How to Download Videos From an Instagram Profile as MP4
Stumbled on an Instagram profile full of Reels worth keeping — workouts, recipes, travel clips? You can save them as MP4 with xi, free and without logging in. One link at a time, a few seconds each: here is the full workflow.
How profile downloading works
Instagram profiles do not offer a download-all button, and neither does any honest web tool — profiles are collections of individual posts, and each Reel or video has its own link. Downloading from a profile therefore means collecting the links of the posts you want and downloading them one at a time. It is manual, but each round takes seconds, and you get to skip the posts you do not care about instead of bulk-grabbing everything.
The biggest legitimate use case is backing up your own content. Creators lose accounts, get hacked, or simply want local copies of Reels they poured hours into — downloading your own posts as MP4 is the simplest insurance policy. Saving other people's public Reels for offline viewing is the other common case; just remember the content still belongs to its creator.
Download in 4 steps
- Open the profile and pick a Reel. Browse the profile's Reels tab and open the video you want. Tap the Share icon (paper plane) and choose Copy link. On desktop, copy the post URL from the address bar.
- Paste the link into xi. Go to apiproai.com in any browser — no Instagram login required, on your side or otherwise — and paste the link into the download box.
- Hit Download. xi resolves the Reel in seconds and shows the caption with a single download button. Carousel posts with video clips work the same way.
- Save the MP4. One tap stores the clean MP4 on your phone or computer. Repeat for the next Reel — there is no limit, so work through the profile at your own pace.
Backing up your own Instagram content
If you are a creator, treat downloads as part of your backup routine. Instagram has deleted accounts by mistake, phones get lost, and original project files get buried. Once a month, spend twenty minutes downloading your best-performing Reels as MP4 and storing them in a cloud folder. The files you get are the platform's published encodes — perfect for reposting, compiling showreels, or just peace of mind.
This is also the cleanest copyright situation possible: it is your content, your face, your work. No permission needed, no gray areas. Many creators also download their Reels to repurpose them on TikTok or YouTube Shorts — which is entirely your call since you own the footage.
Etiquette for saving other creators' Reels
Saving someone's public Reel to watch offline on a flight is normal and harmless. Where it gets dicey is republication: reposting their Reel to your own profile, even with credit, without permission. Credit is polite, but it is not permission — the creator can still ask you to take it down, and Instagram will side with them.
A good rule of thumb: download freely for personal viewing, ask before reposting, and never download to harass, mock, or misrepresent someone. And if a creator has clearly asked followers not to download their content, respect that — the link working does not make it welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Can xi download from private Instagram profiles?
No. Only public posts and Reels can be fetched. Private account content is protected by Instagram and cannot be downloaded by any web tool.
Do I need an Instagram account to use xi?
No. xi never asks for your Instagram login. You only need the link to the public post, which you can copy without being logged in.
Can I download all Reels from a profile at once?
No — xi processes one link at a time. Open each Reel, copy its link, and download them one by one. There is no daily limit.
What quality will the Reels be?
The original quality Instagram serves, typically HD. xi does not re-compress, so the MP4 matches what you see in the app.
Can I download Instagram Stories and photos too?
Stories from public accounts and photo posts are supported as well — paste the link the same way. Disappearing story content must still be live to be fetched.
Is it okay to repost someone's Reel after downloading?
Not without permission. Downloading for personal offline viewing is one thing; republishing someone else's work as your own post is another. Ask the creator first.