How to Download Instagram Reels to Your Gallery with Audio (Android & iPhone 2026)
Have you ever found a hilarious or inspiring and curious to know how to download Instagram Reels but there was no download button? Or maybe you tried screen recording it, but the audio quality was terrible, and the buttons were covering the video?
You are not alone. Instagram intentionally makes it difficult to save content offline because they want you to stay on the app. Even when they do allow downloads, the video often saves without sound or comes with a distracting watermark.
In this guide, I will show you exactly how to download any public Instagram Reel directly to your phone’s gallery—with clear audio and no watermarks—using the free SocialDownload.app tool.
Why You Can’t Download Reels Directly from Instagram?
Instagram’s native “Save” feature only saves the video to your collection inside the app. This means if the creator deletes the video, or if you don’t have internet access, you can’t watch it.
While Instagram has started rolling out a download feature in some regions, it has major limitations:
- Copyright Restrictions: Many videos are downloaded without audio due to music licensing.
- Watermarks: The video will have a bouncing Instagram logo and the username stamped on it.
- Compression: The quality is often reduced to save data.
The best workaround for 2026 is using a dedicated online downloader that fetches the original MP4 file directly from the server.
How to Download Instagram Reels on Android
If you are using an Android phone (Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, etc.), saving Reels is very straightforward.
- Open the Instagram app and find the Reel you want to save.
- Tap the Share icon (the paper plane) or the three dots (…) at the bottom right.
- Tap “Copy Link”.
- Open your browser (Chrome) and go to SocialDownload.app.
- Paste the link into the white box and tap the Download button.
- Wait a moment for the video to process, then tap “Download MP4”.
- The video is now saved in your Gallery under the “Downloads” album.
Ways to save Instagram Reels on iPhone (iOS)
Downloading on an iPhone used to be difficult because of Apple’s security restrictions, but it is much easier now using Safari.
- Open Instagram on your iPhone.
- Tap the Share button on the Reel and select Copy Link.
- Open the Safari browser and visit SocialDownload.app.
- Paste the URL and tap Download.
- When the pop-up appears asking “Do you want to download this file?”, tap Download.
- You will see a small blue arrow icon in the address bar (bottom left or top right depending on your iOS version). Tap it and select Downloads.
- Tap your video, then tap the Share icon (box with an arrow up) and select “Save Video”. It is now in your Photos app!
Screen Recording vs. SocialDownload.app: Which is Better?
Many users try to screen record videos, but here is why you should avoid it:
- Audio Quality: Screen recording captures microphone noise or lowers the internal audio quality.
- Interface Clutter: Your recording will include the like button, comments, and captions overlaying the video.
- Resolution: Screen recordings are rarely as sharp as the original file.
By using SocialDownload.app, you get the raw .mp4 file exactly as it was uploaded to Instagram—High Definition, clean audio, and zero clutter.
Features of SocialDownload.app
Why should you use our tool instead of others? We designed SocialDownload.app to be the fastest and safest ways to save Instagram Reels with audio.
- Unlimited Downloads: Save as many videos as you like. There are no daily limits or restrictions.
- No Registration: We hate sign-up forms. Just paste your link and go.
- Full HD Quality: We fetch the highest resolution available (up to 4K if the creator uploaded it that way).
- 100% Free: No hidden costs or premium subscriptions.