How to download Twitter (X) videos: 4 methods that work
Four reliable ways to save a video from Twitter/X to your computer or phone: a browser extension, a web downloader, yt-dlp, and screen recording.
X, the site that used to be Twitter, does not give most people a download button. You can watch a video, like it and repost it, but saving the file itself takes a detour. The good news is that every video on X is an ordinary MP4 file underneath, and there are four dependable ways to get it onto your computer or phone.
Quick answer
On a computer, the fastest route is a browser extension:
- Install Twitter Video Downloader from the Chrome Web Store.
- Open x.com and scroll to any post with a video.
- Click the download icon in the row of buttons under the post, next to Share.
- The MP4 lands in your browser's Downloads folder.
No copying links, no pasting into a website, no ads. The other three methods below are for when you cannot install an extension, need to grab many videos at once, or are on a phone.
Method 1: a browser extension (fastest)
An extension works inside the page you are already looking at. Instead of sending you to another site, it adds its own button to every post on X, so saving a video is a single click wherever you find it: your timeline, a profile, search results or the full-screen media viewer.
With Twitter Video Downloader the button sits in the action row under each post. One click saves everything in the post: a video, every photo in a gallery, or an animated GIF. If a post quotes another post with a video, the quoted video is saved too. There is also a keyboard shortcut: turn it on in the extension's settings, hover a post and press D.
What makes this method the default choice:
- Best available quality. X stores several MP4 versions of each video; the extension picks the one with the highest bitrate. More on that in our guide to Twitter video quality.
- No middleman. The file comes straight from X's servers to your disk, not through a third-party website.
- Works signed in or signed out. Posts X shows to visitors without an account can be downloaded too.
- Organised files. You can name files by account, post ID and date, and put each account's media in its own folder.
The limitation is that extensions only run in desktop browsers. Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone do not support them. For a full walkthrough, see how to set up a Twitter video downloader extension.
Method 2: a web-based downloader (no install)
Dozens of websites turn a post link into a download link. They work in any browser, including on a phone, which makes them the usual choice when an extension is not an option.
- On the post with the video, tap Share, then Copy link.
- Open the downloader site and paste the link into its box.
- Pick a quality if it offers a choice. Take the largest resolution listed.
- Click the download link. If the video opens in a player instead of downloading, use the player's menu or right-click and choose Save video as.
Most of these sites pay for themselves with aggressive advertising. Expect fake "Download" buttons, pop-unders and requests to allow notifications. Never allow notifications, never install anything a download site offers you, and close any page claiming your device is infected.
Web tools also stop working more often than other methods, because X periodically changes how it serves media and each site has to catch up on its own schedule.
Method 3: yt-dlp (for bulk and automation)
yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line program that downloads video from hundreds of sites, X included. It is the right tool if you are comfortable with a terminal and want to save many videos, script your downloads or archive a list of links.
yt-dlp "https://x.com/username/status/1234567890123456789"By default it chooses the best quality available. For posts that X only shows to signed-in users, you can let it borrow your browser's session:
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "https://x.com/username/status/1234567890123456789"The trade-off is setup: you need to install it, keep it updated when X changes something, and read its error messages when a download fails.
Method 4: screen recording (last resort)
If nothing else works, you can record the video while it plays. Every modern system has a recorder built in:
- Windows 11: Snipping Tool has a record mode, and the Xbox Game Bar records the active window with Win + Alt + R.
- macOS: press Cmd + Shift + 5 and choose a recording area.
- iPhone: add Screen Recording to Control Center, then tap it before playing the video.
- Android: use Screen record in Quick Settings (available on most phones since Android 11).
A recording is never as good as the original file. It re-encodes the video, captures whatever is on screen, and can miss audio depending on your settings. Use it only when downloading the actual file is not possible.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | Quality | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser extension | Regular use on a computer | Original file, best version | One click per post |
| Web downloader | Phones, one-off downloads | Usually the original file | Copy, paste, dodge ads |
| yt-dlp | Bulk downloads, scripts | Original file, best version | Setup and a terminal |
| Screen recording | When nothing else works | Re-encoded, lower | Real-time playback |
On a phone, the details are different enough to deserve their own guide: how to download Twitter videos on iPhone and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Does X have a built-in download button?
Not for most people. X has offered a download option to some Premium subscribers in its mobile app, and only on videos whose authors allow it. For everyone else, and for almost every video, you need one of the methods above.
Does the person who posted the video know I downloaded it?
No. Downloading does not send a notification and does not show up anywhere on the author's side. It works the same way as watching the video.
Why is my downloaded video blurry?
The tool most likely saved a low-bitrate version. X keeps several copies of each video at different sizes, and some downloaders pick the first one they find. Choose the highest resolution offered, or use a tool that selects the best version automatically.
Can I download a video from a private account?
Only if you follow the account and can already watch the video while signed in. Downloaders cannot see anything that X does not show you.
Is it legal to download videos from Twitter?
Saving a video for yourself is generally low-risk; reposting someone else's video is where copyright comes in. We cover the details in is it legal to download Twitter videos?