Use StoriesIG or StoriesDown on desktop for the cleanest workflow, or Imginn if you want a viewer-plus-downloader combo. Paste the video URL, click download, get an MP4. No login required. Works for both old IGTV posts and current long-form video on Instagram.
If you're searching for "how to download IGTV," you probably already know that IGTV stopped existing as a discrete product in late 2022. Instagram folded it into the main video feed and rebranded the longer-form content as Reels (up to 90 seconds) or just "videos" (up to 60 minutes for eligible accounts). Old IGTV posts didn't disappear - they live at their original URLs and play exactly like they always did. New long-form uploads use the same delivery pipeline.
So the question "how do I download an IGTV video" is really "how do I download a long Instagram video." Three free tools handle this reliably in May 2026. We've used all three for the past year. Here's how.
IGTV vs. Reels vs. long-form video: what's the difference?
Quick orientation in case you're new to the post-IGTV era:
- Reels are vertical, up to 90 seconds, optimized for full-screen feed scroll. They're what TikTok-style content looks like on Instagram.
- Long-form videos can be vertical or horizontal, up to 60 minutes for eligible creators. They live in the main feed and the dedicated video tab of a profile.
- Old IGTV posts are technically just long-form videos with a legacy URL prefix. They behave identically to new uploads in 2026.
From a download perspective, all three formats use the same Instagram CDN backend, which means the same three tools work for all of them. The differences come down to convenience and quality options.
The 3 working tools in May 2026
We tested 8 IGTV/long-form downloaders this month. Three came out clean. Here's how they stack up.
| Tool | Best for | Quality options | Max length | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StoriesIG | Most reliable | 1080p / 720p | 60 min | 9.3 |
| StoriesDown | Older IGTV | Source only | 60 min | 9.0 |
| Imginn | Watch + save | 1080p / 720p / 480p | 60 min | 8.5 |
Tutorial 1: StoriesIG (best overall for IGTV)
Get the video URL
In Instagram, tap the share icon on the video and choose "Copy Link". This works for both old IGTV posts and new long-form videos.
Open StoriesIG and paste the URL
The tool detects the video type and prepares the download. For long videos this can take 5-15 seconds.
Choose quality
For HD, pick 1080p. For mobile-friendly file sizes, 720p is roughly half the size with minor quality loss.
Download MP4
File saves to your Downloads folder. Watch with any video player; QuickTime, VLC, mpv all handle the format.
Tutorial 2: StoriesDown (best for older IGTV)
StoriesDown reliably finds older IGTV posts that other tools sometimes 404 on. If you're archiving content from 2018-2020 when IGTV was at its peak, this is the tool to use.
Go to StoriesDown
No signup. The homepage has a single URL input.
Paste the IGTV or video URL
Legacy /tv/ URLs work, as do current /reel/ and /p/ URLs for long-form videos.
Click "Download"
Source quality MP4 every time, no quality picker. Filename includes a timestamp.
For most IGTV/long-form downloads, StoriesIG wins. It's faster, gives you quality options, and the UI is genuinely usable. We use it weekly with no issues.
Try StoriesIG freeTutorial 3: Imginn (best watch + save combo)
Imginn is also an anonymous viewer. Its strength is the "preview before download" workflow: it embeds the video player on the same page so you can watch in browser, then save if you want a copy. Useful when you're not sure whether a long video is worth archiving.
Open Imginn
Search the profile or paste a direct URL.
Watch in embedded player
Standard playback controls. You can scrub through to confirm content before deciding to download.
Tap "Download" below the player
Choose 1080p, 720p, or 480p. MP4 saves to your Downloads folder.
Mobile vs. desktop: which to use?
For IGTV-length videos, desktop wins by a comfortable margin. Reasons:
- Larger files transfer faster on wired internet. A 30-minute 1080p video is roughly 800MB.
- Better file management. You can organize into folders, rename, and verify playback before clearing storage.
- Fewer "save to camera roll" issues. iOS sometimes refuses to save long MP4s above ~1GB.
If you must download on mobile, use Imginn on iOS or StoriesIG on Android with a stable Wi-Fi connection. Plug your phone into power; long video downloads burn battery surprisingly fast.
Quality options explained
Instagram stores most long-form videos at three quality tiers internally:
- 1080p source. Roughly 4-6MB per minute. Use for archives, editing, or large screens.
- 720p mobile. Roughly 2-3MB per minute. Acceptable for phone viewing and sharing.
- 480p fallback. Roughly 1-2MB per minute. Only useful for very poor connections.
For permanent archives, always pick the highest. For sharing via messaging apps with size limits, 720p is usually the sweet spot.
Common issues and fixes
- "Video not found" on old IGTV URLs: Try StoriesDown specifically, which handles legacy URLs better.
- Download stalls mid-file: Long video downloads are sensitive to connection drops. Use a wired network and don't sleep your computer.
- MP4 plays but audio is out of sync: Re-encode with VLC's "Convert / Save" feature using H.264 and AAC stereo.
- File is huge (over 2GB): Some 60-minute uploads exceed expected sizes. Choose a lower quality tier or ensure enough disk space.
Frequently asked questions
Does IGTV still exist in 2026?
Not as a separate feature. Instagram retired the IGTV brand in late 2022 and merged long-form videos into Reels and the main video feed. Old IGTV posts are still accessible at their original URLs and can still be downloaded.
What is the maximum length of an Instagram video I can download?
Modern Instagram allows uploads up to 60 minutes for some accounts. All three tools we recommend handle long videos, though processing time increases roughly linearly with video length.
Can I choose the download quality?
StoriesIG and Imginn let you pick between source quality (1080p typically) and a smaller 720p version. StoriesDown always pulls the source file. Quality is identical to what Instagram serves to viewers.
Will the creator know I downloaded their long video?
No. Third-party tools fetch from public CDN URLs without registering a view. The video play counter only increments when watched inside the Instagram app.
Why does my IGTV download take so long?
Long videos can be 500MB to 2GB. The download time depends on your connection speed and the tool's server load. Use desktop with a wired connection for the fastest results.