INSTAGRAM GUIDE · REELS

How to copy an Instagram Reel link

Four steps — Share, Copy link, paste on SMDownloader, save to your device.

How to copy an Instagram Reel link — step by step

Step 1 of 4

Open the public Instagram Reel

Open the Instagram app on iPhone or Android, or visit instagram.com in your browser. Find the reel you want to download and play it full screen. The reel must be public — posts that require a login or belong to a private account cannot be copied for download.

1 / 4
Screenshot: a public reel playing in the Instagram Reels viewer, ready for Share.
  1. Step 1: Open the public Instagram Reel. Open the Instagram app on iPhone or Android, or visit instagram.com in your browser. Find the reel you want to download and play it full screen. The reel must be public — posts that require a login or belong to a private account cannot be copied for download.
  2. Step 2: Tap Share on the reel. While the reel is playing, tap the paper-plane Share icon on the right side of the screen (mobile) or use the share control under the video on desktop. This opens Instagram’s share sheet where Copy link is listed.
  3. Step 3: Choose Copy link. In the share menu, tap Copy link (sometimes labeled Link). Instagram copies a public instagram.com/reel/… URL to your clipboard. Avoid copying profile links, search results, or DM previews — only the reel post URL works.
  4. Step 4: Paste the reel link on SMDownloader. Open smdownloader.com, paste the copied reel URL into the field at the top, and click Download. Preview the video, pick your preferred quality if shown, then save the file to your device. We fetch the reel temporarily in your browser — nothing is stored on our servers.

Example URL

https://www.instagram.com/reel/SHORTCODE/

Related guides & tools

Reels use /reel/ URLs. For photos, feed videos, or stories, use the matching copy-link guide — then the All Instagram downloaders if you want a dedicated downloader page.

Copy photo linkCopy video linkReels downloader tool

Common questions

Can I copy a link from a private Instagram account?

No. The reel must be public — if you need to log in to view it, Share → Copy link will not produce a URL SMDownloader can fetch.

Does this work on desktop without the app?

Yes. Open the reel on instagram.com, use Share → Copy link or copy the address bar URL, then paste on SMDownloader.

What should the copied URL look like?

Public reel links use instagram.com/reel/SHORTCODE/. Paste the full URL — not a profile name or search page.

Paste reel linkAll Instagram guides