In the US, Instagram launched a function that let users download Reels from accounts that were public. That was in July, and as of right now, Instagram users globally can utilize the feature. As is to be expected, the privacy settings on your account determine who can download your reels.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri recently announced that Instagram Reels from public accounts can now be downloaded globally and saved directly to a user’s camera roll. After undergoing beta testing, the feature—which was first unveiled in the US in June—is now accessible to iOS and Android users.
Users can access the download option under the share button, which is akin to the download functionality found on TikTok. The downloaded Reels are further preserved in the device’s gallery, watermarked with the Instagram username of the original poster, in order to preserve the original creator’s creative work.
All public accounts are affected by the upgrade, which allows anybody to download and share Reels on Instagram—unless the account owner changes their download preferences. Instagram users under the age of eighteen (18) who have public accounts have the option to reactivate the download feature at any time; it is deactivated by default.
Instagram outlined guidelines in the official FAQ to protect Reels’ accessibility and privacy. It mentions that account privacy settings will be a major factor in deciding whether or not other users can access Reels downloads.
Reels are available for download by any Instagram user for public profiles. You can customize the download options for individual posts or the entire account. However, the download feature is initially disabled by default for users under the age of eighteen who have public accounts; they can choose to enable it later.
On the other hand, Reels downloads are prohibited for private accounts. This implies that unless the account owner decides to change their privacy setting to public, nobody on Instagram will be able to view the post.
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Instagram is allowing users with public accounts to control their download preferences in the meantime. They will be able to determine whether or not their followers can download their Reels thanks to this control.
To control the settings:
- After recording and editing your reel, hit the bottom-right “Next” button.
- In the bottom, tap More options.
- After swiping down, select Advanced Settings.
- Toggle the switch to turn on or off the “Allow people to download your reels” setting.
- Select whether to allow or prohibit downloading for every reel or just the one that is being uploaded.
- To return, swipe left at the top and then hit Share at the bottom.
Instagram also says that only recently made reels for public accounts can be downloaded unless the download parameters are changed. The reels that can be downloaded will have audio credit, the original poster’s username, and an Instagram watermark. Moreover, the original audio from a reel can only be incorporated into a downloaded reel if the original reel with that particular audio is available for download.
