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How to download a Twitter (X) video, GIF or photo
Posts on X can hold videos, animated GIFs and photos, and each one is stored in its own way. That is why a good downloader has separate options for them. This guide explains how to copy the right post link, which tab to use for videos, GIFs and photos, what quality you can expect, and where the files go on phone and computer. It also covers why a protected account cannot be saved, why GIFs arrive as short looping MP4 files, and how to avoid the common mistakes that cause an error. It is free and needs no login.
Last updated: October 29, 2026
Which posts you can save
Any public post with a video, a GIF or pictures can be saved. Posts from protected accounts, and posts you can only see when you are logged in, are not available to a public tool. Deleted posts are gone, and posts that were removed for breaking rules cannot be fetched either.
The easiest check is to open the post in a private browser window. If you can see the media without a login, we can usually fetch it.
Step 1: copy the post link
On a phone, tap the share icon under the post and choose Copy link. On a computer, open the post on its own page and copy the address from the browser bar. A correct link contains /status/ followed by a long number, for example x.com/name/status/123456. Both x.com and twitter.com links work.
Avoid copying the link of a profile or a search page. Those do not point to one post.
Step 2: choose the right tab
The Twitter (X) section has three tabs. Video saves the best quality MP4 from a post. GIF saves animated GIFs. Photo saves every picture in the post at the largest size available. If you choose a tab that does not match the post, the page tells you and suggests the right one, so you do not need to guess.
A post can contain several pictures, and each gets its own preview and button.
Why GIFs come as MP4
When you upload a GIF to X, the platform converts it to a short looping MP4 video, which is smaller and plays more smoothly. The file we save from the GIF tab is that MP4. It loops in most players and works in messaging apps and editing tools, and it is much smaller than an old style GIF file of the same clip.
If you need a real GIF file for a specific app, you can convert the MP4 with any free converter after saving.
Step 3: save the file
Press Download. Videos are saved as MP4, pictures as JPG. On iPhone, open the Downloads list in Safari and use Share, then Save Video or Save Image to add the file to Photos. On Android the file goes to Downloads and appears in Gallery. On a computer it goes to your Downloads folder.
Videos on X are often 720p or 1080p. We choose the highest quality version the post offers.
Quality and file size
X stores several versions of each video at different bitrates. We pick the best one, so you get the sharpest copy that exists. A minute of 720p video is around 5 to 10 MB, while a minute of 1080p can be double that. Pictures are saved at the largest size X makes public.
If a video looks poor, the original upload was poor. A tool cannot repair that, and screen recording would only make it worse.
Copyright, credit and good manners
Media in posts belongs to whoever created it. Saving a video to watch later is normal. Reposting it as your own or using it in adverts is not. Credit the creator when you share, and ask for permission when the clip matters to your work. Do not save or share content that shows private individuals without their consent.
Troubleshooting
If you see an error, check these things. The link must contain /status/ and a number. The account must not be protected. The post must still exist, and it must really contain the media you chose, so try another tab if you are unsure. X also limits automated requests for short periods, so wait a minute and try again.
If a download button does nothing, reload the page and allow downloads in your browser. If it keeps failing, send us the link and your device details through the contact page.
Quick answers
Can I save a video from a protected account? No. Protected accounts show posts only to approved followers.
Why does the GIF tab say there is no GIF? The post contains a normal video or a picture, not a GIF. Try the Video or Photo tab.
Does it work with x.com and twitter.com links? Yes. Both domains work, and so do mobile links.
Can I save several pictures at once? A post with several pictures shows one button for each, and you can save them one after another.
Tips for getting the best result
Open the post on its own page before copying its link. A link taken from a busy timeline can still work, but a single post address is the cleanest.
When a post quotes or replies to another post, the media may belong to the original post. If the page says there is no media, open the original post and copy that link instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
The first mistake is copying a link to a profile, a list or a search page. Only the link of a single post works, and it contains /status/ and a number. The second is using the Video tab for a GIF or a picture, which leads to a message saying nothing was found. Pick the tab that matches the post. The third is expecting to save media from a protected account. Those posts are limited to approved followers, so they are out of reach. The fourth is forgetting that a reply or a quote post may hold the media in the original post, not in the one you copied. Open the original and copy that link.