You found a video on Twitter (X) and want it on your iPhone: in Photos, ready to watch offline, or ready to send. The X app doesn't make that easy. This guide shows the quickest free way to do it with nothing but Safari: no app to install, no account, no shortcut to set up, and no ads to sit through before you download.
Open the Twitter Video Downloader →
What you need
- An iPhone or iPad with Safari (any recent iOS version)
- The X app, or x.com open in a browser
- A public post that contains a video or GIF
That's all. You don't sign in to anything, and we never ask for your X login.
Step 1: Copy the post link in the X app
- Open the post that plays the video. Open the post itself, not the profile it came from.
- Tap the Share icon under the post.
- Tap Copy link.
The link looks like x.com/name/status/1234567890…. The /status/ part matters: it tells the tool which post you mean. twitter.com, mobile.twitter.com and t.co links work too.
Step 2: Paste the link into the downloader in Safari
- Open Safari and go to freexvideodownloader.com.
- Tap the Paste button next to the box. iOS may ask "Allow Paste?"; tap Allow Paste.
- If the button can't read your clipboard, long-press inside the box and choose Paste instead.
As soon as a valid post link is in the box, the tool fetches the post on its own, usually in about a second. You'll see a preview with the author's name, the post text and the video qualities that are available.
Step 3: Pick a quality
The quality buttons (chips) list every version X has for that video, usually from 360p up to 720p or 1080p, and on some posts higher. The best quality is already selected for you. Each chip shows a bitrate, a rough guide to file size.
- On Wi-Fi: keep the top quality.
- On mobile data or low storage: tap a smaller chip. The download button changes to match, for example "Download 720p MP4".
If the post has more than one video, each one gets its own row ("Video 1", "Video 2"…), and you download them one at a time.
Step 4: Tap Download
Tap Download [quality] MP4. A progress bar shows how far the download has gone, and the button shows ✓ Saved when it finishes. If Safari asks whether you want to download the file, tap Download.
The file gets a clear name like twitter-name-1234567890-720p.mp4, so you can find it later.
Step 5: Move the video into Photos (camera roll)
Safari puts downloads in the Files app, not in Photos. To get the video into your camera roll:
- Tap the downloads arrow in Safari's address bar, or open the Files app and go to Downloads.
- Tap the video to open it.
- Tap the Share icon and choose Save Video.
It's now in Photos, next to everything you've filmed yourself. You can delete the copy in Files afterwards to free up space.
Saving GIFs on iPhone
Twitter (X) stores GIFs as short, silent MP4 loops, so a "GIF" downloads as an MP4 too, and you save it to Photos the same way. It plays as a short video. If you need an actual .gif file, for a chat app that only takes GIFs for example, see our Twitter to MP4 guide, which explains the difference.
If it doesn't work
The tool tells you what went wrong. Here's what each message means:
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "That post only has text or photos" | The link points to a post without a video | Open the post that actually plays the video, often a reply or a quote |
| "Deleted, private, or age-restricted posts can't be fetched" | The post isn't public, or it's gone | Only public posts work. There's no way around this, and that's on purpose |
| "Open the post itself (not the profile)" | You copied a profile link | Use Share → Copy link on the post |
| "This tool works with twitter.com and x.com post links only" | The link is from another site | Copy the X post link |
| "X is slow right now" | X's servers didn't answer in time | Wait a few seconds and tap Download again |
| "Take a short breather" | Too many requests in a short time | Try again in about a minute |
I can't find the downloaded video. Check Files → Downloads first. If Safari's download location was changed in Settings → Safari → Downloads, it will be in that folder (iCloud Drive or On My iPhone).
It switched to a direct download. For very large files, or if the progress method fails, the tool hands the file to Safari's own downloader. That's normal. The file still lands in Downloads.
Do I need an app or an iOS Shortcut?
No. Shortcuts and downloader apps can work, but they need setup, updates and often permissions, and some App Store "downloaders" are full of ads. A web page in Safari needs nothing installed, and it's the same on iPad. We don't offer a Shortcut, so be careful with any Shortcut that claims to be ours.
Respect creators' rights
Downloading a video doesn't give you the right to reuse it. Save videos for personal viewing, or use clips you have permission to use. If you share or repost someone's work, credit the creator, and when in doubt ask them first. We don't host or store any video: each file comes straight from X's public media servers when you ask for it. Rights holders can see our DMCA page.
FAQ
Do I have to watch an ad or wait?
No. There's no ad to watch, no countdown and no pop-up before you download. Paste the link and your download links are ready in about a second.
Is it free on iPhone?
Yes. No subscription, no sign-up and no in-app purchases, because there's no app.
Does it work in Chrome or other browsers on iPhone?
It's built and tested for Safari, which handles iPhone downloads most reliably. Other browsers can work, but they keep downloads in their own downloads list. Open the file from there, then use Share → Save Video.
Why does the video save to Files and not Photos?
That's how Safari handles all downloads on iOS. Moving it to Photos takes one extra step: Share → Save Video (Step 5).
Can I download videos from private accounts?
No. Only public posts work.
What quality will I get?
The qualities the post offers, usually up to 720p or 1080p. We don't upscale or re-encode, so you get X's own file.
Is there a watermark?
No. We don't add anything to the file.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. The steps are the same.
More guides
- Twitter Video Downloader (home): paste a link and download
- Twitter to MP4: what you get and why
- How to clip or trim a Twitter video