s U.S. web pricing page lists Basic at $3 per month or $32 per year, Premium at $8 per month or $84 per year, and Premium+ at $40 per month or $395 per year. Prices, taxes, currencies, app-store billing, and availability can differ by country and platform. See X Premium’s current pricing and feature page.

Why the Download video button may be missing

The official option is not universal. It may be absent when:

• Your account does not have eligible Premium access.
• The creator turned off Allow video to be downloaded while composing the post.
• The video was uploaded before July 25, 2023.
• The feature is unavailable for your platform, account, or location.
• The post is protected, age-restricted, deleted, or otherwise unavailable to your account.
• You are viewing a live broadcast or replay that does not expose the same download control as an eligible post video.

Creators choose the download setting while composing a post. X says that setting cannot simply be changed after publication; changing it later requires deleting the post and publishing again. Accounts belonging to people under 18 have downloads automatically disabled, and the account owner cannot change that setting. The full limitations are in X’s video help documentation.

How creators allow downloads

When creating a post with a video, the creator can:

1. Upload the video.
2. Tap Edit on the video.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Turn on Allow video to be downloaded.

This is an up-front publishing choice, not a permission switch that can be freely revised later. Allowing downloads also does not transfer copyright ownership or grant unlimited reuse rights to everyone who obtains the file.

2. Copy the X post link

You need the link to the specific post—not the account’s profile link—for every browser-based downloader and for yt-dlp.

In the X mobile app

1. Open the post containing the video.
2. Tap the Share icon.
3. Choose Share Post via…, if that option appears.
4. Tap Copy link to Post.

On the web

1. Open the post on x.com.
2. Click the post’s share icon or three-dot menu.
3. Choose Copy link to Post.

The exact menu arrangement can vary with the app version, but X’s documented label is Copy link to Post. A copied link may use either an x.com or older twitter.com address; both can identify an X post. If necessary, open the link in a browser and copy the canonical post URL. See X’s post-sharing instructions and its guidance on post URLs.

3. Download a public X video without Premium

For a public post where the official control is unavailable, a browser-based downloader is usually the quickest no-installation option. This is not an X-endorsed method, and no third-party service can promise that every public video will work.

1. Copy the post link using the steps above.
2. Open a browser-based service that accepts a public X post URL.
3. Paste the link into the site’s input field.
4. Choose an available video quality or format.
5. Download the resulting file.
6. Close unexpected pop-ups or redirects and verify that the file is actually a video.

Do not enter an X username, password, authentication code, recovery code, or browser cookie into a downloader. A service processing a public post URL should not need access to your X account. Do not install an extension, APK, configuration profile, “codec,” or desktop program merely because a download page demands one.

How to recognize a risky downloader

• Stop if the page asks you to sign in to X to process a public post.
• Do not click fake Allow notifications, Verify you are human, or “download helper” prompts.
• Treat unexpected .exe, .scr, .apk, .dmg, and .pkg files as suspicious when you expected an MP4.
• Leave if the site repeatedly opens gambling, adult, or unrelated advertisement pages.
• Never paste commands into Terminal, PowerShell, Windows Run, or a browser developer console because a site tells you to.
• Check the browser’s download list and the file extension before opening the file.

The FTC warns that unfamiliar free-download sites, malicious advertisements, deceptive downloads, and fake CAPTCHA pages can distribute malware or steal credentials. Its guidance on malware and deceptive downloads, fake CAPTCHA scams, and phishing is relevant here.

Where the downloaded file goes

• iPhone or iPad: Safari normally puts downloads in Files > Downloads. Safari can instead be configured to use iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or another location. See Apple’s Safari download guidance and download-location settings.
• Android: Chrome’s Downloads screen and the Files app show downloaded files. The exact folder is the device’s configured default download location. See Chrome’s Android download instructions.
• Windows: Check the browser’s Downloads settings for the actual destination. In Microsoft Edge, the path is shown under Settings > Downloads; see Microsoft’s download-location guide.
• macOS: Open your browser’s Downloads list and reveal the file in Finder. Do not assume every browser uses the same folder or setting.

A browser service may return a lower-quality rendition, a video-only stream, or an HTML error page instead of a playable video. “Highest quality” means the highest rendition that service can obtain from that particular post—not necessarily the creator’s original upload.

4. Download Twitter videos on an iPhone or iPad

Use the official X method first

If Download video appears in the post’s three-dot menu, use it. This avoids handing the post URL or your browsing activity to an unknown third party. The Premium, upload-date, creator-setting, and post-eligibility limits described above still apply.

