Stories are only shown to logged-in viewers, so no web tool can fetch them reliably. Here is what does work, and the box below saves any reel a story shares.
We used to offer a story downloader on this page. When we tested it properly in September 2026 it could not fetch stories, and neither can most sites that claim to. Instagram only serves stories to logged-in viewers, and a web tool that does not sign in as you has nothing to read. So rather than a box that fails, this page explains what actually works.
There is one case where a downloader helps. A lot of stories are reshares of a reel or a post, and those are public. Tap the preview in the story to open the original, copy its link, and paste it into the box above. It saves as MP4 with sound, the same as the Instagram Reels downloader.
Saving a reel that a story shares
1
Tap the shared post in the story
If the story shows a reel or post with the original account's name, tap it. Instagram opens the original post.
2
Copy its link
Tap the share icon on the reel or post and choose Copy link. The link contains /reel/ or /p/ rather than /stories/.
3
Paste it above and save
Paste the link into the box at the top of this page and pick a quality. The MP4 includes the reel's audio.
Saving your own stories
Your own stories are easy to keep, and you get the original file rather than a copy. Instagram offers three routes.
Before posting: in the story editor, tap the three dots or the download arrow and choose Save. This is the best way to keep a story with music added from the music sticker.
Automatically: in Settings, find the story settings under Sharing and remixes or Archiving, and turn on Save story to camera roll (Save story to gallery on Android). Each story is saved as you post it.
From the archive: stories are kept privately in your archive after they expire. Open your profile, tap the menu, choose Archive, then Stories archive, open one and use Save.
Stories saved after posting lose music added with the music sticker, because that audio is licensed for playback in Instagram only. Our guide to saving an Instagram story with music covers the workarounds.
Saving someone else's story
Instagram offers no save option for other people's stories, and it does not tell the poster when you screen record one. For a personal copy, screen recording is the reliable method.
On iPhone
Add Screen Recording to Control Center in Settings if it is not there already.
Open the story, swipe down from the top right corner and tap the record button.
Let the story play with the sound on, then stop from the red indicator at the top. The clip is saved to Photos.
On Android
Swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap Screen record.
Choose to record media sounds rather than the microphone.
Play the story, then stop from the notification. The clip goes to your gallery.
What about highlights?
Highlights are stories the account chose to keep on its profile, so they stay up long after 24 hours. They are still stories under the hood, though, and served the same way, so web tools cannot fetch them reliably either. Screen record a highlight the same way, or check whether the account posted the same clip as a reel, which you can save properly.
Why we don't ask for your login
The sites that do fetch stories reliably usually do it by signing in, either with an account of their own that gets banned regularly or with yours. Never give a downloader your Instagram password. It hands a stranger your whole account, and automated access can get it restricted.
We also will not build anything that reaches private accounts or Close Friends stories. Those people chose who sees their stories, and the honest way onto that list is to follow and be approved.
Not reliably. Instagram only serves stories to logged-in viewers, and our tool does not sign in. It can save any reel or post that a story shares, because those are public.
Use Save in the story editor before posting, turn on Save story to camera roll in your settings, or open the story from your archive and tap Save. Saving before posting is the way to keep music sticker audio.
Screen record it on your phone for personal use. If the story is sharing a reel or post, open that original and save it with a downloader instead, which gives a clean file with sound.
Instagram does not currently notify people about screen recordings of stories. Viewing a story while logged in does add you to its viewer list.
Only your own, from your story archive. Other people's stories disappear from view after 24 hours unless they added them to a highlight on their profile.
Be careful. Many ask for your Instagram login, which puts your account at risk, and many simply stop working when Instagram changes. Screen recording does the job without handing anyone your details.
Related guides
Longer write-ups on the questions people run into most here.
