Have you seen a video on Facebook that you want to save on your Mac? Don’t know what tool to use and how to download it quickly? This article is going to help you download video from Facebook on Mac.
Watching an informational or educational video on Facebook is a great way to better understand the whole process instead of reading through the step-by-step guides and long articles. A video undoubtedly catches the audience's attention more effectively.
However, it is illegal to download public videos from Facebook, you should avoid saving videos that have copyrighted material. Whether you want to download a professional video for work or a funny video to make your day, this article presents the best Facebook downloaders for Mac you can rely on.
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- The tools mentioned here are designed solely for downloading content from Facebook that is publicly available or not protected by copyright. Downloading copyrighted material from Facebook without proper permission is against the law and violates Facebook's Terms of Service. Always ensure you have the right to download and respect the rights of content creators.
- The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. We do not endorse or take responsibility for any misuse of the tools or software discussed. Always use these tools responsibly and in compliance with Facebook's policies and applicable laws.
Tool |
How to Use |
Best for |
Learn More |
UniConverter |
|
Users who are looking for a full-featured video downloading tool with editing options |
|
Video DownloadHelper |
|
Simple browser-based video downloading |
|
FBDown |
|
Easy and quick online downloads |
|
Terminal/FFmpeg |
|
Users who prefer using advanced command-line tools |
|
QuickTime Player |
|
Users who prefer video recording instead of downloading |
Part 1. Why Do You Need a Dedicated Facebook Downloader for Mac?
Facebook allows you to download your videos but does not give you permission to save videos of other creators. Therefore, if you want to save a Facebook video on your Mac that is not yours, you will need a Facebook downloader for Mac. People download videos from Facebook for different reasons. Let’s look at a few of the common ones.
- Educational Purpose: If you need reference material for professional analysis, journalism, or personal studies, you can download Facebook videos.
- Saving Content: Users download videos of valuable seminars, lectures, or tutorials to keep their copy before they become unavailable or disappear from the platform.
- Editing Purpose: You can download videos from Facebook to add them to your personal content, create mashups, or use them for editing.
- Offline Viewing: Another potential reason is downloading Facebook videos to watch them offline in areas with poor connectivity or no internet.
- Sharing: Many people download videos to add them to their blogs, presentations, or other platforms.
- Avoiding distractions: Advertisements on Facebook can spoil your watching experience. You can download them to avoid seeing ads.
- Archiving Memories: You can save Facebook videos of professional gatherings or family events.
Part 2. Top 5 Free Methods to Download Videos from Facebook on Mac
Do you want to download a Facebook video on a Mac without paying a single penny? Facebook does not allow you to download videos that are not posted by you. However, you can use a dedicated Facebook downloader for Mac. Below is a list of five potential methods you can count on.
Method 1: Batch Download Facebook Video on Mac with UniConverter
Looking for an effective and credible video downloader that is beginner-friendly? If so, try UniConverter. It is a wonderful utility designed to download videos on Mac, not only from Facebook but also from other 1000+ sites.
Whether you want to save a high-quality video of a professional event or family gathering, UniConverter will be your go-to Facebook video downloader. Apart from downloading, this tool also enables you to convert videos into various formats and make the desired edits to them as and when needed.
The working principle is super simple and is based on copying the video’s URL and pasting it into UniConverter for instant download. It allows you to download a single video or multiple videos at a time.
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Best Facebook Downloader for Mac
Key Features
- This tool supports video downloads in 4K, Full HD, and HD.
- It lets you convert the downloaded videos into various formats, such as MOV, MP4, and AVI.
- It reduces the video file size without compromising its quality.
- Efficient batch downloading makes it stand out among other competitors.
- UniConverter supports URL-based downloading.
- You can crop or trim the downloaded videos.
- It allows you to apply effects and add subtitles to the videos.
- This utility features quick Facebook video downloads with multi-threaded acceleration.
How to Download a Video from Facebook to Mac with UniConverter?
Step 1: Download and install UniConverter from its official site.
Step 2: Open the software and tap on the Downloader feature. You will find it on the main interface.
Step 3: Open a video on Facebook and copy its URL.
Step 4: Go to UniConverter and paste the URL here.
Step 5: Choose the quality of the video you want to download.
Step 6: Download the video to your Mac.
Step 7: You can go to the Finished tab to find the downloaded Facebook video, as shown below.
Method 2: How to Download a Facebook Video on Mac with Browser Extension?
Adding extensions to your browser is the easiest and quickest way to download Facebook videos on a Mac. You may find a range of browser extensions online, but not all are worth installing and using. Which extension to use, then?