Use Safari for a public post

1. In X, open the post and tap Share > Copy link to Post.
2. Open Safari and use a downloader that accepts the URL without X credentials.
3. Paste the post link and select an available MP4 or other compatible video format.
4. Download the file.
5. Open the Files app and go to Downloads, unless Safari is configured for another location.
6. If you need the clip in Photos, use the Files share menu and choose a compatible save option. The file will not necessarily appear in Photos automatically.

Apple’s documentation covers Files and downloaded items. Whether a file can be moved to Photos depends on its type and the apps available on the device.

Use an iOS Shortcut cautiously

A Shortcut can accept the X post URL from the Share Sheet and save an available video rendition to Files or Photos. It can be convenient for frequent use, but a downloaded or privately shared Shortcut is third-party code.

1. Copy the X post link or use the post’s Share Sheet.
2. Install a Shortcut only from a source you trust.
3. Inspect its actions before running it.
4. Be especially cautious with actions that use JavaScript, read webpage contents, send data to a remote site, or request broad access to files, photos, contacts, or accounts.
5. Share the post link to the Shortcut.
6. Approve only permissions that make sense for the action it is supposed to perform.
7. Save the output to Files or Photos.

Do not treat any particular Shortcut name or link as permanently reliable. Apple warns that privately shared or downloaded Shortcuts are not necessarily verified by Apple and may request access to sensitive webpage data. Apple specifically advises caution with JavaScript-based Shortcuts you do not trust. Read Apple’s Shortcut privacy guidance before installing one.

Screen-record the video as a last resort

If the video plays on the iPhone but no permitted download method works, use iOS screen recording only when appropriate. Start recording from Control Center, play the video, stop when it ends, and trim the beginning and end in Photos. Apple says screen recordings are saved in Photos, although some apps may restrict captured video or audio. See Apple’s screen-recording instructions.

The result is a recording of what appeared on your screen. It may include interface elements, notifications, reduced quality, or missing audio; it is not proof that you obtained the original media file.

5. Download Twitter videos on Android

Use Chrome or another browser

1. Open the video post in the X app.
2. Tap Share and choose Copy link to Post.
3. Open Chrome or another browser.
4. Use a downloader that accepts the public post URL without requiring an X login.
5. Paste the URL, choose an available quality, and download.
6. Find the result in Chrome > menu > Downloads or in the Files app.

Android manufacturers organize storage differently, so the visible folder may vary. Google provides guidance for Chrome downloads and Android file management.

Be selective about Android downloader apps

A browser-only workflow is easier to audit than an app whose publisher, permissions, and advertising can change. If you consider an Android app, check all of the following before installing:

• The publisher has a clear, credible identity.
• The app is currently available from the official Play Store rather than an APK mirror.
• Recent reviews describe actual video downloads, not merely a webpage opener.
• Requested permissions make sense. A video downloader should not need unrelated access to contacts, messages, or account credentials.
• The app does not require an X username, password, authentication code, or browser cookies.
• Advertising is not so aggressive that it causes accidental taps or repeated redirects.

App names, package identifiers, publishers, and availability change, so an old recommendation is not a safety guarantee.

Use Android screen recording when necessary

On supported devices:

1. Open the X video and position it at the beginning.
2. Swipe down twice to open Quick Settings.
3. Tap Screen record.
4. Choose whether to record audio, if your device offers that choice.
5. Start playback.
6. Stop recording when the video ends.
7. Trim the start and end in your gallery or video editor.

Controls and recording permissions vary by manufacturer. Google’s instructions apply to supported devices, including Pixel phones running Android 11 and later; see Google’s Android screen-recording guide.

6. Download X videos on Windows, macOS, or Linux with yt-dlp

yt-dlp is an open-source command-line downloader with Twitter/X-related extractors. Its supported-sites list includes extractors for Twitter posts, Amplify videos, broadcasts, cards, Spaces, and related media. The project also warns that a listed extractor is not guaranteed to keep working when a website changes. Check the current supported-sites list before troubleshooting.

Install from the project’s official materials

Download the appropriate release or follow the installation instructions in the project’s official README. For reliable merging and post-processing, install ffmpeg and ffprobe as recommended by the project. Keep both tools from a source you trust; do not install a “special codec” offered by an advertising-heavy downloader page.

Basic download

Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, Terminal, or another shell and run:

yt-dlp "https://x.com/username/status/1234567890123456789"

Replace the example URL with the complete post link. For a public post, yt-dlp will request the formats it can obtain and save the best available result according to its defaults.

Inspect available formats first

To see available resolutions, codecs, and audio/video combinations:

yt-dlp -F "https://x.com/username/status/1234567890123456789"

Use this when the output is blurry, lacks audio, or you need to understand what X is serving for that particular post. The list may contain separate video-only and audio-capable formats.

