TikTok has become one of our biggest sources of entertainment, and many people spend hours scrolling through the app. When consuming such an abundant amount of media, you're bound to come across something you'd like to watch again.
This is why the TikTok app allows you to download videos. However, the download option isn't always available—and when that happens, then what? There's always the option to screen record, but all the icons, captions, and tags will get in the way.
Don't worry if you're feeling stuck right now. We're going to show you how to download a TikTok video on desktop and third-party sites, even when the download feature is off.
Why Would You Download a TikTok Video?
With so much information to absorb on TikTok, saving some videos to watch at another time might not be a bad idea. Not to mention, you'll be able to watch them offline if you're lacking an internet connection.
TikTok boasts a buffet of content—there's literally something for everyone. And thanks to its advanced algorithm, the For You page (FYP) will be tailor-made for your personal interests. So if you're a workout fanatic, you'll probably see a lot of exercise and fitness tips videos, and by downloading them, you can refer back to them whenever you want.
Having the video files in your photo library also allows you to send them to people directly, instead of sending them a link which they'll have to open first.
Why Can't You Download Videos From the TikTok App?
There are several reasons why the download feature might not be available on some videos.
TikTok allows users to turn off the download option via the Privacy settings, or on an individual video's settings. Some creators simply don't want their content to be downloaded, usually as a result of previous content theft—or a fear thereof.
There have also been reports of the download feature not being available in certain regions. So, even if the creator wants to turn on the download feature, they might not be able to. And sometimes, there's just a glitch or a bug in the app that prevents the download feature from working properly.
Before You Download TikTok Videos Outside the App...
As the title of this article suggests, we're going to show you how to download a TikTok video when the in-app download feature isn't available. This might pose a few issues with copyright infringement.
If the creator has explicitly said that they've disabled downloads, you need to respect their privacy by not sharing the video with anyone else. For further information, review TikTok's Intellectual Property Policy. It states that users can't post or send content without the creator's permission.
If you're uncertain whether the creator has purposefully turned off downloads, or if it's an issue with the app, simply ask them in the comments of the video—or send a DM—asking for permission to share it. Only if say yes do you have the green light to repost it with credit, or share it with your friends.
The third-party sites we're going to discuss will download TikTok posts without the TikTok watermark that contains the creator's username. So, if you opt for this method, you shouldn't share the video either—unless the creator has manually included their own watermark.
Lastly, you'll want to free up storage on your device or computer. If the videos start piling up in your library, you'll be out of space before you know it. Have a look at these articles to help you free up space on iPhone, free up space on Android, free up space on Mac, free up space on Windows, and free up space on iCloud.
1. How to Download TikToks From the TikTok Website
The TikTok website doesn't feature the download option, regardless of whether or not it's enabled by the creator. But you can still save videos.
To save a TikTok video from TikTok, you'll first need to head over to TikTok.com. You can log in if you have an account, but it's not necessary for this method.
After signing in, click once on the video that you want to save to open it.
Once you're on the video, right-click and and select Inspect. Ensure that you're on the Elements tab and start scrolling to look for a text that starts with "<video". You'll most likely find it under several rows of "<div class=" texts.
You'll need to hover over the text to make sure it's selected. If it is, you'll see that the video gets highlighted in blue as well.
After highlighting the text, right-click on the https address in that text and select Open in New Tab. You'll be directed to a new tab with a media player playing the TikTok video.
In this new tab, right-click on the video and select Save video as.... In the pop-up window, rename the file, select a location, and hit Save.
2. How to Download TikTok Posts With Third-Party Sites
Before getting started with this method, refer back to the section that discusses TikTok's Intellectual Property Policy to ensure that you understand your sharing limitations.
You'll find a multitude of third-party sites where you can download TikToks. Our most trusted one is SnapTik.
To download a TikTok video on SnapTik, follow the steps below.
- Open the TikTok app and locate the video you want to download.
- Tap on the share icon and select Copy link.
- Head over to SnapTik.app.
- Paste the link in the empty box and hit Download. You'll be directed to a new page with three download options from different servers. Typically, the first one works—but you can try the other ones if it doesn't.
- Click on the download link of your choice. Then, select Download when prompted.
- After a few seconds, the video file should be in your downloads folder and you can save it to your library from there.
You can also try these third-party sites:
The steps for downloading are similar to that of SnapTik. Simply copy and paste the link, and hit the download option.
Now You Know How to Download TikTok Videos Outside the App
Have you ever come across a recipe on TikTok that you want to try but later found out that you can't download the video? Now, you can wave goodbye to that feeling of disappointment.
Thanks to the steps in this guide, you can download TikTok videos without the need for the in-app download feature.
Try it out, and remember to stay mindful of the creator's wishes when sharing their content.
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