How to Download Your Own Facebook Videos in HD

Need to download your own Facebook videos in HD? Facebook makes it surprisingly difficult. The platform's built-in download gives you a compressed, low-quality version of your own content — not the original you uploaded. For creators who want to repurpose, back up, or portfolio their work, this is a real problem.

This guide shows you how to save any Facebook video you've posted in the highest quality available.

Why Download Your Own Facebook Videos?

You uploaded the video, you own it, but Facebook doesn't make it easy to get it back. Here's why you might need to:

• Cross-platform repurposing — move your Facebook video to Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube (see our repurposing guide)
• Content backup — protect against accidental deletion or account issues (see our backup strategy guide)
• Portfolio building — HD source files for brand pitches and creator applications
• Archive Facebook Live recordings — Lives are only stored on Facebook for a limited time
• Local editing — bring your content into a video editor for remix or compilation

Facebook's Built-In Download Options (And Their Limits)

Facebook offers two download methods, both with significant limitations:

"Save Video" (In-App)

This bookmarks the video to your "Saved" collection. It does not download the file to your device. If the video is deleted or your account is disabled, the saved bookmark disappears too.

"Download HD" / "Download SD" (Desktop)

On desktop, you can click the three dots on your video → "Download." Facebook offers:

• HD download: 720p maximum (even if you uploaded in 1080p)
• SD download: 360p

Neither option gives you the original quality. Facebook compresses everything for streaming, and the "HD" option is just the highest streaming tier — not your original upload.

How to Download Facebook Videos in HD

Step 1: Get the Video URL

On your Facebook video post:

• Desktop: Right-click the video → "Copy video URL" (or copy from the browser address bar)
• Mobile app: Tap the three dots (⋯) → "Copy link"

The URL should look like: https://www.facebook.com/username/videos/1234567890/

Step 2: Download with GetVideoNow

Paste the URL into our free Facebook video downloader. Click "Download."

GetVideoNow requests the highest quality stream Facebook serves — which is typically 1080p if that's what you originally uploaded, higher than Facebook's own "Download HD" option.

Step 3: Save the File

The video downloads as a standard MP4 file. Save it to your preferred location and rename it descriptively.

Downloading Different Facebook Video Types

Regular Video Posts

Standard Facebook video posts work with a direct URL copy. Paste and download.

Facebook Reels

Facebook Reels have their own URLs. Open the Reel, copy the link, and use the Facebook downloader the same way.

Facebook Live Recordings

After a Live stream ends, Facebook processes a recording. Once available, copy the video URL and download. Note: download promptly — some Live recordings have limited availability.

Facebook Stories

Stories expire after 24 hours. If you need to save a Story video, do it before it disappears. The process is the same: copy the Story URL and download.

Videos in Groups

Group video URLs work the same way, as long as the video is accessible to you.

Understanding Facebook Video Quality Settings

Facebook processes every uploaded video into multiple quality tiers:

| Upload Quality | Facebook Stores | "Download HD" Gives You | GetVideoNow Gets | |---------------|----------------|------------------------|-------------------| | 1080p (Full HD) | 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p | 720p | 1080p | | 720p (HD) | 720p, 480p, 360p | 720p | 720p | | 480p (SD) | 480p, 360p | 480p | 480p | | 4K (Ultra HD) | 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p | 720p | 1080p |

Key insight: Facebook downscales 4K uploads to 1080p maximum. If you uploaded in 4K, the best you can get back is 1080p. This is why backing up your original files before uploading is so important.

How to Upload in Higher Quality

To ensure Facebook stores the highest quality version:

1. Go to Settings → Videos → "Upload HD" and toggle it on
2. Upload from desktop (mobile uploads are compressed more aggressively)
3. Use MP4 format with H.264 codec

What to Do After Downloading

Once you have your Facebook videos in HD, you can:

• Repurpose for TikTok — crop from 16:9 to 9:16 and upload natively (see TikTok resolution guide)
• Cross-post to Instagram — your Facebook Reels work as Instagram Reels with minor adaptation
• Upload to YouTube — add your video to a YouTube channel for search discoverability
• Build your portfolio — organize your best videos for brand pitches (see our portfolio building guide)
• Archive locally — add to your content backup system

Download your Facebook videos in HD right now using our free Facebook downloader. No login, no software, no quality compromises. Get the full resolution file that Facebook's own download option won't give you.