Saving images on Pinterest is dead simple — right-click, save, done. But videos? Pinterest doesn't give you that same convenience. There's no download button, no "save to computer" option, and right-clicking a Pinterest video just brings up a useless context menu that doesn't help at all.

If you've been sitting there wondering why it has to be so complicated, you're not alone. The good news is that downloading Pinterest videos on a PC is actually pretty easy once you know the right approach. No special software required, no technical know-how needed. Just a few straightforward methods that get the job done in under a minute.

Why Pinterest Doesn't Let You Download Videos Directly

Before jumping into the how-to, it's worth a quick explanation. Pinterest is designed to be a discovery and inspiration platform. Their business model depends on keeping you on the site, clicking through content, and eventually buying things through their shopping features. Offering a built-in video download button would undercut that, and it would also create copyright headaches since most video content on the platform was originally created by someone else.

So Pinterest made the choice — deliberately — not to include download functionality for videos. But that doesn't mean your browser can't get to the file. It absolutely can, and here's how.

Method 1: Use a Web-Based Pinterest Video Downloader (Quickest)

This is the fastest method and the one most people end up using. No software to install, works in any browser, and takes about 30 seconds.

Step 1: Get the Pinterest video URL

Open Pinterest in your browser and find the video you want. Click on it to open the full post. Look at your browser's address bar — you'll see a URL that looks something like:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123456789012345678/

Copy that URL. You can also right-click the video and see if your browser gives you a "Copy video URL" option, though this doesn't always appear.

If you're using the Pinterest desktop app instead of a browser, switch to the browser version for this step — it's much easier to grab the URL there.

Step 2: Open a downloader site

In a new browser tab, go to one of these free tools:

pinterestdownloader.com
pinsave.net
downloadpinterest.com
savefrom.net (also handles other platforms)

They all work the same way and are free to use.

Step 3: Paste the URL and download

Paste your Pinterest URL into the input field on the site and click the download button. The tool will process the link — this usually takes a few seconds — and then show you a download option.

Click the download button or right-click the video link and select "Save link as..." to choose where on your computer to save the file. It'll download as an MP4, which plays in any media player or browser.

Ad warning: These sites tend to be ad-heavy. You may see fake "Download" buttons scattered around the page — those are ads. The real download button is usually clearly labeled and appears after you paste your link. Close any pop-up tabs that open automatically.

Method 2: Use Browser Developer Tools (No Third-Party Site Needed)

If you'd rather not use an external website, your browser already has everything you need built into it. This method works in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and it gives you direct access to the video file Pinterest is serving.

It sounds technical, but it genuinely isn't — you're just poking around in your browser's network activity to find the video URL.

In Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge:

Step 1: Open Pinterest and navigate to the video you want to download. Don't play it yet.

Step 2: Press F12 (or right-click anywhere on the page and select "Inspect") to open the Developer Tools panel. It'll appear on the right side or bottom of your screen.

Step 3: Click on the "Network" tab at the top of the Developer Tools panel.

Step 4: In the filter bar within the Network tab, type "mp4" or "video" to filter the results.

Step 5: Now click play on the Pinterest video. Watch the Network tab — you'll see requests start appearing as the video loads.

Step 6: Look for a request with a .mp4 extension or one labeled as a video file. Click on it, and you'll see its details on the right side. Right-click the URL that appears under the "Request URL" field and open it in a new tab.

Step 7: The video will open directly in your browser. Right-click the video and select "Save video as..." to download it to your computer.

In Mozilla Firefox:

The process is almost identical. Press F12, go to the Network tab, filter by "media" or "mp4," play the video, and look for the video request in the list. Right-click the request and choose "Open in new tab," then save it from there.

This method gives you the raw video file without going through any third-party service, which some people prefer.

Method 3: Use a Browser Extension

If you find yourself downloading Pinterest videos regularly, a browser extension makes the whole thing much more convenient. Instead of copying links and visiting downloader sites every time, you get a download button that appears directly on Pinterest.

For Chrome and Edge:

Search the Chrome Web Store for extensions like:

Video DownloadHelper — one of the most established options, works across many sites
Pinterest Video Downloader — purpose-built for Pinterest

To install: visit the Chrome Web Store, search for the extension by name, click "Add to Chrome," and confirm. Once installed, you'll typically see a small icon appear in your browser toolbar.

When you visit a Pinterest video, the extension detects it automatically and gives you a download button or indicator. Click it, choose your quality if options are available, and the file saves to your downloads folder.

For Firefox:

The Firefox Add-ons store also has Video DownloadHelper, and it works equally well there. Same process — install from addons.mozilla.org, and it activates automatically when it detects downloadable video content.

