Anyone can now download public Reels on Instagram.

Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, announced that the platform has globally rolled out a feature allowing users to download public Reels. Previously, users could only save Reels within the app for later viewing.

In a broadcast on Instagram, Mosseri explained that downloaded Reels will feature an Instagram watermark and the creator's account name, similar to the watermarks seen on TikTok videos.

To download a Reel, users can tap the share button and choose the download option. However, creators have the option to disable downloads for their Reels. This can be done by going to Settings > Privacy > Reels and Remix and toggling off the “Allow people to download your Reels” option.

It's important to note that if a Reel uses a licensed audio track, the downloaded version will be silent. Only Reels with original audio will retain their sound upon download.

This feature was first made available to users in the United States in June and has now been extended to Instagram users worldwide.

In 2021, Instagram implemented a policy to not recommend clips with watermarks from TikTok or other platforms. Similarly, in August 2022, YouTube started adding a watermark to downloaded Shorts, its own short video offering, in an effort to discourage cross-platform sharing.