Save Twitter Videos on iPhone (Share Sheet & Shortcuts)

Twitter (X) has no download button on iPhone, and iOS won't let arbitrary sites write straight to your camera roll. This guide covers the reliable share-sheet flow and an optional Apple Shortcut for one-tap saving.

Short answer: in the Twitter app, tap share → Copy link, paste it into the downloader, save the MP4, then use the share sheet's Save Video to put it in Photos.

Method 1 — Share sheet in Safari

1. In the Twitter/X app, tap the share icon under the video → Copy link.
2. Open Safari and go to the downloader.
3. Tap the input box, tap Paste, and let it extract.
4. Tap the quality you want (up to 1080p Full HD). Safari downloads the MP4.

Save the MP4 to Photos

After the download finishes:

1. Tap the download arrow in Safari's toolbar, then tap the file to open it (or find it in the Files app under Downloads).
2. Tap the share icon, then choose Save Video.

The clip is now in your Photos app, ready to edit or re-share.

Method 2 — An Apple Shortcut (one-tap)

For repeat use, build a Shortcut that hits the API and saves straight to Photos. In the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut with these actions:

1. Receive what's on screen or use Ask for Input (URL) — or Get Clipboard to read a copied tweet link.

2. Text — build the request URL:

   https://download-twitter-video.drummerduck.com/api/download?url=[the tweet URL]
   

3. Get Contents of URL — set the value to that Text. This returns the MP4 file directly (it's streamed as a file attachment).

4. Save to Photo Album — save the file from the previous step.

Add the shortcut to your share sheet (in its settings, enable Show in Share Sheet) so you can run it from Twitter's own Share menu. Because /api/download streams the raw MP4 with a proper filename, the Shortcut can save it without any extra steps. See the API reference for the quality and n parameters if you want to pick a specific resolution.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I just tap and hold the video?

Twitter's player blocks the normal save gesture, so there's no download option on long-press. You need the link + downloader flow above.

Where do downloaded videos go?

First to Safari's Downloads (in the Files app). Use Save Video from the share sheet to move a clip into Photos.

Does this work on iPad?

Yes — the same Safari share-sheet flow and Shortcut work on iPadOS.

Can I download GIFs on iPhone?

Yes. They save as silent MP4s — see the GIF download guide. The general steps are in how to download a Twitter video, and Android users have their own guide.

Only download public content you have the right to use, and respect copyright.