If your Twitter video is not downloading, the cause is almost always one of seven things: a link that points to the wrong place, a protected account, a post with no real video, a browser that opened the file instead of saving it, a blocked download permission, a weak connection, or a cached page. Work through the fixes below in order. Most people are done at fix 1 or 2.
Download it now with Fistty. Paste the link, tap Download. No app, no login, free.
How to download an X (Twitter) video the right way first
Before troubleshooting, run the normal flow once more. Many “not downloading” problems disappear when the link is copied from the right place.
- Copy the post link. In the X app, open the post that contains the video. Tap the Share icon (the box with an arrow) under the post and tap Copy link. The link should look like x.com/username/status/123456789.
- Open Fistty. Go to fistty.com/. X does not have its own page yet, so paste the link in the box on the home page.
- Paste and tap Download. Long-press the box, choose Paste, then tap Download. Wait for the preview and the quality rows to load.
- Pick a quality. Tap 720p or 1080p for the best copy, or 360p to save data.
- Save it. On iPhone, Safari asks “Do you want to download?” and puts the MP4 in Files → Downloads. On Android, Chrome saves to Downloads and the clip shows in Gallery.
If that still fails, the fixes below cover each stage where it can break.
Fix 1: Check that the link is a post link, not a profile or search link
Fistty needs a link that points to one specific post. Links copied from a profile page, a search result, a Community page or a list will not contain a video. Look at the URL. It must contain /status/ followed by a number. If it ends with the username only, or contains “/search?”, go back, open the actual post and copy the link again.
Also check for extra text. When you copy from a share sheet, some apps add the post text before the link. Paste into Fistty and delete everything except the URL. Both x.com and twitter.com links work.
Fix 2: The account is protected (private)
A protected account shows a lock icon next to the name. Its posts are only visible to approved followers while they are signed in. No online downloader can fetch those videos, including Fistty, because the file is not public. You will usually see a “video not found” or “could not fetch” message. The only option is to ask the owner for the file. For more on this error, see “Video Not Found” or “Invalid Link” error explained.
Fix 3: The post does not actually contain a video
Several things on X look like videos but are not.
- A quote post. The video belongs to the quoted post underneath. Tap into that post and copy its link instead.
- A link card. If the post links to YouTube, TikTok or a news site, the video lives there. Copy the external link and paste it into the matching Fistty page: YouTube downloader, TikTok downloader, Facebook downloader or Instagram downloader.
- A GIF. X stores GIFs as short MP4 files. These download fine, but you get one small size with no quality choice. Read how to download GIFs from X for details.
- A Space or live broadcast. Audio Spaces and live videos are streams, not files, and cannot be downloaded while live.
- An age-restricted or sensitive post. X hides some media behind a warning. Fistty can usually still fetch it, but if the account requires sign-in to view, it may fail.
Fix 4: The browser plays the video instead of saving it
This is the most common “it worked but nothing saved” problem. You tap the quality row, the video opens in a new tab and plays, and nothing lands in Downloads.
On iPhone (Safari)
Go back to the Fistty page. Long-press the quality row and choose Download Linked File. Safari shows a blue download arrow in the address bar. Tap it to see progress, then tap the file to open it in Files. If you want it in Photos, long-press the file in Files, tap Share and choose Save Video. Safari’s save location is controlled in Settings → Apps → Safari → Downloads, where you can pick iCloud Drive or On My iPhone.
On Android (Chrome)
Long-press the quality row and choose Download link. Chrome shows a download bubble at the bottom. If the video is already playing in a tab, tap the three-dot menu in the video player and choose Download. The file goes to the Downloads folder and appears in Gallery.
More device-specific steps are in the iPhone guide and the Android guide.
