How to Download Videos and Photos from Threads on iPhone and Android
Threads has no download button for photos or videos in posts, on iPhone or Android. To get your own Threads media back, export a copy of your information through Meta's Accounts Center, or keep the originals from your camera roll. For posts by other people, use Save, Copy link or Share in the app, or ask the creator for the file. Screen recording works for personal reference only.
This guide covers the official export, the in-app ways to keep posts, the iPhone and Android options, and what to know about third-party "Threads download" shortcuts and websites before you use one.
Can you download videos from Threads?
No, Threads cannot download photos or videos to your phone directly. The post menu lets you save a post inside the app, copy its link or share it, but the media file stays on Meta's servers. That split matters because the answer depends on whose content it is.
- Your own posts: you own the media you uploaded, and Meta lets you export a copy of your Threads information to your device.
- Someone else's posts: the photos and videos belong to the person who posted them. Keeping a link or a bookmark is fine. Re-uploading the file without permission can break the creator's copyright and Threads' rules.
Most search results point to downloader websites and iOS shortcuts. They exist because Threads has no download button, but they are not made by Meta. They can stop working whenever Threads changes, and some come with risks covered further down. If you came here from a Threads launch-era guide, note that the app has changed a lot since 2023 but still has no download option for media in posts.
How to download your own Threads photos and videos
To download your own Threads photos and videos, request a copy of your information from Meta. The Threads Help Center confirms you can export a copy of your Threads information to your device or to an external service. Threads profiles are tied to an Instagram account, so the export runs through Accounts Center.
- In Threads, open the menu and go to Settings, then Account, and look for Download your information. In Instagram, the same request lives under Accounts Center, Your information and permissions, Export your information.
- Pick your Threads profile if it is listed separately (it is often bundled with the linked Instagram profile).
- Choose to export to your device, pick the format (HTML is easier to browse, JSON is better for tools) and set media quality to high.
- Submit the request and confirm with your password.
- Wait for Meta's email or notification, then download the file before the link expires.
The export is the official way to get back the photos and videos you posted; look for them in the media folder of the archive. Exports are not instant, so plan ahead if you need the files by a deadline. Menu names in Accounts Center can differ slightly by app version and region, so follow the labels on your screen.
How to save Threads posts without downloading
The quickest legitimate way to keep a Threads post is the built-in Save option. Tap the three-dot menu on a post and choose Save. The post then shows up in your saved items, so you can open it again later without searching for it.
The share menu (the paper airplane icon under a post) gives you other options:
- Copy link: keeps a permanent pointer to the post, which you can paste into notes or a chat.
- Share to an Instagram story or chat: passes the post on with credit to the creator.
- Send in a message: shares the post through other apps on your phone.
A saved post or link keeps the creator's caption, credit and engagement intact. If the creator deletes the post, the link stops working. For anything you need long-term, such as a tutorial clip, ask the creator directly. Many are happy to send the original file, and you get it in full quality.
How to download Threads videos on iPhone
On iPhone, the only built-in way to keep a copy of a Threads video is a screen recording, and it is meant for your personal reference. Apple documents the steps on its screen recording support page:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Tap the gray Record button and wait for the three-second countdown. Press and hold the button first if you want to turn the microphone on.
- Close Control Center, open Threads and play the video.
- Tap the red indicator at the top of the screen, then tap Stop.
- Find the recording in the Photos app under Library.
If the Record button is missing, add it to Control Center first. Apple notes that some apps may not allow audio or video recording. For your own videos, the original is usually still in Photos or can come back through the official export above. Our guide to starting and stopping a screen recording on iPhone has more detail.
Threads video download shortcuts: are they safe?
Threads video download shortcuts for iPhone are community-made automations, not Apple or Meta features, so treat them with care. The shortcut that went around in 2023 needed two extra script apps and only worked with public accounts. Shortcuts like this break whenever Threads changes how it serves media.
Before you run any shortcut or paste a link into a downloader website, check the following:
- Permissions: a shortcut that asks for access to your photos, files or web content can read more than the one video.
- Login requests: never enter your Instagram or Threads password on a downloader site. That is a common way accounts get phished.
- Ads and redirects: many free downloader sites push pop-ups, fake "update" prompts and app installs.
- Terms and copyright: automated scraping can break Meta's terms, and the downloaded file still belongs to the creator.
For your own media, the official export gets the same files without any of these risks.
How to download Threads videos on Android
On Android, as on iPhone, Threads has no download button, so the built-in option is the screen recorder in Quick Settings. Google describes it on its Android screen recording help page:
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen.
- Tap Screen record. If you do not see it, swipe right, or tap Edit and drag it into Quick Settings.
- Choose what to record, decide whether to record audio, and tap Start.
- Play the Threads video, then swipe down and tap the screen recorder notification to stop.
On Pixel phones, the file lands in Google Photos under Collections, On this device, Movies. Other manufacturers may label things differently. To keep a post without recording it, copy the link from the paper airplane menu or use Save.
Which Threads download method should you use?
The right method depends on whose content it is and what you need it for.
| Method | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Center export | Your own photos and videos as files | Backups, moving your content |
| Save or Copy link | A bookmark to the original post | Other people's posts |
| Ask the creator | The original file, with permission | Reuse or reposting |
| Screen recording | A personal copy at screen quality | Quick private reference |
If Threads itself misbehaves while you try any of these, our fix for the Threads "an unknown error occurred" message may help.
FAQ
Does the Threads data export include my videos?
The export is meant to include the content you posted, including photos and videos, at the media quality you choose in the request. Choose high quality if you want the best copies, and check the archive once it arrives.
Can I download photos and videos from a private Threads account?
No official method does this. Only the account owner can export their media, so ask them to send you the file.
Is it legal to download someone else's Threads video?
Keeping a copy for yourself is a gray area. Re-uploading or reusing it without the creator's permission can break copyright and Threads' rules. When in doubt, share the link or ask the creator.
Related: add your Threads link to your Instagram bio, see who someone follows on Threads.
Leave a Reply