FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Help for our free social media video downloader — how Download works and your responsibilities.
Questions & answers
What is SMDownloader?
SMDownloader is a free social media downloader. Paste one public link at a time — our servers resolve it, you preview in your browser, then save videos, reels, Shorts, images, and audio locally. No app. No account.
Can I download all social media videos at once?
No. SMDownloader processes one public link at a time. Paste a single post URL, preview the result, save it, then repeat for the next link. There is no batch queue or multi-URL paste.
What does the Download button do?
The Download button starts a temporary retrieval of public media from the linked platform so you can preview it in your browser. That step does not save a permanent copy on our servers. When you choose to keep the file, your browser saves it locally — the same as any normal web download.
Is SMDownloader affiliated with social platforms?
No. SMDownloader is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, X, Douyin, SoundCloud, or any other platform. See our Platform Disclaimer for details.
Does SMDownloader store videos?
No. SMDownloader does not host, store, archive, or publish third-party media. Processing is temporary and user-initiated — we fetch and stream media back to you without retaining a permanent copy.
Can I download any public video?
No. Public availability does not mean you have legal permission to download or reuse content. You must own the content or have permission from the rights holder.
Who is responsible for downloaded content?
You are solely responsible for every URL you submit and for how you use downloaded files.
Can copyright owners request blocking?
Yes. Copyright owners can send notices to copyright@smdownloader.com. We may block specific URLs, domains, or platforms in response to valid complaints.
Which platforms are supported?
See our Platforms page for current networks, accepted URL formats, and copy-link guides.
Do I need an account?
No account or login is required. Paste a public link and click Download.
Safari opened the file in a new tab instead of downloading it — what do I do?
Safari, especially on iOS, sometimes opens a saved image or video in a preview tab instead of downloading it directly. Tap the Share icon in that preview and choose Save to Files or Save Image — this saves the same file.
Why does my browser ask where to save the file every time?
That's your browser's "Ask where to save each file" setting, not something SMDownloader controls. Turn it off in your browser's download settings if you want files to save automatically to your default Downloads folder instead.