Facebook Story Viewer

How to Download Facebook Stories (Photos and Videos)

Download any public Facebook story as a JPG or MP4 in a few taps, save your own stories from the app, and find the files on iPhone, Android or desktop.

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Facebook stories vanish after 24 hours, and the app gives you no download button for anyone else’s story. If a story is public, though, you can save it in a few seconds — as a JPG for photo stories or an MP4 for video stories — without logging in. This guide covers other people’s public stories, your own stories, and where the files end up on each device.

Download a public Facebook story with Facebook Story Viewer

This works for any profile or Page that has a story set to Public right now.

  1. Copy the profile link. Open the profile in the Facebook app or website and copy its link — for example facebook.com/natgeo. Just the username works too.
  2. Paste it into the viewer. Go to Facebook Story Viewer, paste the link and press View Stories.
  3. Download. Every live public story appears in a grid. Tap Download under a story, or open it full-screen and tap Download Story.

The file is saved in the quality it was posted in — HD when the uploader shared it in HD. Nothing is added to the file, and the story owner is not notified.

Save your own Facebook story

You can save stories you posted directly from Facebook:

  1. Open your story from the top of your Feed.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu in the corner of the story.
  3. Choose Save photo or Save video.

If your story has already expired, check your story archive. When the archive is turned on, Facebook keeps a private copy of every story you post, and you can download them from there. Menu labels move around between app versions, so if you can’t find an option, search Facebook’s settings for “archive”.

Where downloaded stories are saved

DeviceWhere to find the file
iPhone / iPad (Safari)Files app → Downloads. To move a video to Photos, open it, tap Share and choose Save Video.
Android (Chrome)The Downloads folder; photos and videos also appear in your Gallery or Google Photos.
Windows / MacYour browser’s default Downloads folder.

Troubleshooting downloads

  • “No active stories found”. The profile has no public story live right now. Stories expire after 24 hours, and friends-only stories can’t be accessed by any outside tool.
  • A download stops working after a while. Facebook’s story links are temporary. Search the profile again to get fresh links.
  • The video plays instead of downloading. Some mobile browsers open videos in a player. Use the Share button in the player to save it, or long-press the Download button and choose Download link.

Download responsibly

A public story is still someone’s content. Keep downloads for personal reference, and ask the creator before reposting anything. If you want to see who can view your own stories, read how Facebook’s story viewer list works.