Video Downloader Plus is a Facebook video downloader that works directly in your desktop browser. It monitors network traffic for the video streams Facebook loads when you play a video, then lets you save them to your device.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vidow.io/docs/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
How Video Downloader Plus detects Facebook videos
Facebook serves video content using two delivery methods: progressive MP4 downloads for shorter clips and HLS adaptive streaming for longer videos. Both are standard web formats, and Video Downloader Plus detects them the same way it detects video on any other site — by monitoring the network requests your browser makes while the page loads. When you play a Facebook video, your browser fetches either an MP4 file or an HLS manifest from Facebook’s servers. Video Downloader Plus intercepts those requests and surfaces the available streams in the extension popup. No Facebook-specific logic is needed. The detection is universal.How to download a Facebook video
Open Facebook on desktop
Go to facebook.com in Chrome. Video Downloader Plus is a desktop browser extension — it does not work in the Facebook mobile app or mobile browsers.
Navigate to the video
Find the video you want to download. Click on it to open the video player. For Facebook Watch videos, navigate directly to the watch page.
Play the video
Press play. Facebook does not load the video stream until playback begins, so Video Downloader Plus needs the video to be playing to intercept the stream request.
Click the Video Downloader Plus icon
Once the stream loads, the Video Downloader Plus icon in your browser toolbar will light up. Click it to see the available download options.
Available quality options
Quality depends on what the video uploader provided when they posted to Facebook.| Quality | Availability |
|---|---|
| 360p (SD) | Usually available |
| 480p (SD) | Usually available |
| 720p (HD) | Available if uploaded in HD |
| 1080p (Full HD) | Available if uploaded in Full HD |
Facebook may serve different quality options depending on your network speed and the original upload quality. Video Downloader Plus shows all streams it detects from the network.
Tips for downloading Facebook videos
- Use the desktop site — Video Downloader Plus requires the full facebook.com desktop site. The mobile version (m.facebook.com) loads video differently and may not be detected.
- Play before clicking the icon — The stream is only loaded after you press play. If the icon is not lit, start the video first.
- Private videos — Video Downloader Plus can detect private videos if you are logged in and have permission to view them. The extension reads what your browser loads, so if Facebook shows you the video, Video Downloader Plus can detect it.
- Embedded Facebook videos — Video Downloader Plus also works on external sites that embed the Facebook video player. Play the embedded video and then click the icon.
- Facebook Watch — Videos on Facebook Watch are detected the same way. Navigate to the Watch tab, play the video, then click the icon.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work with Facebook Reels?
Does it work with Facebook Reels?
Yes. Facebook Reels are served as MP4 files, which Video Downloader Plus detects through standard network monitoring. Open the Reel, let it play for a moment, then click the Video Downloader Plus icon.
Can I download private Facebook videos?
Can I download private Facebook videos?
Video Downloader Plus detects any video stream your browser loads. If you are logged in to Facebook and have permission to view a private video, Video Downloader Plus can detect and download it. If Facebook does not load the video for you (access denied), Video Downloader Plus cannot detect it either.
Why isn't the video being detected?
Why isn't the video being detected?
The most common reasons are: the video has not started playing yet, you are on the mobile version of the site (m.facebook.com), or the video is actually hosted on another platform (YouTube, Instagram) and embedded in a Facebook post. For cross-platform embeds, the detection depends on the source platform’s streaming format.
Does it work with Facebook Watch?
Does it work with Facebook Watch?
Yes. Facebook Watch uses the same video delivery infrastructure as regular Facebook videos. Navigate to the Watch page, play the video, and Video Downloader Plus will detect the stream.
Get Video Downloader Plus for Chrome
Install the Video Downloader Plus extension to start downloading Facebook videos directly from your browser.