You cannot download a private Facebook video with an online tool. Videos posted to private groups, friends-only posts, or custom audiences are only served to logged-in viewers that Facebook has approved, so no website, including Fistty, can fetch them. What does work: ask the poster to send the file, have the poster download their own video using Facebook’s built-in Download option, or screen record with permission. If the video is public, Fistty’s Facebook downloader saves it in seconds.
This guide explains why private videos are off limits, how to tell if a video is actually private, the honest routes that work, and how to download the public version when there is one.
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How to download a public Facebook video on Fistty
Many videos that look private are not. A video shared in a public group, on a page, or by a profile whose posts are set to Public can be downloaded by anyone. Here is how to check and download it.
- Check the audience icon. Under the poster’s name, next to the time stamp, Facebook shows a small icon. A globe means Public. Two people means Friends. A padlock or a group name with a lock means a private group. Only the globe (and public groups) will work with any downloader.
- Copy the video link. Tap the three dots at the top right of the post and tap Copy link. You can also tap Share and then Copy link. For a video in a public group, open the post itself first so the link points to that single post.
- Open Fistty’s Facebook downloader. In any browser, go to fistty.com/download-facebook-videos. No app, no login, and Fistty never asks for your Facebook password.
- Paste the link and tap Download. Tap inside the box, paste, and tap Download. Fistty shows a preview with quality options.
- Pick HD or SD. HD gives the best quality Facebook stored. SD is a smaller file that saves data.
- Find the file. On Android it lands in the Downloads folder and shows in Gallery. On iPhone, Safari saves it in the Files app under Downloads; tap the share icon and Save Video to move it to Photos.
If Fistty returns a “private or unavailable” message after these steps, the video is not public. Move on to the honest routes below.
Why no tool can download private Facebook videos
When you watch a private video in a group, Facebook checks that you are logged in and that you are a member before it serves the file. The video link is useless to anyone who does not pass that check. Fistty, and every other online downloader, visits Facebook the way a logged-out stranger does. Facebook simply refuses to show it the video.
Some sites claim to get around this. They ask you to log in to Facebook through their page, paste cookies from your browser, or install an extension that reads your session. Each of these hands your account access to a stranger. In 2026 this is one of the most common ways Facebook accounts get hijacked. If a downloader asks for your Facebook login, close the tab. Fistty will never ask for it, and our guide on spotting fake video downloader sites lists the other warning signs.
There is also a trust issue beyond security. A friends-only or private-group video was shared with a chosen audience. Pulling it out of that audience without permission is the kind of thing Facebook’s rules and basic respect both frown on. The routes below keep you on the right side of both.
Honest ways to get a private Facebook video
1. Ask the poster to send it
This is the fastest route and it works almost every time. Send a short message: “Love this video, can you send me the file?” Most people have the original on their phone and can send it on Messenger or WhatsApp in a few seconds. WhatsApp compresses video, so if quality matters, ask them to send it as a document (in WhatsApp, tap the paperclip and choose Document instead of Gallery) to keep the full quality.
2. The poster downloads their own copy from Facebook
Facebook lets people download videos they posted themselves. The poster opens their video, taps the three dots, and taps Download video (on desktop it is in the same menu, or under Settings, then Your information, then Download your information for a full export). The file lands in their Downloads folder, and they can share it with you from there. This is also the right route for someone who lost the original and wants their own video back.
3. Screen record with permission
If the poster is happy for you to keep the video but cannot send the file, screen recording is a fair fallback. On Android, pull down the quick settings panel and tap Screen record (on Samsung, Infinix, Tecno, and most others it is built in). On iPhone, add Screen Recording to Control Center in Settings, then swipe down and tap the record button. Play the video full screen with the volume up. The result is lower quality than the original and includes the Facebook interface at the start and end, so trim it in your gallery app afterwards. Only do this with the poster’s permission.
4. Ask for a public version
Many private videos exist in public form somewhere. A skit shared in a WhatsApp group might also be on the creator’s TikTok or Facebook page. A sermon shared in a church group is often on the church’s public page. Search the creator’s name on Facebook and check their public posts. If you find a public copy, download it with Fistty using the steps above.
What about private group videos?
Group videos cause the most confusion. Facebook groups come in two types, and only one of them works with downloaders.
| Group type | Who can see posts | Can Fistty download the video? |
|---|---|---|
| Public group | Anyone, even without joining | Yes. Copy the post link and paste it on Fistty. |
| Private group (visible) | Members only; the group can be found in search | No. Ask the poster for the file. |
| Private group (hidden) | Members only; the group cannot be found in search | No. Ask the poster for the file. |
You can tell the group type by opening the group and looking under its name. It says “Public group” or “Private group” right there. If you are a member of a private group, you may be tempted to think your membership lets a tool through. It does not. Your membership lives inside your logged-in session, and Fistty never sees your session.
The same logic applies to Facebook stories with a Friends audience and to videos sent inside Messenger. For stories, see our guide on downloading Facebook stories. For Messenger videos, press and hold the video in the chat and tap Save; that is a private message, and the save option is already built in.
How to download your own private Facebook videos
If the private video is yours, you have the easiest case of all. You do not need Fistty or any tool. Open your video in the Facebook app, tap the three dots, and tap Download video. Facebook saves the file at the quality it stored. If you want all your videos at once, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Download your information, choose Videos, and Facebook builds a zip file you can download to your phone or computer within a day or two.
If you later make a video public, the normal Fistty route also works for it. Set the audience to Public from the three dots on the post, copy the link, and paste it on Fistty.
Things to avoid
- Never enter your Facebook password on a downloader site. Fistty does not have a login field at all. A site that does is collecting accounts.
- Do not paste browser cookies into any website. Cookies are the same as your password for as long as you stay logged in.
- Skip “private video downloader” APKs. These apps ask for accessibility permissions that let them read everything on your screen. They cannot do anything a website cannot, except harvest your data.
- Do not reupload someone’s private video. Even if they send you the file, it was shared with you, not with the public. Reposting it without permission can breach Facebook’s rules and copyright. Fistty’s DMCA page explains how takedown requests work.
Related guides
- How to Download Facebook Stories
- How to Download Facebook Live Videos After the Stream Ends
- How to Download Private TikTok Videos (What Works and What Doesn’t)
- How to Download Private Instagram Videos (What’s Actually Possible)
- How to Spot a Fake Video Downloader Site (Red Flags Checklist)
Ready to try it? Fistty works in any browser on any phone or PC.
Frequently asked questions
Can you download a private Facebook video?
Not with an online tool. Private and friends-only videos are only served to approved, logged-in viewers, so no website can fetch them. Ask the poster to send the file or to download their own copy from Facebook.
How do I download a video from a private Facebook group?
You cannot do it with a downloader. Ask the person who posted it to share the file, or screen record it with their permission. Public groups work normally with Fistty.
How can I download my own private Facebook video?
Open the video in the Facebook app, tap the three dots, and tap Download video. For all your videos at once, use Download your information in Settings.
Are private Facebook video downloader sites safe?
Sites that ask for your Facebook login or browser cookies are not safe. They cannot fetch private videos without taking over your session, which puts your account at risk.
Can Fistty download friends-only Facebook videos?
No. Fistty only downloads videos that Facebook shows to the public. If the audience icon on the post is a globe, Fistty can download it.
Does Facebook let you download videos you posted?
Yes. The three-dots menu on your own video has a Download video option, and Settings has a Download your information tool for a full export.