Prefer an MP4 and merge separate streams

For a conventional MP4 output and automatic merging when video and audio are separate:

yt-dlp -f "bv*+ba/b" --merge-output-format mp4 "https://x.com/username/status/1234567890123456789"

ffmpeg and ffprobe are strongly recommended for this workflow. If they are missing, yt-dlp may be unable to combine separate streams or perform some post-processing.

Download several public post URLs

For repeat work, put one public post URL on each line of a text file and use the input-file option:

yt-dlp -a urls.txt

This is useful for research or archiving material you are authorized to preserve, but batch processing does not change the copyright, privacy, or access rules for the individual posts.

Update yt-dlp when X changes

For an official release binary, update it with:

yt-dlp -U

If the stable version fails after an apparent X site change, the project recommends trying its nightly channel before reporting a problem:

yt-dlp --update-to nightly

For a pip-based installation, the documented pre-release update command is:

python -m pip install -U --pre "yt-dlp[default]"

Nightly software is a troubleshooting step, not a guarantee. The latest release visible in the project history at the research date was yt-dlp 2026.07.04, released July 4, 2026; because this changes, verify the current release history before publication or installation.

Use it for public posts first—do not pass cookies by default

The basic workflow is intended for public posts. Do not upload browser-cookie files, paste session cookies into a website, or use cookies to bypass an access restriction. Cookies can expose an active account session. If a post requires private access, age verification, or another access control, use the owner’s original file or request permission rather than trying to defeat the restriction.

7. Download a video from an X Direct Message

DM videos use a separate documented workflow:

1. Open the conversation in the X Android or iOS app.
2. Long-press the video.
3. Tap Download video.

X says this applies to videos sent using Android and iOS app version 10.24 or later, unless the sender disabled Allow video to be downloaded while sending the message. Videos sent with earlier app versions are not downloadable through this documented feature. The sender cannot change the setting after the DM has been sent. These rules are separate from the rules for videos in public posts; see X’s video documentation.

If the DM contains private or sensitive material, preserve it only with the sender’s permission and store it securely. Do not forward or publish it merely because the app allowed a download.

8. What to do when an X video will not download

Problem	What to check
There is no Download video option	Check Premium eligibility, whether the video was uploaded on or after July 25, 2023, the creator’s download setting, the app version, and whether the post is protected, restricted, deleted, age-gated, or a live player. You can try x.com if the app does not show the control, but the web version is not guaranteed to expose it.
The downloader says the URL is invalid	Make sure you copied the post URL rather than a profile URL. Try the canonical x.com/user/status/… or twitter.com/user/status/… address, remove unnecessary tracking parameters, and open the link in a browser to confirm the post still exists.
yt-dlp stopped working	Update the release binary with yt-dlp -U. If the stable release appears affected by an X change, try the nightly channel. Do not assume every failure means the post is downloadable through another service.
The file has no sound	The downloader may have obtained a video-only stream or an incomplete rendition. With yt-dlp, inspect formats with -F and try the MP4/merge command with ffmpeg.
The file will not play	Check its real extension and file type, try a current media player such as VLC, and re-download using a standard MP4 option. Do not blindly rename an unknown file extension; an HTML error page is not a video.
The result is blurry	X may expose only a lower-resolution rendition, the original may already be compressed, or the tool may have selected a mobile or low-quality stream. Use yt-dlp -F to inspect available formats. Do not promise original quality, 4K, or no watermark without checking the specific post.
The site downloads a webpage	It may have returned an HTML error page. Check the browser’s download list, file size, extension, and media type. Do not open an unexpected executable. Prefer X’s official control or yt-dlp over repeated ad-heavy redirects.
The post is private or protected	Do not attempt to bypass the restriction. Ask the owner or sender for the original file or permission. Protected does not mean that a shared link is permanently confidential.

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9. Protected, private, deleted, and age-restricted videos

Protected posts

Protected posts are intended to be visible only to approved followers, but X warns that followers may be able to download videos or reshare links to them. X also states that links to videos shared on X are not protected and that anyone with the link may be able to view the content. This is a privacy warning for creators, not an invitation to bypass access controls. Read X’s explanation of protected video links.

Private, restricted, or age-gated videos

Do not use a downloader, cookie, or alternate URL to defeat a privacy control, login wall, age restriction, or other access mechanism. If you are authorized to view the video, ask the owner or sender for the original file or an approved copy.

Deleted videos

A downloader cannot reliably recover a file that X no longer serves. A repost, search cache, or archive may contain a copy, but its availability, authenticity, privacy implications, and reuse rights can differ from the original.

Live broadcasts and replays

X supports links to live broadcasts and replays, including links that begin at the start or at a selected point. However, X’s official download instructions are framed around eligible post videos; they do not establish that every live broadcast or replay has a Download video button.

For a public live video that plays but has no download control, use the owner’s original recording if available, an archival tool you are permitted to use, or screen recording when appropriate and lawful. Do not assume a replay can always be recovered after the broadcast ends.

