- Which way to download Facebook photos suits you
- Downloading a Facebook photo on a computer
- Saving a Facebook photo on an iPhone or iPad
- Saving a Facebook photo on an Android phone
- Downloading all your Facebook photos with Export your information
- Choosing HTML or JSON for your Facebook photo download
- How long your Facebook photo export stays available
- When you can't download your Facebook photos
- Finding the Facebook photos you want to download
- Using downloaded Facebook photos sensibly
- Frequently asked questions
To download a Facebook photo on a computer, click the photo, click Options and choose Download. On iPhone, tap the photo, then Options, then Save Photo; on Android, tap Options, then Save to phone. For lots of photos at once, use Facebook's Export your information tool in Meta Account settings.
Photos are the first thing people want to rescue from Facebook: a holiday album, a team event, your logo, or those shots from the launch you forgot to back up anywhere else. The good news is that Facebook gives you two official routes, one for a single photo and one for a big batch.
I'll take them in that order. Everything here follows Facebook's Help Centre, and I've said where it doesn't give a step rather than make one up.
Which way to download Facebook photos suits you
| What you want | Facebook's route |
|---|---|
| One photo from a post or album | Open the photo, then use Options to download or save it |
| A large number of photos and videos | Export your information from Meta Account settings |
| Photos from another person's profile | Only what the Options menu offers on that photo, and only where you have the right to keep it |
The table is only a guide. If a photo doesn't show a download or save option, that's Facebook's decision about that photo, and I wouldn't try to work round it.
Downloading a Facebook photo on a computer
Facebook's help page for saving photos gives two steps for a computer:
- Click the photo you'd like to save.
- Click Options and select Download.
The file goes to wherever your browser normally saves downloads, so check your Downloads folder if you can't spot it straight away.
Saving a Facebook photo on an iPhone or iPad
- Tap the photo to expand it.
- Tap Options.
- Tap Save Photo.
The photo is then saved to your phone or tablet. If your device asks whether Facebook can access your photos, that's your device's own permission prompt, and you choose what to allow.
Saving a Facebook photo on an Android phone
- Tap the photo to expand it.
- Tap Options.
- Tap Save to phone.
The wording is slightly different from the iPhone, but the steps follow the same pattern. Facebook's pages for these devices don't describe where the file lands, and that depends on your phone, so check your gallery or Downloads folder.
Downloading all your Facebook photos with Export your information
Facebook's help pages describe saving photos one at a time, and I couldn't find an official one-click button for a whole album. For many photos, the official route is Facebook's export tool. Its help page says you can export a copy of your Facebook information, including content and info you've shared, to your device or an external service.
These are Facebook's steps for exporting to your device, from Meta Account settings:
- Click your profile picture in the top right, then click Settings & privacy.
- Click Settings.
- Click Meta Account, then click Your information and permissions.
- Click Export your information, then click Create export.
- Select the profile you'd like to export information from.
- Select Export to device.
- Choose the specific info you want, a date range, the format, the notification email and the media quality.
- Click Start export.
Facebook says you may see either Accounts Center or Meta Account settings, because it's gradually updating people to Meta Accounts. If the menus look different, follow what your screen shows.
Choosing HTML or JSON for your Facebook photo download
Facebook's page explains the two formats. HTML is the easy one: you receive a ZIP file which, once opened, contains a file called index that opens like a web page, with folders holding any images and videos you requested. JSON is a machine-readable format, mainly useful if you want to move your information to another service. For most people who just want their pictures, HTML is the one to pick.
The quality setting matters too. Facebook says high-quality videos make files larger, while exporting just one type of information makes them smaller. If you only want photos, tick only photos.
How long your Facebook photo export stays available
Facebook says that when your export is ready, you have 4 days to download it from the Available downloads section of the Export your information tool. If you asked for it to go to your device, you'll get an email and a notification on Facebook saying it's done. You'll also need enough storage space on your device, and Facebook suggests checking this first.
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There's also a security side. Before an export starts Facebook asks for your password and may ask for extra checks, and the request expires after a few days. Exports can hold private information, so keep the file somewhere safe and take care if you send it or upload it elsewhere.
When you can't download your Facebook photos
Facebook says you may not be able to export from a profile in two situations. If you've deactivated the profile, you can reactivate it to export. If you've asked for it to be deleted, you can cancel the deletion first. If you've already deleted the profile, Facebook's page says you won't be able to access its information.
Finding the Facebook photos you want to download
Sometimes the hard part is locating the picture. If you hid a post, my guide to finding archived Facebook posts shows where to look. Photos you saved from reels or videos are a different place again, which I cover in finding saved reels on Facebook.
If you're downloading your own profile pictures to compare them, you might also like the best time to change your profile picture before you pick one.
Using downloaded Facebook photos sensibly
Save pictures you've taken or have the right to keep. Photos of other people or work by other creators may be protected, so check the rules where you live before you reuse them, particularly for anything commercial. Keep your downloaded copies in a folder you also back up, because that's the point of downloading them.
Related guides live in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download a photo from Facebook on a computer?
Click the photo, click Options, then select Download.
How do I save a Facebook photo on iPhone?
Tap the photo to expand it, tap Options, then tap Save Photo.
How do I save a Facebook photo on Android?
Tap the photo to expand it, tap Options, then tap Save to phone.
How can I download all my Facebook photos at once?
Use Export your information in Meta Account settings. Create an export, choose Export to device, pick the info you want, and click Start export.
How long can I download my Facebook export?
Facebook says you have 4 days from when it's ready to download it from Available downloads.
Why is there no download option on a Facebook photo?
Facebook's help pages only describe the Options menu. If an option isn't shown for a photo, Facebook doesn't offer it for that photo.
