How to Save Precious Memories by Downloading Videos from Instagram DMs

Do you have videos in your Instagram messages bringing back fond memories or capturing funny moments? Did you know you can save these gems forever by downloading Instagram direct message (DM) videos right to your mobile device or computer?

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide several methods to store Instagram videos, along with tips from my perspective as an online privacy expert. Soon you‘ll be able to relive special moments and curate your own Instagram video library.

Why You Should Download Your Favorite Instagram Videos

Before diving in, let‘s look at why you may want to save Instagram videos sent to you:

• Preserve memories and events – downloading special videos lets you relive vacations, holidays, weddings, birthdays, and other big moments.
• Store funny or viral videos – capture funny clips, memes, or viral videos to share with friends later.
• Archive memories from friends – when contacts change accounts or leave Instagram, you risk losing precious shared videos.
• Create backups – downloading provides a backup in case your account is ever hacked, deleted, or videos are expired.

According to Instagram, over 100 million photos and videos are shared to Stories each day. And Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom stated back in 2017 that over 95 million photos and videos are shared just through Instagram Direct each day.

That‘s a ton of potentially meaningful content you may want to save! Now let‘s look at the various methods for downloading videos from your DMs.

Saving Instagram DM Videos Within the App

The simplest way to save videos from Instagram conversations is directly in the Instagram mobile app itself:

On iOS

1. Open the DM conversation containing the video.
2. Long press your finger on the video thumbnail until a menu pops up.
3. Tap "Save Video" and it will save to your Camera Roll.

On Android

1. Open the DM and tap the video thumbnail to expand it.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top right.
3. Select "Save video" and choose a destination like your device storage or SD card.

This method lets you quickly grab videos to keep forever! However, you can only save one video at a time, so downloading multiple clips requires repeating the process.

Repost Apps – The Easiest Way to Download Multiple Instagram Videos

While the built-in download option works great, third-party apps make it even easier to save multiple Instagram videos at once. These apps connect with your Instagram account and provide a dashboard for downloading photos, videos, Stories, and more.

Some of the top-rated repost apps include:

App	Rating	Key Features
Repost for Instagram	4.8 ⭐	Download videos, schedule reposts, private saving
Insaver	4.8 ⭐	Fast multi-downloading, auto-detects media
InstaSave	4.7 ⭐	Preview and organize content, group save
Dumpor	4.3 ⭐	Also downloads Twitter videos, auto-detection

Based on user reviews, the top picks are Repost and Insaver. Key advantages include:

• Quick batch downloading – easily select and save multiple videos at once.
• Automatic file detection – the app automatically finds and grabs all media from your DMs.
• Private saving – videos save right to your camera roll without needing to allow access.
• Extra features – options like video trimming, scheduling, and more.

Repost apps provide the most efficient way to mass download Instagram videos from DMs to your mobile device.

Recording Videos Directly from the Instagram App

Don‘t want to bother with extra apps? You can also use your device‘s built-in screen recording feature to capture videos directly as you view them in the Instagram app.

On iPhone

1. Open the DM conversation containing the video.
2. Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center.
3. Tap the Screen Recording icon (circle inside a square).
4. Your screen will record, along with any audio. Tap the red bar to stop.
5. The recording saves to your Photos app for trimming.

On Android

1. Open the video you want to save in Instagram.
2. Swipe down from the top to access Quick Settings.
3. Tap Screen Recorder. Allow access if prompted.
4. Tap Start Recording and your display will be captured. Tap Stop when finished.
5. Find the recording in your Gallery.

While screen recording adds an extra step, it lets you grab videos without any extra apps involved. One downside is slightly lower video quality due to compression.

Accessing Instagram‘s Cache to Save Videos (Android Only)

This savvy method only works on Android devices. Whenever you view an Instagram video, a copy is temporarily cached in the app‘s data folder. Using a file explorer, you can grab these cached videos and save them to your camera roll.

Here are the steps:

1. Install a file manager app like File Commander on your Android device.
2. Open the app and navigate to Android > data > com.instagram.android > cache > video folder.
3. Tap the 3-dot menu and Sort by recently modified so newest videos appear first.
4. Long press the first .mp4 file and Rename it by adding .mp4 to the end.
5. Tap OK and the renamed file will save to your Downloads folder for viewing.

Renaming the cached file is key, as Instagram uses randomly generated filenames. This hack provides an incognito way to grab videos without extra apps.

Using Online Instagram Video Downloaders

There are also various websites and online tools that let you download videos from Instagram posts and stories by entering the content‘s URL.

To use an online downloader for videos sent in DMs:

1. In the DM conversation, tap the three-dot menu on the message and Copy Link.
2. Go to a site like InstaDP or SnapInsta.
3. Paste the video‘s URL into the downloader.
4. Click Download. The site extracts and provides the video file.
5. Your browser prompts you to save the video.

Online downloaders are quick and simple. But be wary of fake sites riddled with ads or malware. Stick to reputable tools like InstaDP with positive reviews.

Archiving Instagram Videos to Your Account

Instagram also has a built-in Archive feature that lets you privately save posts – including videos sent to you in DMs. Archiving removes content from your profile while keeping it stored within Instagram.

To archive a video from DMs:

1. In the conversation, tap and hold the video thumbnail to expand it.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button.
3. Select Archive. The video disappears from the chat.
4. Find archived videos in your profile under Menu > Archive.

Archiving merely hides videos from your profile – the copies still exist in DMs. But it‘s handy for quickly tucking away videos you want to privately save and find later.

Tips for Successfully Downloading Instagram Videos

Here are some top tips from my experience to ensure successful video downloads from your Instagram conversations:

• Use WiFi for downloading videos to avoid eating up cellular data. Videos can be large files.
• Check your device storage before saving multiple videos at once. You don‘t want to run out of space.
• Immediately rename cached video files before they get overwritten by new cached videos.
• Double check cameras and consent laws if you plan to re-share any downloaded videos.
• Screen recording leads to lower quality videos, so upgrade your storage for original quality downloads.
• Enable 2-factor authentication on your Instagram account for security when linking to repost apps.
• Periodically purge your saved videos to avoid clutter and ensure sufficient storage.
• Use reputable sites or apps to avoid malware risks when downloading online.
• If needing to save full conversations, utilize Instagram‘s Data Download tool to export your DMs.

Saving your favorite Instagram videos provides a digital scrapbook allowing you to reminisce for years to come!

Can You Download Instagram Videos from DMs on Desktop?

Unfortunately, Instagram does not offer an official method for downloading or saving media from DMs on the desktop website or their desktop apps for Mac and PC.

Here are some options for desktop saving:

• Screen record videos as you view them on your computer screen. You can then trim and export the captured video.
• Use an Android emulator for PC like BlueStacks to access Instagram‘s mobile experience on desktop. Follow the instructions to save videos from DMs within the app.
• Transfer downloaded videos from your mobile device to desktop over WiFi, or via a USB cable connection.

For desktop users, your best bet is to utilize the mobile downloading methods first, then move the saved videos to your computer using file transfers.

Conclusion

I hope this guide provides a wealth of options for preserving memorable Instagram videos sent through direct messages. Whether you want to relive fun times with friends, have backups of important moments, or curate your own digital archive, downloading videos ensures they‘ll be safe forever.

The next time you receive an Instagram video that sparks nostalgia or makes you laugh, take an extra moment to save it with one of the techniques above. Just follow privacy laws and video consent when re-sharing.

Soon you‘ll have your own greatest hits compilation saved from those ephemeral Instagram conversations!