Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the app now allows all users to pull up public Reels on their devices, TechCrunch reported. Prior to the introduction of this feature, Instagram only allowed saving Reels.
On his Instagram feed, Mosseri added that downloaded Reels will have an Instagram watermark with the account name – just like the one you see in Tik Tok.
However, each account will have the option to choose whether to unlock their Reels downloads from users or turn that option off.
You can turn the download option off through Settings > Privacy > Reels and Remix and tap on the “Allow people to download your Reels” toggle.
Importantly, when downloading a Reel featuring a licensed audio clip, the resultant video will lack audio. Sound is only retained in downloaded clips for Reels that incorporate original audio tracks.
The option to download Reels was initially introduced for U.S.-based users in June, and now it is being extended to users worldwide.
In 2021, Instagram ceased recommending clips with a TikTok watermark or any other watermark. By August 2022, YouTube had implemented a logo-based watermark on downloaded Shorts, the company’s short video product, as a deterrent against cross-platform sharing.