Fix 5: Downloads are blocked by a permission or setting
Browsers can silently block a download if a permission was denied earlier.
| Browser | Where to check | What to set |
|---|---|---|
| Safari (iPhone) | Settings → Apps → Safari → Downloads | Choose On My iPhone or iCloud Drive. Also make sure “Block Pop-ups” is not stopping the download tab. |
| Chrome (Android) | Phone Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions | Allow Files and media (or Storage). Then in Chrome, Settings → Downloads → turn off “Ask where to save files” if it keeps interrupting. |
| Chrome (Android), site settings | Chrome → Settings → Site settings → Automatic downloads | Allow, or check fistty.com/ is not in the blocked list. |
| Samsung Internet | Settings → Sites and downloads | Allow downloads and pick Internal storage as the location. |
| Opera Mini | Settings → Downloads | Turn off “Ask before downloading” and pick a save folder. |
If you tapped “Block” on a permission pop-up in the past, that choice is remembered. Changing it in the table above and reloading Fistty normally fixes it immediately.
Fix 6: The download starts but stops at 0% or 99%
A stalled download points to the connection, not the site. Try these in order.
- Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi, or move to a spot with a stronger signal.
- Choose a smaller quality such as 480p or 720p. A 1080p file is two to three times larger and fails more often on a weak link.
- Turn off any VPN or data-saver proxy. These sometimes break long downloads.
- Make sure the phone has free storage. Android needs a few hundred MB free; iPhone refuses downloads when storage is nearly full.
- If it reaches 99% and hangs, wait 30 seconds. The browser is often still writing the file. Then check Files or Downloads before trying again.
There is a full guide at Download Stuck at 0% or 99%.
Fix 7: Clear the cache or try another browser
If none of the above helps, the browser may be holding an old copy of the page. In Safari, go to Settings → Apps → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. In Chrome, open Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data and tick Cached images and files. Then open Fistty again and paste the link fresh.
Still stuck? Try a different browser on the same phone. If Safari fails, Chrome for iPhone usually works, and the reverse is true on Android. Also check whether the post was deleted. X removes videos quickly after a takedown, and a link that worked yesterday can be gone today. Open it in the X app first. If the app says “This post is unavailable”, nothing can download it.
Quick checklist
- Link contains /status/ and a number
- Account is public, not protected
- Post holds a video, not a quote, link card or Space
- You used Download Linked File / Download link, not a plain tap
- Browser has storage permission and downloads allowed
- Stable connection and free storage
- Cache cleared or a second browser tried
Once it works, you can go back for a better copy with the HD download guide. Fistty is a website, so there is nothing to update or reinstall, and it never asks for your X password.
Related guides
- How to Download Twitter (X) Videos Online
- How to Download X (Twitter) Videos in HD (720p and 1080p)
- How to Download GIFs From Twitter (X)
- Video Downloader Not Working? Universal Troubleshooting Guide
- Where Do Downloaded Videos Go on My Phone? (iPhone and Android)
- TikTok Video Not Downloading? Fixes
Ready to try it? Fistty works in any browser on any phone or PC.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my Twitter video download?
The usual reasons are a link that is not a post link, a protected account, a post that only quotes or links to a video, or a browser that opened the file instead of saving it. Check the link first, then long-press the download option and choose Download Linked File or Download link.
Why does Fistty say the X video was not found?
Either the account is protected, the post was deleted, or the link does not point to a post. Open the post in the X app to confirm it still exists and is public, then copy the link again with Share → Copy link.
Can I download videos from a private X account?
No. Protected accounts only show posts to approved followers, so no online tool can fetch their videos. Ask the owner to send you the file.
Why does the Twitter video play in Safari instead of downloading?
Safari opens media links by default. Go back, long-press the quality row and choose Download Linked File. The blue arrow in the address bar shows the progress and the file lands in Files → Downloads.
Where did my downloaded X video go on Android?
Chrome saves it to the Downloads folder in internal storage. Open the Files app or Gallery to find it. If it does not appear in Gallery right away, give it a minute or restart the Gallery app.
Why does the X video download stop at 99 percent?
The browser is still writing the file or the connection dropped. Wait 30 seconds and check Downloads. If it is not there, retry on Wi-Fi with a smaller quality such as 720p.