How to Download TikTok Videos on Android and iOS

Have you seen a TikTok video you’d like to get your hands on but you’re not sure how?

In this blog post, we’ll share steps on how to download any TikTok video. 

TikTok makes it easy to download videos. In fact, unlike other social media platforms, TikTok has built-in a feature that allows you to access videos that creators have made available in a few short steps. What’s more, you don’t need to have a TikTok account to download videos. All you need do is download and install the app and follow the instructions below.

A word of caution:

While we’re sharing how to download any video, it’s important that you understand that online content can be protected by copyright law. This means that unless content (including videos downloaded from TikTok) are expressly licensed under Creative Commons licenses, they are subject to copyright.


How to Download Any TikTok Video on Android and iOS:


How to Download TikTok Videos

TikTok videos fall into two categories:

  1. Videos that are freely available for download. These are public videos.
  2. Videos that are protected by creators. Private or protected videos are not downloadable through TikTok. Instead, we’ll show you how to download them using a third party tool.

How to Download Freely Available TikTok Videos

There are two ways to download TikTok videos that are freely available. Both methods apply to Android and iOS devices. The first method is as follows:


Step 1

First, search for your video of choice. 

Search TikTok Videos


Step 2

Next, access the video by tapping on it.

access the video


Step 3

When the video starts playing, tap and hold down your finger. TikTok will present you with three options. 

select action on tiktok

Source: tiktok.com


Step 4

Tap the Save Video option. 

Depending on your phone and operating system, you’ll then be given the option of selecting where to save the video. 

TikTok Save Video option

Source: tiktok.com


Step 5

Most phones should, however, give you the option of saving the video to your device or sending it via email. Emailing the video to yourself can be used as a workaround if you’re not able to save the video to your phone immediately.

The second method involves using the Share icon. 

Once you’ve found your video, tap the Share icon.

TikTok Share icon

Source: tiktok.com


Step 6

Your phone will produce a pop-up with a set of options. Tap the Save Video button and your video will download to either your Downloads or Video folder, depending on your phone and operating system settings.

TikTok Save Video button

Source: tiktok.com

How to Download Protected Videos

Protected videos are not downloadable through the TikTok app. This is due to video creators opting to disable that feature for a specific video. 

While a protected video appears to not be downloadable, there is a way to still access and save it to your phone. 

1. Downloading Protected Videos on Android

If you have an Android smartphone, visit the Google Play Store and search for “Video Downloaded for TikTok.”

You’ll be presented with many options.

tiktok video downloader

Select the app you feel most comfortable downloading and installing on your phone. In our example, we’re using the “Downloader for TikTok”.

tiktok video downloader android

Next, search for your video of choice and click on the Share icon. 

When presented with options of how to share the video, scroll from right to left until you find the Copy Link button and tap it to copy the link.

TikTok copy link button

Next, paste the link in the TikTok Downloader and tap the Download button.

TikTok Downloading video

The app will then download the video and save it to your phone.


2. Downloading Protected Videos on iOS

To download a TikTok video that’s protected, begin by downloading Total Files. 

Total Files IOS

Download Total files

Total files is a cloud file manager that will allow us the functionality we need to save the video file.

Next, locate your video of choice. 

Once you’ve found your video, tap the Share Icon, then find and tap the Copy Link button.

With the copied link ready, open your browser, open Total files, click on the Globe icon, paste the copied link into the URL bar and visit it. 

Next, play the video. The video will play in full-screen mode.

Video Total files

While the video plays, tap the screen. You’ll then see the option to download the video. Click the checkmark to download the video. 

Video download Total Files

Finally, tap on the File icon. Your downloaded video will appear in the Local section.

TikTok Video Local section

There you have it!

You now know how to download any TikTok video.

About the Author
Nadica Naceva, Head of Content at Influencer Marketing Hub, is a seasoned writer and reviewer with in-depth expertise in digital and content marketing. Leveraging her extensive experience in guiding content creation and strategic direction, Nadica brings a critical eye and analytical approach to reviewing articles and educational pieces. Her commitment to accuracy, integrity, and innovation with each review helps IMH grow as a leading source in influencer marketing. Her insights are backed by first-party data, ensuring content meets the highest standards of relevance.