TROUBLESHOOTING
Private or login-walled links
Why friends-only, group, and sign-in-required posts fail — and how to check.
Private or login-walled links — step by step
- 01
Test in an incognito window
Paste the same URL into a private browser tab where you are not logged into the social network. If you cannot view the post there, it is not public enough for SMDownloader.
- 02
Know what will not work
Friends-only Facebook videos, private Instagram accounts, protected X accounts, closed groups, DM-only shares, and subscriber-only SoundCloud tracks cannot be retrieved without your personal login session.
- 03
Do not paste login pages
URLs that land on a sign-in screen, age gate, or “content not available” message are not post links. Go back to the post while logged in, use Share → Copy link, and test that copied URL in incognito before pasting on SMDownloader.
- 04
Use content you have rights to save
Even when a post is public, you still need permission to download and reuse it. Read our Acceptable Use and Copyright policies before saving someone else's work on www.smdownloader.com.
Related policies
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
Can I download a private or login-required post?
No. SMDownloader only fetches openly viewable posts via /api/extract on our servers. If you need to sign in to see the content, pasting the URL on www.smdownloader.com will not work.
I can see the video while logged in — why won't it download?
Your logged-in session can access content our servers cannot. SMDownloader only fetches media that is openly available without your account.
Does SMDownloader support logging into Instagram or Facebook for me?
No. We never ask for your social network password and do not store session cookies.
How do I test if a post is public enough?
Open the same URL in an incognito or private browser window without logging in. If the post does not load there, our servers cannot fetch it either — do not paste that link on www.smdownloader.com.
Do friends-only Facebook or Instagram posts work?
No. Friends-only, followers-only, group-restricted, and close-friends content requires your personal login. SMDownloader cannot use your session to bypass those walls.
What about age-gated or region-blocked content?
Age gates, subscriber paywalls, and geo-blocks that hide a post from anonymous viewers will fail the same way as a login wall. Only URLs that load for a logged-out visitor in incognito can be fetched.