10. Saving your own X videos

If you are trying to recover a video you uploaded, use this order:

1. Find the original in your phone’s Photos or Gallery.
2. Check the original editing project, camera card, cloud storage, or creator archive.
3. Use X’s built-in download control if it is available.
4. Use a third-party downloader only as a last resort for a post you own or are authorized to preserve.

An X download may have been transcoded, resized, recompressed, or stripped of original metadata. It is therefore not necessarily the same as the camera original or the file you uploaded. Keep a separate local or cloud archive if the source video matters.

11. Is downloading an X video legal?

There is no universal “personal use makes it legal” rule that answers every situation. Downloading a file for temporary private reference, editing it into a public production, reposting it, selling access to it, and using it commercially can raise different copyright, privacy, contract, and jurisdictional questions.

X’s copyright policy says unauthorized use may lead to copyright complaints. Its fair-use policy explains that fair use is fact-specific and ultimately determined by courts; it is not a general permission to download or repost videos. X’s Terms of Service also make users responsible for complying with applicable law.

The person who uploaded a video is not necessarily the copyright owner. A post may contain someone else’s footage, music, broadcast, artwork, or performance. Attribution is helpful but is not automatically permission. When reuse rights are unclear, ask the rights holder, use a licensed source, or link to the original and use X’s native repost or quote-post features instead of uploading a copy.

12. Security and privacy checklist

• Use X’s own download option when it is available.
• For third-party tools, use only a post URL; never provide an X password, authentication code, recovery code, or browser-cookie file.
• Do not install an extension, APK, profile, codec, or executable to download an ordinary video.
• Reject fake CAPTCHA instructions that ask you to run commands or paste text into a system tool.
• Check the file extension and actual type before opening it.
• Keep private or protected videos private, even if a technical method creates a copy.
• Do not assume a download is the original quality or original file.
• Preserve the post URL, author, date, and permission record if you are doing research or journalism.
• Confirm that your intended reuse is authorized before publishing, editing, or monetizing the clip.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download an X video without Premium?

Not through X’s documented official feature: X describes post-video downloads as a Premium subscriber feature. A public-post downloader or yt-dlp may retrieve some public videos without Premium, but those methods are unofficial, can stop working, may return lower quality, and cannot access every post.

Can I download a video from a private or protected X post?

Do not try to bypass privacy or access controls. If you are authorized to view it, ask the owner or sender for the original file. X warns that links to protected videos may not remain access-controlled once shared, so do not treat a downloaded or shared link as confidential.

Can the creator stop people from downloading a video?

For eligible post videos, the creator can turn off Allow video to be downloaded while composing the post. X says the setting cannot be changed after publication without deleting the post. Under-18 accounts have downloads automatically disabled.

Where does an X video save on an iPhone?

Safari downloads normally appear in Files > Downloads, unless Safari is configured to use iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or another location. A downloaded file does not automatically appear in Photos; use the Files share menu if the file type is compatible.

Where does an X video save on Android?

Check Chrome > menu > Downloads or the Files app. The exact storage folder varies by Android device, browser, and configured download location.

Can I download an X live video or replay?

Not necessarily. X’s official download documentation applies to eligible post videos and does not promise the same control for every live broadcast or replay. If it plays without a download option, use the owner’s recording, an authorized archival method, or an appropriate screen recording.

Why does my downloaded X video have no sound?

The tool may have retrieved a video-only stream, an incomplete rendition, or a format your player does not handle. With yt-dlp, inspect formats using -F and use the video-plus-audio command with ffmpeg to merge separate streams.

Does downloading an X video notify the creator?

Do not rely on a notification assumption. X’s video-download documentation does not promise that downloading creates a creator notification, and product behavior can change. Notification behavior also does not determine whether you have permission to reuse the video.

Can I repost a downloaded X video?

Not automatically. Downloading and redistribution are separate. Check copyright ownership, permission, privacy, licensing, and applicable law before reposting, editing, or monetizing a clip. Credit alone is not necessarily permission.

What if a downloader asks for my X password?

Stop using it. A tool handling a public post URL should not need your X credentials, authentication code, recovery information, or browser cookies. Use X’s official feature or a different public-post workflow.

Is a Twitter URL different from an X URL?

The domain may be twitter.com or x.com, but both can point to an X post. Use the complete post address containing the account name and /status/ identifier, not a profile URL.

The Bottom Line

Use X’s built-in Download video option when it is available. If it is not, a no-login browser downloader may work for a public post, while yt-dlp is the better desktop choice for repeatable downloads and format troubleshooting. Use screen recording only as a fallback. Regardless of the method, do not bypass access controls, expose your X credentials, or assume that downloading gives you permission to repost the video.

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