Why Can’t I Download an Instagram Video? Common Problems and Solutions

Trouble Downloading Instagram Videos? Here's Why.

You know the drill. You find an Instagram video you want to download. You copy the video’s link. You go to a video downloader. You paste the link. You click the download button. But instead of the video being downloaded, nothing happens. Sometimes, the downloader even says that they can’t find the media.

The fact that you can’t download the media doesn’t always mean there’s something broken with the downloader. There are many reasons why Instagram links stop working. The post may no longer be public. The URL may be broken. The content may have been removed. Instagram may also deliver that media in a different way.

Here are the most common reasons you can’t download Instagram videos and Reels, and what you can do to check them.

Video Has Been Removed

Posts on Instagram don’t last forever. Sometimes, posts are removed by the user. Other times, posts are removed by Instagram for violating Instagram’s policies.

If you think you have found a reason why you can’t download the video, feel free to reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook, or contact us through our website.

There are a few reasons the link may no longer work. The video or Reel may no longer exist. The creator may have deleted it. Sometimes, Instagram will also remove the content. Once the original media is no longer available, an old URL may still exist in a message, note, or browser history. However, there may be nothing for a downloader to retrieve.

The easiest way to check if the link you copied still works is to open the link directly through Instagram or your browser. If you get an error, it is not because the link doesn't work, it is because the media is no longer available.

You Copied an Incomplete Link

Another common problem is that you may have just copied an incomplete link.

Rather than selecting parts of the address yourself, you can use the Copy Link feature that Instagram provides. Open the video or Reel and tap the Share button and then Copy Link.

Then, just like before, paste the copied URL into VidTaro and leave it as is.

If you are using Instagram through your computer’s browser, you can always copy the address for the individual post from the Browser’s Address Bar.

The Content Is Restricted

Just because a post is public, it doesn't mean there aren't restrictions on its availability.

There are several types of restrictions that could explain the unavailability of certain content. Restrictions could be due to the content itself, account settings, or Instagram's terms of service.

Third-party downloaders cannot remove all restrictions imposed by source platforms.

If an Instagram page itself has limited availability, this restriction is also applied to VidTaro.

 Instagram Has Modified Something

Web platforms are constantly evolving.

Instagram can change its website or other variables. Instagram can also adjust how it delivers media.

These evolving and changing platforms can also affect tools that process Instagram links.

Sometimes links that previously worked stop functioning, even if the content is still publicly available.

When a number of publicly available links stops functioning all of a sudden, it can be a sign that Instagram has made a change to its service. This is also referred to as a service interruption.

Internet Connection Is Unstable

Not every issue with downloads is because of Instagram.

If your connection drops while the URL is being processed, the result may take longer to load or may not load at all. This is more noticeable with larger video files, or with a mobile connection that is unstable.

To check whether your connection is working normally, open any website of your choice. If your connection is working, reload the page with Instagram link and process it again.

Browser May Be the Issue

Different browsers handle downloads in different ways.

Browser’s own privacy settings, pop-up restrictions, extension, cached data or settings may sometimes block a website from functioning properly.

Always try refreshing VidTaro. If the issue persists, you may try processing the same public URL in a different browser.

Also check if your browser is blocking downloads.

The Reel or Video Is Still Being Processed

People tend to press the download button repetitively to get the result immediately.

Video processing takes time depending on the content and server conditions, and your connection. Also, the tool cannot process the same URL repeatedly.

Repeatedly refreshing the page may sometimes make troubleshooting difficult.

The Link is Not A Supported Instagram Content URL

There are many types of URLs in Instagram.

URLs that direct to a post, or reels, are the content URLs that are supported. Others may lead to a user’s profile, Explore page, login page, search results or other pages of Instagram.

An Instagram video downloader needs a supported content link.

 The downloader is not going to work with a general Instagram page.

 If you need to get the content link of a post that is not a video, you are going to have to find the direct share of the post. You need to share the post and then get the link from the share.

The Content Is Available, but a Particular Quality Isn't

Another situation is when the video appears correctly, but the quality you expected isn't available.

Video downloaders work by accessing the same media as the original post. A downloader can not create HD detail that isn't available in the media.

If only a lower quality version of a post is available, a downloader can not create a higher quality version of a post.

This is the reason different download options are available for a single Instagram video post.

What should I do when an Instagram link does not work?

Before assuming that there is a technical issue, I suggest you check a couple of things.

 Go to the original Instagram post. Make sure the post is not removed. Check the permissions of the post. Refresh your browser. Check your internet connection.

 If a lot of public Instagram links work but a single link does not, it is likely to be an issue with the single post.

Why can't VidTaro access your private video?

We can only access publicly posted videos. VidTaro cannot access your private Instagram videos.

Do I have to remove parts of an Instagram URL before using it?

Not normally. Typically, you can use the copy link feature on the Instagram post and give us the full URL.

Why can’t VidTaro process all Instagram Reels?

Each Reel can have different levels of accessibility and restrictions. Just because one Reel is public and accessible doesn’t mean all Reels are processable.

Can VidTaro access deleted Instagram videos?

No, once the media is deleted from the source we cannot access it.

Why can’t VidTaro access your video in HD?

We can only access the video in the quality it is provided. If there is no high definition detail in the source, we cannot create it.

Can browser settings stop a download?

Yes. Settings like download permissions, extensions, and browser configurations can sometimes interrupt downloads.

 Do I need my Instagram password to fix a download?

No. The public-link process that VidTaro uses doesn't require your Instagram username or password.

 Final Thoughts

When you can't download an Instagram video, the first thing you should check is the original link. Check if the post still exists and if it is publicly available, then copy the most up-to-date URL from Instagram.

Most of the time when a download doesn't work, it's because of a private Instagram account, removed content, the wrong URL, restrictions, or changes on Instagram.

VidTaro simplifies the process for supported public content by letting you paste the link to the downloader, processing it and showing you available downloads. If you can't access a particular link, do not try to figure out a way to get around the restrictions.