If you are looking for an efficient and reliable Facebook video downloader for your browser, try Video DownloadHelper. It is a free tool for downloading all kinds of videos from Facebook and thousands of other websites, such as DailyMotion and YouTube.
Whether you have Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Google Chrome, you can use Video DownloadHelper to save a video from Facebook at any time you want. All you need to do is install this extension into your browser, play the video, and initiate faster downloads.
A step-by-step guide to download a video from Facebook on Mac
Here is how you can quickly download a video from Facebook on Mac using Video DownloadHelper.
Step 1: Install the extension from Firefox Add-ons or Chrome Web Store.
Step 2: Find the Facebook video you want to download.
Step 3: Tap on the extension’s icon, and it will automatically detect the video being played on Facebook, as shown below.
Step 4: Choose the desired video quality and save it to your Mac device.
Method 3: How to Download a Video from Facebook on Mac Online?
FBDown is a free website that lets you download Facebook and Instagram videos in no time. With this site, you can download any type of video from anywhere at any time. This tool creates direct links to videos that you want to download and watch later offline.
Unlike Video DownloadHelper, FBDown requires a video’s URL to download. All you need to do is copy the link of the desired video and paste it into the relevant field on the site to save it on priority.
Apart from using this online tool on your browser, you can also access and use it on your mobile devices (both iOS and Android). Are you concerned about whether or not it allows you to download live videos? You would be happy to hear that you can now download all live streams once they are finished.
A step-by-step guide to download Facebook videos on a Mac
Step 1: Navigate to the video you wish to download and copy its URL.
Step 2: Now, open the website www.fbdown.me and paste the copied URL in the respective field.
Step 3: Hit the Download button to save the video on your Mac.
Method 4: How to Download a Video from Facebook to Mac with Terminal/FFmpeg?
If you are an advanced user and are looking for a command-line tool to download and process Facebook videos, try FFmpeg. Since it uses commands to download videos, beginners may find it difficult to use.
How to save the video from Facebook to your Mac
Step 1: Open Terminal on your Mac.
Step 2: Install Homebrew if it isn't already installed. To do this, use the command below.
“/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"”
Step 3: Now, install FFmpeg with Homebrew using the command below.
“brew install ffmpeg”
Step 4: Copy the URL of the Facebook video that you want to download.
Step 5: Type the following command in the Terminal and hit Enter.
“ffmpeg -i "PASTE_VIDEO_URL_HERE" -c copy output.mp4”
FFmpeg will process the video from its URL and save it in your current directory as “output.mp4.”
Method 5: Save Facebook Videos on Mac through Screen Recording
QuickTime Player is a built-in application on Mac that enables you to screen record your preferred videos from Facebook. When downloading third-party tools isn’t possible, you can always use this app to record and save as many videos as you want.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Record Facebook Videos on Mac
Step 1: Open QuickTime Player on a Mac.
Step 2: Click on File and choose New Screen Recording.
Step 3: Tap on the dropdown menu to adjust the settings for recording the screen.
Step 4: Now, play the Facebook video and hit the Record button.
Step 5: Choose the area that you want to record and tap on the Start Recording button.
Step 6: Click on the Stop button to stop the recording.
Step 7: Open the File menu and choose Save to download the video you just recorded.
FAQs about Downloading Facebook Videos on Mac
1. Can you download videos from Facebook on Mac?
Yes, you can easily save videos with a Facebook downloader for Mac. Countless options are currently available on the market, like FBDown, UniConverter, and Video DownloadHelper, you can select the one that best matches your downloading requirements. UniConverter stands tall among many other Facebook video downloaders.
2. Can I download private Facebook videos?
Yes, there are some tools that allow you to download private Facebook videos. However, downloading private videos is not as simple as public videos. You can use different tools like FBDown Private and Getfvid. Alternatively, you can play private Facebook videos and screen record them using UniConverter for later viewing.
3. Is it legal to download Facebook videos?
If a video is available publicly on Facebook, there is no legal issue in downloading it. However, saving a private Facebook video on your device without the permission of the original creator is prohibited because it is against Facebook policies.
Final Words
If you want to download or save videos from your own Facebook profile or page, you can simply click the three-dots icon in the upper-right corner of the video and download them directly to your Mac. When it comes to downloading videos created or published by others, Facebook does not provide any direct option to do the job.
This is where you need a third-party Facebook downloader for Mac. Though many tools are available on the market, choosing the best one often becomes tricky for users. This article has listed several methods for downloading videos from Facebook on a Mac, including using the browser extension, built-in app, and third-party utilities. If you are wondering which one to choose, simply read through their pros, cons, and user reviews to make an informed decision.