TROUBLESHOOTING
When a link won't download
Start here for errors, empty previews, or endless loading after you paste.
- 01
Confirm the post is public
Open the link in a private or incognito browser window without logging in. If the network asks you to sign in or says the content is unavailable, SMDownloader cannot fetch it either.
- 02
Paste the full post URL
Use Share → Copy link from the app, or copy the address bar on desktop. Profile pages, search results, hashtags, and notification previews are not post links.
- 03
Check format-specific rules
Instagram Stories expire after 24 hours. YouTube long-form videos and live streams are not supported — Shorts (Beta) only. SoundCloud tracks must be public.
- 04
Retry once, then read related guides
Temporary platform outages or rate limits can block a single attempt. Wait a minute, try again, then review the private-link and wrong-quality guides below if the error persists.
Still stuck?
See private or login-walled links, browse copy-link guides for your platform, or read the FAQ.
Link won't downloadLink won't download Private or login-walled linkPrivate or login-walled link Wrong file or qualityWrong file or quality Where files saveWhere files save
Common questions
The preview never loads — is the site down?
Sometimes a single platform is unavailable or your network blocks the request. Try a different public post on the same network. If every platform fails, check your connection or try later.
Should I paste a shortened share link?
Yes when it came from Share → Copy link. vm.tiktok.com, fb.watch, and on.soundcloud.com short links are accepted when they resolve to a public post.