Facebook Video Download: Public, Private & Live

Understanding Facebook Video Types

Facebook hosts billions of videos across its platform, making it one of the largest video repositories on the internet. From personal moments shared with friends to professional content from pages and creators, Facebook videos come in many forms. Understanding the different types of Facebook videos and their privacy settings is crucial before attempting to download them.

Facebook's video ecosystem has evolved significantly over the years, introducing features like Watch, Facebook Live, Stories, and Reels. Each type of video has different technical specifications, privacy controls, and download considerations. This comprehensive guide will walk you through downloading all types of Facebook videos while respecting privacy settings and copyright laws.

Types of Facebook Videos

How Privacy Settings Impact Downloads

Facebook's privacy model is more complex than most social media platforms, with granular controls that affect video visibility and downloadability.

Public Videos

Videos marked as "Public" can be viewed by anyone on or off Facebook. These are the easiest to download using any method described in this guide. Public videos include:

• Posts from public figures and verified pages
• Content from Pages with public settings
• Videos shared publicly by individual users
• Facebook Watch content intended for broad audiences

Friends-Only Videos

Videos shared with "Friends" are only visible to the poster's Facebook friends. To download these videos:

• You must be logged into your Facebook account
• You must be friends with the person who posted the video
• Some download methods require authentication
• Browser-based tools may not work; authenticated apps are required

Custom Privacy Videos

Videos shared with custom lists (e.g., "Close Friends," "Family") have the most restrictive access:

• Only users on the specific list can view
• Download requires being logged in and on the list
• Most third-party tools cannot access these videos
• Screen recording may be the only option

Group Videos

Videos posted in Facebook Groups have unique privacy considerations:

• Public groups: Videos can be downloaded like public posts
• Closed groups: Must be a member; download requires authentication
• Secret groups: Most restrictive; download very difficult

Method 1: Using SSDown.app for Public Videos

SSDown.app is the most reliable and user-friendly method for downloading public Facebook videos. No registration or software installation is required.

Step-by-Step Download Process

1. Locate the video on Facebook you want to download. Navigate to the video post in your web browser or mobile app.
2. Copy the video URL:
   • Desktop: Right-click on the video and select "Copy video URL" or copy the URL from your browser's address bar
   • Mobile app: Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) on the video post, then tap "Copy Link"
3. Open SSDown.app in your web browser (works on any device).
4. Select Facebook from the platform menu on the homepage.
5. Paste the video URL into the input field.
6. Click "Download" and wait 3-7 seconds while SSDown.app processes the video and fetches available quality options.
7. Choose quality: Select from available quality options (SD, HD, or Full HD depending on the original upload).
8. Download the video: Click the download button next to your preferred quality. The video will save to your device's download folder as an MP4 file.

Advantages of SSDown.app

• Works on all devices (desktop, mobile, tablet)
• No registration or account creation required
• Multiple quality options available
• Fast processing (3-7 seconds average)
• Clean downloads without watermarks
• Free to use with no hidden costs
• Secure and privacy-focused
• Supports HD and Full HD quality

Method 2: Direct Download from Facebook (Limited)

Facebook provides a limited built-in option to download your own videos, but this doesn't work for others' content.

Downloading Your Own Videos

1. Navigate to the video you uploaded on your profile or page
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner of the video post
3. Select "Download Video" from the dropdown menu
4. The video will download in its original uploaded quality

Limitations: This method only works for videos you personally uploaded. You cannot download videos posted by friends, pages, or groups using this method.

Method 3: Browser Extensions

Browser extensions add download functionality directly to Facebook's interface, making the process convenient for frequent downloaders.

Popular Facebook Video Downloader Extensions

Installation and Usage

1. Visit your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons)
2. Search for "Facebook video downloader"
3. Read reviews and check permissions carefully
4. Click "Add to Browser" or "Install"
5. Grant necessary permissions
6. Navigate to Facebook and open any video
7. Look for the download button added by the extension (usually below the video or as an overlay)
8. Click to download in your preferred quality

Security Considerations

Always download extensions from official stores only. Check user reviews, ratings, and the number of users before installing. Be cautious of extensions requesting excessive permissions.

Method 4: Mobile Apps for Facebook Videos

Mobile apps provide convenient solutions for downloading Facebook videos directly on smartphones and tablets.

Android Applications

Top Android Apps:

• Video Downloader for Facebook: Free, simple interface, HD support
• MyVideoDownloader for Facebook: Batch downloads, built-in video player
• FastSave for Facebook: Photos and videos, quick share features
• Friendly Social Browser: Full Facebook client with download capabilities

iOS Solutions

iOS has stricter app policies, but several workarounds exist:

• Documents by Readdle: Built-in browser can access web downloaders like SSDown.app
• Shortcuts app: Create custom workflows for downloading Facebook videos
• Safari + SSDown.app: Use the web tool directly for seamless downloads

Mobile Download Steps

1. Open the Facebook app and locate the video
2. Tap the Share button on the video post
3. Select "Copy Link"
4. Open your chosen downloader app or web browser
5. Paste the link into the app or navigate to SSDown.app
6. Select quality and download
7. Access the downloaded video from your phone's gallery or files app

Method 5: Downloading Facebook Live Videos

Facebook Live videos present unique challenges because they're initially streamed in real-time. However, most Live videos become available for download after the stream ends.

