One of the main reasons behind TikTok’s explosive popularity is that the platform actively encourages users to interact through video sharing and modifications. People can see what’s popular in their communities and adapt that content with a unique touch to create something others will like. And the algorithm will reward them with more engagement and even more personal popularity.
But if the original video creator doesn’t flag their video as downloadable, you won’t be able to save the video in the app. Luckily, that’s where dedicated TikTok video downloader tools come in. Read on to learn how and why you should use these websites.
What’s a TikTok Video Downloader and How to Use It
A TikTok video downloader allows you to copy a video from TikTok and download its contents on your local device. It allows you to bypass the “Video downloads” setting put up by the original creator.
You can quickly check whether you need to use a downloader by looking at your sharing options inside the app. If the sharing screen (the curly arrow) doesn’t have the “Save video” option in the bottom row, then you’ll need to use a third-party tool to obtain the video for personal use.
Fortunately, downloading the video is still a relatively simple matter. While it might differ between one tool and the next, here’s what you’ll generally need to do:
- Open the video you want to download on TikTok.
- Hit the “Share” button.
- Select “Copy link” from the second row of icons. You may need to scroll the row to the right to reach it.
- With the link copied on your device’s clipboard, open your web browser.
- Type in the TikTok video downloader tool (or find it in your bookmarks or search history), and hit “Enter” or “Confirm” to go to the page.
- Paste the link you copied into the box on the video downloader website. Some tools have a dedicated “Paste” button you can use.
- Hit “Download” and follow the steps provided on the website. You may need to confirm your choice a few times.
Bear in mind that mobile browsers typically don’t save downloaded videos into the stock Gallery app, so you may need to trace it to your File Manager (Files in iOS).
Benefits of Using a TikTok Video Downloader
Now that you know how to use a video downloader tool for TikTok, let’s dig deeper into “why” you should be using it.
Offline Watching and Ease of Use
Your TikTok feed is likely getting filled with videos faster than you can rewatch them. While you can favorite some videos, the creator can always remove it from their profile and it might be lost forever. And even if you do have plenty of favorites, TikTok doesn’t allow you to rewatch them unless you go back onto the app.
But maybe you’re trying to (or have to) tone down how much time you spend on the app and want just the best of your watching history. And it’s so easy to flip back to the algorithm-fueled section while on the app.
With a TikTok video downloader, the videos are available right on your device, forever. It also allows you to carefully categorize the videos you downloaded. Whether you’re sorting through hot trends, inspirational quotes, or educational content, each video can go in a neat category for later use.
Cross-Posting Opportunities
While TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms, it’s not the only one. Instagram and even YouTube have similar short video formats, and some people have started reusing content between these platforms to get a larger overall following.
If you’re used to TikTok’s video editing options – or CapCut – you can download the video after you’ve posted it and then cross-post it to other platforms. Many web-based tools will automatically strip the TikTok watermark, making the transition between various social media channels seamless, super handy if you’re a content creator who cross-posts to other platforms. You can also look into boosting your follower count to get more engagement on your videos.
Easier Editing
Some creators build their brands around reusing other people’s content. In the most direct way, stripping videos from other artists and reusing them as-is is technically theft and against the law. But transforming the content by adding your own spin or using parts of it for entertainment purposes, commentary, or parodying falls under the fair use doctrine in international copyright (although you should check your local laws).
This has spawned a few trends, particularly reaction videos and TikTok duets. These can be excellent entry points towards getting more followers.
Since you need high-quality videos to use for your content base, make sure to check exactly what type of screen quality you’re getting from your TikTok video downloader tool. Some free tools heavily limit the output’s resolution or disable the original sounds, which can make it unusable.
Inspiration
How often are you actually preparing to make food when the perfect recipe pops up on TikTok? If the answer is “almost never,” then you should consider downloading the video for later use. This type of educational or inspirational content is relatively easy to forget about immediately after you stop scrolling through the feed and go back to work or doing your chores.
But with the downloaded TikTok videos on your side, you can go back to your phone’s gallery and rewatch them before you’re ready to cook, study, or enter the right mindset for whatever activity you’re planning. Plus, you won’t have to open the app, where the allure of fresh videos might steal your focus.
Get the Most From Your PC
All the best editing software is made for PC use, but it can be a pain to transfer your TikTok videos from the app to local storage. Typically, you have to save the video to your TikTok gallery and then email it or use another file transfer method.
But video downloaders make this process streamlined. Simply go to the browser version of TikTok on your PC (yes, it exists), copy the links you need, and plug them into the tool. The downloader will take care of the rest and deposit the videos in your Downloads folder.
Limitless Downloads
TikTok video downloader tools don’t usually require you to make a new user account or share payment information before you can start downloading. This makes the platforms generally approachable and snappy. Plus, your personal information won’t get shared with a potentially unknown party, keeping your data safer.
You should still take a bit of time to research the best websites you can use. Some tools might have a daily limit on how many videos you can download, while others may not be able to process longer videos. It can be a process of trial and error, or of reading the right reviews online.
