Many users want to save online videos to the Photos app on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod for offline viewing or editing. However, due to iOS system restrictions, saving videos directly via Safari is not straightforward.
This guide introduces two methods to download videos and save them to the system photo album on iOS devices:
Method 1: Save Videos Using Safari (iOS 13 and above)
No third-party apps required. Recommended for users comfortable with system tools.
Step 1: Open the extraction tool
Launch Safari and visit our universal video/image extraction tool page.
Step 2: Paste the video link and extract
Paste the video share link into the input field and tap the “Extract” button.
Step 3: Long-press the download button
After extraction, long-press the “Download Video” button to reveal the context menu.
Step 4: Tap “Download Linked File”
Safari will begin downloading the video to the Files app’s default Downloads folder.
Step 5: Open the Downloads menu in Safari
Tap the Downloads icon in the bottom-left of Safari.
Step 6: Access the video in the Files app
Tap the magnifier icon next to the downloaded file to open it in the Files app.
Step 7: Save to Photos
In the Files app, tap the video, then tap the Share icon and choose “Save Video”.
[Image 1: Steps to save video from Safari to Photos app via Files]
Note: This method involves more steps, but no extra app is needed. Suitable for occasional downloads.
Method 2: Use the Documents App (Recommended)
Simpler, supports all iOS versions. Recommended for frequent use.
Step 1: Install the Documents app
Search for “Documents” in the App Store and install it.
Step 2: Open the built-in browser
Launch Documents, then tap the browser icon in the bottom-right corner.
Step 3: Visit the extraction tool
Enter our tool URL in the address bar. Paste the video link and tap “Extract”.
Step 4: Download and name the file
Tap “Download Video” and name the file as needed.
Step 5: Save to Camera Roll
Once downloaded, tap the menu next to the file and choose “Save to Photos”.
[Image 2: Download and save video using Documents app]
Note: This method is faster and more convenient, especially for frequent users.
FAQs
1. Why can’t Safari save videos directly to the Photos app?
iOS restricts browsers from writing files to Photos directly. You must first save to Files, then move it to Photos manually.
2. Which method should I use?
Use Safari if you prefer built-in tools. Use Documents if you want a faster, easier experience.
3. Will the saved video lose quality?
No. The original file is preserved and saved without compression.
4. What if the download fails?
Check your network and try the other method. If the issue persists, contact support.