Telegram Video Downloader: 7 Free Methods for 2026 (Private Channels Too)

1. Telegram’s Built-in Save (Public Content)

Works on: All devices | Private channels: No | Price: Free

The simplest approach. If the channel or group allows saving, just tap/click the video and use the download button (arrow icon). On desktop, right-click the video and select “Save Video As.”

This only works when the channel admin hasn’t enabled “restrict saving content.” Most educational and movie channels have it turned on, which is why you need the methods below.

Pros: Built into the app, zero setup, original quality preserved

Cons: Doesn’t work on restricted channels, no batch downloads

2. Telegram Downloader Bots

Works on: All devices | Private channels: Only if forwarding is allowed | Price: Free

Downloader bots are the most popular method. You forward a video to the bot, and it sends back a downloadable file. The most reliable bots in February 2026:

• @SaveVideoBot — The most-used option. Handles most video formats and sizes up to 2 GB.
• @TGDownloaderBot — Good alternative when SaveVideoBot is overloaded.
• @allsaverbot — Supports videos, audio, and documents from forwarded messages.
• @SaveViBot — Works with Telegram and external links (YouTube, Instagram, etc.).

How to use: Open any bot above in Telegram, tap “Start,” then forward the message containing the video. The bot processes it and sends back the file. Tap the file to download.

Pros: No software to install, works on phone and desktop, handles large files

Cons: Can’t bypass “restrict forwarding” locks, slow during peak hours, some bots have file size limits (usually 2 GB)

3. Neet-Nestor Userscript (Best for Restricted Content)

Works on: PC/Mac (any browser with Tampermonkey) | Private channels: Yes | Price: Free

This is the method most guides miss. The Telegram Media Downloader userscript by Neet-Nestor has 181,000+ installs on Greasy Fork and is actively maintained (last updated February 2026). It adds a download button directly to videos in Telegram Web, even on channels with restricted saving.

How to use:

1. Install Tampermonkey in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).
2. Go to the script page on Greasy Fork and click “Install.”
3. Open Telegram Web (K version) and log in.
4. Navigate to any video — you’ll see a new download button on the media player.

The script works by intercepting the encrypted media stream directly in your browser, so it bypasses Telegram’s “restrict saving” flag entirely.

Pros: Works on restricted/private channels, open source (you can read the code), adds button directly in Telegram Web UI, handles photos and documents too

Cons: Desktop browsers only (no mobile), requires Tampermonkey extension, doesn’t work on Telegram Web A (only K version)

4. Browser Extensions (Chrome/Edge)

Works on: Chrome, Edge | Private channels: Some | Price: Free

Several Chrome extensions automate Telegram Web downloads. Search “Telegram video downloader” in the Chrome Web Store — look for extensions with recent updates and decent review counts. As of February 2026, multiple extensions were updated within the last week.

The main advantage over the userscript is simpler installation (one click from the Web Store). The downside is that Chrome extensions can be pulled from the store without warning, and you’re trusting closed-source code with access to your Telegram Web session.

Pros: Easy one-click install, auto-updates, some support batch downloads

Cons: Can be removed from store anytime, closed-source (security risk), may require broad browser permissions

5. Browser DevTools Method

Works on: PC/Mac (any browser) | Private channels: Yes | Price: Free

If you don’t want to install anything, you can grab the video file directly from your browser’s network inspector. This is the most “manual” approach but works on any restricted content.

1. Open Telegram Web in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
2. Press F12 to open Developer Tools.
3. Click the Network tab.
4. Type video or mp4 in the filter box.
5. Play the video in Telegram Web.
6. Look for large file requests in the Network panel (usually the biggest file size).
7. Right-click the request, select “Open in new tab,” then save the file.

For larger videos, Telegram streams them in chunks. You may see multiple small requests instead of one big file. In that case, the userscript method (#3) is easier since it reassembles the chunks automatically.

Pros: No installs at all, works on any restricted content, completely under your control

Cons: Tedious for large or chunked videos, requires basic browser dev knowledge, one video at a time

6. Android Cache Method

Works on: Android only | Private channels: Yes | Price: Free

When you watch a video in the Telegram Android app, it gets cached locally even if the channel restricts saving. You can find these cached files using a file manager.

1. Open Telegram and fully watch the video (it needs to buffer completely).
2. Open a file manager app (like Files by Google or Solid Explorer).
3. Navigate to: Internal Storage > Android > data > org.telegram.messenger > files > Telegram > Telegram Video
4. The video file will be there with a random filename. Copy it to your Downloads folder.

On newer Android versions (11+), you may need a file manager with root access or one that can browse the Android/data folder (Solid Explorer or MiXplorer handle this). The default Files app may not show this directory.

Pros: No extra apps needed (just a file manager), works on restricted content, original quality

Cons: Android only, requires full video playback first, newer Android versions restrict folder access

7. Screen Recording (Universal Fallback)

Works on: All devices | Private channels: Yes | Price: Free

When nothing else works, screen recording always does. You’re capturing what’s on your screen, so no restriction can block it.

On iPhone/Android: Use the built-in screen recorder (swipe down from control center). Play the video in fullscreen, start recording before it plays, stop after it ends.

On PC/Mac: Use OBS Studio (free), the built-in Windows Game Bar (Win + G), or macOS Screenshot (Cmd + Shift + 5). For a browser-based option, ScreenApp’s screen recorder works without installing software and adds automatic transcription.

The tradeoff is quality — you’re recording a playback, not downloading the original file. Audio quality is usually fine, but video may lose sharpness depending on your screen resolution and recording settings.

Pros: Works with absolutely anything, no tools or setup on mobile, captures live streams too

Cons: Quality loss compared to original file, recording takes real-time (10-min video = 10-min recording), larger file sizes