How to download a video from a link on Android

Any Android phone or tablet with a normal browser can do this. No APK, no extra app: copy the link, paste it into PixHold and the file lands in your Download folder.

Step by step

  1. Copy the link to the video. In an app, tap Share and then Copy link. In Chrome, tap the address bar and then the copy icon.
  2. Open PixHold in your browser. Go to pixhold.app in Chrome or another full browser. For TikTok links, the TikTok downloader page works the same way.
  3. Paste the link. Tap Paste in the box. The first time, the browser may ask whether the page may see what you copied; allow it. Or long-press the box, choose Paste and press Download.
  4. Choose a file. PixHold lists the versions it found. Tap Download next to the one you want. If two qualities are offered, the H.264 one is the safe choice for older phones.
  5. Wait for the download. The button shows Saving… while the file is fetched, then the browser shows its usual download notification.
Opened PixHold from inside TikTok, Instagram or a chat app? Their built-in browsers often block downloads. Tap the ⋮ menu and choose Open in Chrome, or open your browser yourself and paste the link there.

Find the downloaded video

  • In Chrome: tap ⋮ and then Downloads.
  • In the Files app: open Downloads.
  • In your gallery: look for the Download folder or album. In Google Photos, open Collections and then On this device.

Photo posts and ZIP files

For a photo post, tap a picture to save it by itself or use Download all photos (ZIP) to get the full set. To unpack the ZIP, open it in the Files app and tap Extract. The TikTok slideshow guide has the details.

If something does not work

  • The video opens in a new tab. Long-press the video and choose Download video, or use the ⋮ menu of the player.
  • The file will not play. Download the H.264 version, or open the file with VLC.
  • PixHold finds no video. See how to fix a video that will not download.
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Android download questions

Where are downloaded videos saved on Android?

In the Download folder of the phone’s internal storage. You can open it from the Files app, or from Chrome by tapping the three-dot menu and then Downloads.

Why is the video not in my gallery?

Gallery apps group files by folder. Look for a folder or album called Download. In Google Photos it is under Collections → On this device.

Which browser should I use?

Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox and Edge all work. Avoid the browsers built into social apps, because they often block file downloads.

The HD video only plays sound. What is wrong?

The HD option for TikTok is encoded as H.265, which some older phones and players cannot decode. Download the H.264 option instead, or open the file with a player such as VLC.