During the Live Stream

To capture a Facebook Live video while it's streaming:

• Use screen recording software (OBS Studio, ShareX for desktop)
• Use built-in screen recording on mobile (iOS Screen Recording, Android Screen Recorder)
• Third-party live stream recorders specifically designed for Facebook

After the Live Stream Ends

1. Wait for Facebook to process the live video (usually 5-30 minutes after the stream ends)
2. The video becomes a regular post on the creator's profile
3. Copy the video URL using the methods described earlier
4. Use SSDown.app or any other download method for regular Facebook videos
5. Download in your preferred quality

Method 6: Desktop Software Solutions

Desktop software provides the most powerful and feature-rich options for downloading Facebook videos, especially for users who need advanced features.

Recommended Desktop Applications

• 4K Video Downloader: Cross-platform, supports playlists, subtitles, high quality
• JDownloader: Open-source, supports hundreds of sites, batch processing
• VideoProc: Video processing, format conversion, quality enhancement
• Freemake Video Downloader: Simple interface, multiple format support

Using 4K Video Downloader (Example)

1. Download and install 4K Video Downloader from the official website
2. Copy the Facebook video URL
3. Open 4K Video Downloader
4. Click the "Paste Link" button
5. Select quality, format, and download location
6. Click "Download"
7. The video will be processed and saved to your chosen location

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Error: "This Video is Private"

Solutions:

• Verify you have permission to view the video (logged in, friends with poster, group member)
• Check if the video's privacy settings have changed
• Use a download method that supports authenticated downloads
• Contact the video owner for permission or a public share link

Error: "Cannot Parse Video URL"

Solutions:

• Ensure you copied the complete URL
• Try copying the URL from the browser address bar instead of the right-click menu
• Remove any tracking parameters from the URL (everything after "?" except the video ID)
• Try accessing the video directly and copying that URL

Low Quality Downloads

Solutions:

• Select the highest quality option available in the downloader tool
• Check if the original video was uploaded in high quality
• Try downloading at different times (server load affects quality availability)
• Use desktop software which often provides better quality extraction

Download Fails or Times Out

Solutions:

• Check your internet connection stability
• Try a different download method or tool
• Disable VPN or proxy temporarily
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Try downloading during off-peak hours

Legal and Ethical Guidelines

Copyright Considerations

Facebook videos are protected by copyright law. Understanding fair use and copyright is essential:

• Personal use: Generally acceptable to download for personal viewing
• Educational use: May fall under fair use depending on jurisdiction
• Commercial use: Requires explicit permission from the copyright holder
• Redistribution: Reposting downloaded videos is generally not permitted without permission

Privacy and Consent

Always respect the privacy settings and intentions of content creators. Just because you can technically download a video doesn't mean you should.

• Don't download and share private videos without consent
• Respect friends-only and custom privacy settings
• Ask permission before downloading someone's personal videos
• Never use downloaded videos to harass or harm others

Best Practices

• Always credit original creators when sharing downloaded content
• Use downloads for personal reference and viewing only
• Follow Facebook's Terms of Service and Community Standards
• Support content creators by engaging with their original posts
• When in doubt, ask the creator for permission

Advanced Tips and Techniques

Downloading Facebook Watch Videos

Facebook Watch videos can be downloaded using the same methods as regular videos, but may require additional steps:

1. Navigate to the Watch video
2. Click the Share button and copy the link
3. Use SSDown.app or your preferred downloader
4. Select the highest quality available (Watch videos often support up to 1080p or 4K)

Extracting Audio from Facebook Videos

To save only the audio from Facebook videos:

• Use SSDown.app's audio extraction feature
• Download the video and use conversion software like FFmpeg or Audacity
• Use online MP4 to MP3 converters

Batch Downloading Multiple Videos

For downloading multiple videos from a page or profile:

• Use desktop software like JDownloader or 4K Video Downloader
• Copy all video URLs into a text file
• Import the list into the software for batch processing
• Set quality preferences and let the software download all videos automatically

Conclusion

Downloading Facebook videos requires understanding the platform's privacy settings, video types, and available tools. For most users, SSDown.app provides the perfect balance of ease, quality, and reliability for public videos. Mobile apps and browser extensions offer convenience for frequent users, while desktop software provides advanced features for power users.

Always remember to respect copyright laws, privacy settings, and content creators' rights. Use downloaded videos responsibly and ethically, keeping personal use as the primary purpose. With the comprehensive methods outlined in this guide, you now have all the knowledge needed to download any type of Facebook video while maintaining ethical standards and technical excellence.