How to Download Instagram DM Videos on PC (What Works in 2026)
If you want to know how to download Instagram DM videos on PC, start by checking what kind of video it is. A post someone shared with you, a clip they recorded and sent directly, and a view-once video all behave differently.
Case 1: a post or Reel someone shared in the chat
This is the easy one. A shared post is still a normal public post; the chat only shows a preview of it.
- Open instagram.com in Chrome, Edge or Firefox and go to your messages.
- Click the shared post. It opens as a normal post page.
- Copy the address from the browser’s address bar.
- Paste it into the video downloader (or the Reels downloader for a Reel) and choose a quality.
On your phone it works the same way: tap the shared post in the chat to open it, then use the paper-plane icon › Copy link. If the post comes from a private account, only its followers can open it, and no downloader can fetch it.
Case 2: a video sent straight to you
When someone records a clip and sends it directly in a chat, it isn’t a post. It has no public link, and Instagram doesn’t show a download button for it on the web. That is deliberate: chats are private, and on many accounts they are end-to-end encrypted, so no outside website can read them at all. Be wary of any tool that asks for your Instagram password to “download DMs”.
What works:
- Ask for the file. The sender still has the original on their phone. Email, Google Drive, WhatsApp or AirDrop gives you the full-quality file, much sharper than anything recorded from the chat.
- Use your own data download. In Instagram’s Accounts Center, Download your information can include the photos and videos from your own chats.
- Record the screen, for yourself. On Windows, press Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar and use Capture. The quality is lower, and you should only do it with the sender’s agreement.
Case 3: view-once and disappearing videos
A video sent with “view once” or in vanish mode is designed not to be kept. You can’t replay or save it, and the sender may be told if you take a screenshot. If it matters, ask them to send it again normally.
How to download Instagram DM videos on PC: where the file goes
Downloads from Case 1 go to your Downloads folder. Press Ctrl + J in Chrome or Edge to see them, or read where downloaded Instagram videos go for every device.
Using a Mac instead?
The steps are the same in Safari, Chrome or Firefox. Files go to the Downloads folder; in Safari, press Cmd + Option + L to see the list. Our Mac guide has more tips.
Keep chats private
Someone sent you that video because they trust you. Saving it for yourself is one thing; sharing it further needs their permission. The Instagram Help Center explains how messages and privacy work on Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download a video someone sent me directly on Instagram?
Not with a downloader: videos sent straight to you in a chat have no public link and are private. Ask the sender for the original file, or use Download your information in Accounts Center for your own chats.
How do I save a Reel someone sent me in a DM?
Click the Reel in the chat on instagram.com, copy the address from the browser and paste it into the Reels downloader. Shared Reels are normal public posts.
Is there a tool that downloads all my DMs?
Only Instagram itself, through Download your information. Third-party tools that ask for your password to read your messages put your account at risk.