TROUBLESHOOTING

When a link won't download

Start here for errors, empty previews, or endless loading after you paste.

When a link won't download — step by step

  1. 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.

  2. 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 — paste the full URL on www.smdownloader.com.

  3. 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.

  4. 04

    Retry once on SMDownloader

    Temporary platform outages or rate limits can block a single attempt. Wait a minute, paste the same public URL on www.smdownloader.com, click Download to preview, then try again. Review the private-link and wrong-quality guides if the error persists.

Still stuck?

See private or login-walled links, browse copy-link guides for your platform, or read the FAQ.

Common questions

Why won't my link download on SMDownloader?

Most failures come from private posts, incomplete URLs, or expired stories. Confirm the post opens in an incognito window, paste the full Share → Copy link URL on www.smdownloader.com, preview the media, then retry once after a short wait.

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.

Does extraction run only in my browser?

No. SMDownloader resolves public links via /api/extract on our servers, then shows a preview in your browser. You save the file locally — we do not host downloads on www.smdownloader.com.

What URL shapes are rejected?

Profile pages, search results, hashtags, notification previews, and login screens are not post links. Copy Share → Copy link from the specific post with the media you want, then paste that URL on SMDownloader.

When should I read the other troubleshooting guides?

If the post is public in incognito but still fails, check private or login-walled links. If preview works but the file looks wrong, see wrong file or quality. If preview works but you cannot find the save, see where files save.

Paste a linkPaste a link on SMDownloader