A note on extensions: Always install extensions from the official browser stores, not from random websites. Check that the extension has a decent number of users and recent reviews before installing. Extensions with very few users or no reviews are worth skipping.

Method 4: Screen Recording on PC

Screen recording is the nuclear option — it always works, regardless of how the video is hosted or protected. The tradeoff is that you're recording your screen rather than getting the actual video file, so quality depends on your screen resolution and recording settings.

Using the Built-in Xbox Game Bar (Windows 10 and 11):

Windows has a built-in screen recorder that most people don't know about. Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay. You'll see a capture widget with a record button (the circle icon).

Before you start, make sure the Pinterest video is ready to play. Hit the record button in the Game Bar, then play the video. When the video ends, click the stop button in the recording widget. Your clip saves automatically to C:\Users[YourName]\Videos\Captures.

Tip: For cleaner audio, make sure your speakers or headphones are the active audio output when you record, or the video audio may not be captured.

Using OBS Studio (Free, More Control):

If you want better quality or more control over the recording, OBS Studio is the gold standard for free screen recording software. Download it from obsproject.com, set up a display capture source, hit record, play your Pinterest video, and stop when it's done. OBS records in high quality and gives you format options when you export.

Using Snipping Tool (Windows 11):

If you're on Windows 11, the updated Snipping Tool includes a screen recording feature. Open it from the Start menu, switch to the video mode (the camcorder icon), draw a selection around just the video player, and hit record. This way you capture only the video area rather than your entire screen, which cuts down on post-editing.

Method 5: Check the Original Source

Here's something worth doing before anything else: check whether the Pinterest video actually lives on Pinterest, or if it's embedded from another platform.

A lot of Pinterest videos are originally from YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, or Instagram. If you click on the video and see a "Watch on YouTube" link, or if tapping the video takes you to an external site, go download it from there instead. The original source will almost always give you a cleaner, higher-quality file.

For YouTube videos specifically, if you have YouTube Premium, the YouTube app lets you download videos directly. For non-subscribers, YouTube videos can be downloaded through tools like yt-dlp (a command-line tool) or web services like y2mate.com.

Going to the source cuts out the middleman and usually results in a better download.

Choosing the Right Method for You

If you just want something fast with no setup, the web-based downloader sites are the way to go. Paste your link, click download, done. Most people never need anything more than that.

If you'd rather keep everything in your browser without visiting third-party sites, the Developer Tools method is surprisingly quick once you've done it once or twice. It feels intimidating at first but becomes second nature fast.

For regular Pinterest users who download videos often, a browser extension is worth the two minutes it takes to install. Having a download button appear automatically on every video saves a lot of back-and-forth.

And if a video simply refuses to cooperate with any of the above, screen recording will always be there as your last resort.

Troubleshooting

The downloader site says "invalid URL" or "failed to fetch"

Double-check that you copied the full URL from the address bar, not just part of it. Also try logging into Pinterest first and then copying the link — some pins require authentication to access.

The video downloads but won't play

Try opening it in VLC Media Player (free at videolan.org), which handles virtually every video format. If it plays in VLC but not your default player, either change your default player or just use VLC going forward.

The downloaded video is low quality

Some downloader sites only fetch a compressed version of the video. Try a different site, or use the Developer Tools method to get the actual source file directly from Pinterest's servers.

I see the video in the Network tab but can't download it

Some videos use streaming formats (HLS/m3u8) rather than a simple MP4 file. These are split into small chunks and assembled as they play. In this case, a tool like yt-dlp (command-line) or a browser extension like Video DownloadHelper handles it better than the manual method.

The downloader site opened a bunch of pop-up tabs

Close them and try again. Look carefully for the actual download button — it's usually below or next to the video preview that appears after you paste your link. Anything that opens in a new tab automatically is almost certainly an ad.

A Word on Copyright

Downloading videos for personal use, offline reference, or private inspiration is generally considered acceptable. Where things get complicated is reposting, repurposing, or monetizing content that someone else created. If you want to use a video for anything beyond personal enjoyment, reach out to the original creator and ask. Most creators are receptive when someone approaches them respectfully, and getting explicit permission protects you legally.

Wrapping Up

Pinterest keeping its video download option locked away is annoying, but it's not a wall — it's more of a speed bump. Any of the methods above will get you the video you're after. The web downloader route is the fastest for one-off saves, the Developer Tools trick impresses people at parties, and browser extensions are the smart choice if this is something you do regularly.

Pick whichever fits your workflow and go save that video before you forget why you wanted it.

How to Download Pinterest Videos on PC