The fact that my Wi-Fi was not functioning made me realize that I had a Pinterest problem.
I spent half a recipe video I had saved on my phone, which I was partially following, in the kitchen holding my phone against a mug. I pulled it but the internet was gone.
Restless, the screen gray, the video frozen, useless.
This is when Pinterest would cease being a source of inspiration and become a source of annoyingness.
It is not like saving a pin and owning the video.
You should have them in your Camera Roll in case you prefer to watch Pinterest videos when you are off the grid, on a plane, in a subway, or in a dead cell zone, or simply do not like using the in-built advertisements.
Not buried on a board.
Not trapped in an app.
Actually stored on the phone.
The following guide will demonstrate how to do so, what works, what does not, and why most of the online tips will not only waste your time.
First off Let’s Clear the Confusion: “Saved” Is Not Saved
Pinterest has various uses of the word save.
When you tap “Save” on a video, it
- goes to a board
- stays online
- vanished if the pin deleted
- won’t play offline
- you can’t control the file
That’s bookmarking, not saving.
Saving to your Camera Roll means:
- the video is on your device
- it plays without internet
- it can be edited, trimmed, AirDropped or archived.
- Pinterest can’t take it back
They’re two different things.
The Importance of Offline Viewing More Than Pinterest Admitted.
Online viewing is not a travelling aspect but a reliability issue.
Real-life moments include
- cooking with a weak signal
- working out in a single-room gym.
- working in a DIY tutorial in a garage.
- reading design sources on the way to work.
- re-reading material months later when the pins are gone.
Pinterest excels at being able to discover new things and not hold them.
When a video is worth the repeat, then it should be placed in your Camera Roll.
How to save Pinterest videos offline, the Three Real Ways.
The internet has numerous tricks that exist, but they all can be grouped into three methods:
- Screen recording
- Video downloading applications or Web sites.
- iPhone Shortcuts (cleanest one)
I have tried all three, continue to use two and I recommend one.
Method 1: Screen Recording (The “It Works” Kinda” Option)
This is the simplest possible approach.
- Open Pinterest
- Pull down the Control Center
- Hit Record
- Play the video
- Stop recording
- Trim it in Photos
Now you have an offline video.
The reason why people use screen recording.
- Built into iPhone
- No setup
- Works even on restricted pins
Why It’s Not Great
- Reduced resolution (quality and frame rate)
Audio may be the sound that appears to be compressed. - Notifications can appear
You do not only get the video but you get the UI. - File sizes can be big
- It’s a playback rather than the original source
Screen recording is okay when it comes to a one-second solution but not when you are keen.
When It Makes Sense
I still use it when
- the video won’t download
- it is a Pin Idea having layered animation.
- I only need it once
- quality doesn’t matter
There is a better way of doing everything else.
Method 2: Online Pinterest Video Downloaders (Fast, But Messy)
You must have seen sites that say
“Paste your link here.”
“Download now.”
With pop-ups everywhere.
When it comes to working, they are able to do it only occasionally.
How It Works
- Copy and Paste the link of the video on Pinterest
- Paste it in a downloader website
- Download the MP4
- Save it to Files or Photos
Pros
- No setup
- Often quick
- Works on most standard pins
Cons
- Ads everywhere
- Some add watermarks
- Privacy concerns
- Downloads can fail
- File names are messy
You can also not auto-save to Photos using Safari.
You can be fine being desperate or on a non-Apple device, but it is not a classy answer.
Method 3: How to Save Pinterest Videos on the iPhone (using Shortcuts) (The best one).
This is the method I trust.
- No ads
- No sketchy sites
- No extra apps
Just your iPhone knows what it can do.
Why Shortcuts Are Perfect
Shortcuts can
- take a copied pin link
- extract the video stream
- save the MP4 directly as Photos
- keep the quality
- skip the junk
It can be configured with just under five seconds per video.
Step-by-Step: How to Save Pinterest Videos to Your Camera Roll using Shortcuts.
Step 1: Ensure You Have the Shortcuts App
It is installed on most iPhones.
If it’s gone, go to the App Store, search “Shortcuts” and reinstall.
Step 2: Allow Untrusted Shortcuts (One Time Thing)
Go to Settings Shortcuts, turn on the option of Shortcuts Allowed.
It simply allows you to execute shortcuts not on the Apple gallery, and you are in charge of everything.
Step 3: Add a Pintrest Video Download Shortcut
Use a shortcut that
- accepts Pinterest links
- extracts the MP4
- saves to Camera Roll
Click the shortcut, and scan through the actions, and ensure that it saves to Photos, but not to Files.
Step 4: Copy the Video Link From Pinterest
Within the Pinterest application, tap the video, tap Share, tap Copy Link.
Step 5: Run the Shortcut
Option A: From the Shortcuts App
Press downloader shortcut and tap.
Option B From Share Sheet (Cleaner)
Tap Share on the pin, scroll to More, choose the shortcut and wait a moment.
That’s it.
Open Photos.
The video belongs to you, offline, and there.
The reason why this method is superior to offline viewing.
Outcomes are greater than concepts.
Gets downloaded through shortcuts provides you with
- native resolution
- clean audio
- no UI captured
- less large than screen recordings.
- reliable offline playback
- easy album organization
It is not you against your phone it is you with your phone.
Common Issues (and Rapid Solutions)
Nothing was saved by the Shortcut.
Usually a permissions issue.
Fix: Settings Privacy and Security Photos Shortcuts Full access.
It Says No Video Found
Common with some Idea Pins and/or region restricted content.
For those, or try a different pin, try screen recording.
Video Saved But Won’t Play
Rare, but possible.
Try making it an mp4, restart Photos, or run the shortcut again.
How to Plan Pinterest Videos through Organizing like an ordinary person.
Order prevails when you begin recording videos.
My Pinterest album is titled Pinterest Offline, and I have sub-albums which include Recipes, Workouts, DIY, Design and Random Stuff I will likely never do.
You’ll thank yourself later.
A Rapid Word on Ethics (Because It’s Important)
There is nothing wrong with saving videos to watch when offline.
It is not okay to repost without citing an author, earn money on his work, or even to consider it to be your own.
Pinterest artists already have their share of theft. Respect that.
Download responsibly.
The Reason Pinterest Still Does Not Have an Official Download Button.
Since offline material disconnects them.
And when videos are in your Camera Roll, you do not have to use the app, you do not see any ads and you do not scroll and scroll.
Pinterest desires its users to continue visiting it.
Shortcuts discreetly transfer ownership back.