How to download a Twitter video from a link
Copy the right link, read the post ID, and turn any x.com or twitter.com video link into a saved MP4 on a computer or a phone.
Most download failures with link-based tools come down to the link, not the tool: a profile link instead of a post link, a link to a reply when the video is in the post above it, a shortened t.co address. This guide shows how to get the right link on any device, how to read it, and what to do with it.
Getting the right link
On a computer
- From the post page: click the post so it opens on its own page, then copy the address from the address bar.
- From the timeline: right-click the post's timestamp (for example "3h" or "Sep 14") and choose Copy link address. The timestamp always links to the post itself.
- From the share menu: click Share under the post, then Copy link.
On a phone
- In the X app, tap the Share icon under the post.
- Tap Copy link.
How to read a post link
A correct link to a post with a video looks like this:
https://x.com/username/status/1834567890123456789
The long number after /status/ is the post ID, and it is the part
every downloader needs. Anything that looks different is probably the wrong
kind of link:
| Link looks like | What it is | Works? |
|---|---|---|
x.com/username/status/183… |
A post | Yes |
twitter.com/username/status/183… |
The same post, old address | Yes |
…/status/183…/video/1 |
The post's media viewer | Yes |
…/status/183…?s=20&t=… |
A post with tracking parameters | Yes, or delete from ? onwards |
t.co/AbC123 |
X's link shortener | Open it first, copy the real address |
x.com/username |
A profile | No |
x.com/i/spaces/… |
An audio Space | Not with most tools |
Three mistakes that break downloads
1. The video is in a quoted post
When a post quotes another post, the video usually belongs to the quoted one. Its link points at the outer post, which has no video of its own. Click the quoted post to open it, and copy that link instead.
2. The link is to a reply
In a thread, the video might be several posts up. Make sure the post whose link you copied is the one showing the video.
3. The video was sent in a direct message
A video uploaded directly into a DM has no public post and no post link, so link-based tools cannot reach it. A post link that someone shared in a DM is different: open it and copy its address as usual.
Turning the link into a file
You have three options, from least to most technical:
- A download website. Paste the link, pick the highest resolution, save. Works on any device; expect ads.
- Open the link and use an extension. On a computer, open the link in Chrome with Twitter Video Downloader installed and click the download icon under the post. No ads, best quality, and it also handles the quoted-post case: one click saves the quoted video too.
-
yt-dlp. Run
yt-dlp "https://x.com/username/status/1834567890123456789"in a terminal. Ideal for a list of many links.
On a phone, the full process including saving to your gallery is in downloading Twitter videos on iPhone and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download a video if I only have the post ID?
Yes. Build the link yourself: https://x.com/i/status/ followed by
the ID. X opens the post regardless of the account name.
The link works in my browser, but the downloader says the post was not found.
Most download websites view X as a signed-out visitor. If the post is from a protected account or marked as sensitive, they cannot see it even though you can. Use a method that works through your own signed-in browser, such as an extension. More in why Twitter video downloads fail.
What about "fxtwitter" or "fixupx" links?
These are third-party services that make X links preview properly in chat apps like Discord, and some of them can serve the media file directly. They are handy, but they are not run by X and can stop working at any time. The underlying post link is the part to keep.