How to Save a Twitter (X) Video to Your Phone
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Saving a Twitter video to your phone means storing it as an MP4 file in the Photos app on an iPhone or in the gallery on an Android phone. X, the platform formerly called Twitter, has a download option of its own, but it is limited to Premium subscribers.
For everyone else, a Twitter video downloader builds the file from the link of the post. This guide covers both routes and gives the steps for each phone.
X's Own Download Video Option
X's Help Center states that Premium subscribers can download videos from certain posts. In the app, you open the video, tap the three dot icon in the top right corner and tap Download video.
Three limits apply, all from the same Help Center page:
- A Premium subscription. Without one, the option does not appear.
- The date of the video. Videos posted before July 25, 2023 are not downloadable.
- The author's choice. An author can turn off Allow video to be downloaded when posting, and accounts of people under 18 have it off permanently.
Copy the Link of the Post
Every other method starts with the link of the post. In the X app, tap the share icon under the post, then choose the option to copy the link. X's Help Center names it Copy link to Post.
A link from x.com and a link from twitter.com lead to the same post. Either one works.
Save a Twitter Video on iPhone
- Copy the link of the post in the X app.
- Open the Twitter video downloader in Safari, paste the link and select Get video.
- Select the button for the quality you want. Safari saves the file to the Downloads folder inside the Files app.
- Open the Files app, tap the video, tap the Share icon, then tap Save Video.
The last step moves the video into the Photos app. Without it, the file stays in Files.
Save a Twitter Video on Android
- Copy the link of the post in the X app.
- Open the downloader in Chrome or any other browser, paste the link and select Get video.
- Select the button for the quality you want. The browser saves the MP4 to the Downloads folder.
Open your gallery app and look for an album named Downloads. You do not need to install a downloader app from the Play Store.
Which Quality to Choose
The tool shows one button for each version X stores for the video, with an estimated file size. A higher resolution gives a sharper picture and a larger file.
For watching on a phone, 720p is a good balance. Choose 1080p or higher when you plan to edit the video.
GIFs and Posts With Several Videos
A GIF on X is saved as a short MP4 video that loops. The separate guide on how to save Twitter GIFs explains why.
When a post has more than one video, the tool saves the first one. To get another, open that video on X and copy the address. It ends in /video/2 or a higher number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an X account to save a video?
No. The downloader works from the link of a public post. You never enter an X username or password.
Can I save a video someone sent me in a Direct Message?
Only inside the X app. X's Help Center describes the method: long press the video and tap Download video. It needs version 10.24 or later of the app.
Can I save a video from a protected account?
Not with a link-based tool. Posts from a protected account are visible only to its followers.
Why will the video not download?
The usual causes are a protected account, a deleted post or an age-restricted post. The article on a Twitter download not working lists them all.
Can I repost a video I saved?
Only with the creator's permission. The creator keeps the copyright, and saving a video for your own viewing does not give you the right to publish it.