The fastest way to save a Facebook picture
Right-click the picture you want to save, then select Save image as (on Windows) or Save Image (on Mac). Choose where you want to store it on your device, give it a name if you want, and click Save. The picture is now on your computer or phone and you can use it however you need — send it to someone, print it, edit it, or keep it in a folder.
This works for any picture posted on Facebook: photos in someone's album, pictures in a post, profile pictures, or cover photos. The method is slightly different on phones, but the idea is the same.
Key Takeaways
- On a computer, right-click any Facebook picture and select Save image as to download it to your device in seconds.
- On an iPhone, press and hold the picture, then tap Save Image to add it to your Photos app.
- On Android, long-press the picture and select Save image or Download image depending on your phone.
- You can download pictures from public posts, albums, and profiles without asking permission first.
- Downloaded pictures stay on your device even if the original Facebook post is deleted.
How to download on Windows or Mac
Open Facebook in your web browser and find the picture you want. Move your mouse over it and right-click. A menu will pop up with several options. Look for Save image as on Windows or Save Image on Mac and click it.
A window will open asking where you want to save the file. By default it usually goes to your Downloads folder, but you can click around to choose a different location — your Desktop, Documents, or a specific folder you've created. The file name will appear in a text box at the bottom. You can change it to something you'll remember, or leave it as is. Click the Save button and you're done.
The picture is now saved to your device. You can find it in whatever folder you chose, open it with any photo viewer or editor, or move it somewhere else later.
How to download on an iPhone
Open Facebook in Safari or the Facebook app and find the picture. Press and hold your finger on the picture for about two seconds until a menu appears. Tap Save Image. The picture goes directly into your Photos app under the All Photos or Recents section.
If you're using the Facebook app and the menu doesn't appear, try tapping the three dots in the corner of the post first, then look for a download or save option. Different versions of the app sometimes arrange these buttons differently, so if you don't see Save Image right away, check the menu that appears when you tap those three dots.
How to download on Android
Open Facebook in your browser or the Facebook app and locate the picture. Long-press your finger on the picture — hold it down for a couple of seconds until a menu pops up. Look for Save image or Download image depending on your phone model and browser. Tap it.
The picture will download to your device's default download folder, usually accessible through your Files app or Gallery app. You can then move it to a different folder, share it, or edit it. If you're using the Facebook app and don't see a download option, try tapping the three dots on the post itself to see if the option appears there.
What to do if the right-click menu doesn't appear
On a computer, if right-clicking doesn't show a menu, you may be using an older browser or the page didn't load completely. Try refreshing the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac), then right-click again. If that doesn't work, try a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
On a phone, if pressing and holding doesn't work, make sure you're pressing directly on the picture itself, not on the white space around it or on text. Wait a full two seconds before lifting your finger. If the menu still doesn't appear, close the Facebook app completely and open it again, then try once more.
Downloading pictures from albums and profiles
The same right-click or press-and-hold method works for pictures in someone's photo album, their profile picture, or their cover photo. Navigate to the album or profile, click or tap the picture to open it larger, then save it using the steps above.
If a picture is in a private album and you don't have permission to view it, Facebook won't let you open it in the first place, so you won't be able to save it. Public pictures and pictures shared with you can be saved without any extra steps.
Saving multiple pictures at once
If you need to download several pictures from the same album or post, you'll need to save them one at a time — Facebook doesn't have a built-in bulk download feature. Right-click or press-and-hold each picture individually and save it. This takes longer but ensures you get exactly the pictures you want.
Some people use third-party tools or browser extensions that claim to download entire albums at once, but these often don't work reliably with Facebook's current setup and may violate Facebook's terms of service. The one-at-a-time method is slower but always works and keeps you on the safe side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download someone else's picture without asking them?
Yes, you can download any picture that's visible to you on Facebook. There's no permission system that stops you. However, the picture still belongs to whoever posted it, so using it in a way that could harm them — like editing it to mock them or posting it elsewhere under your name — could cause problems.
Will the person know if I download their picture?
No. Facebook doesn't notify people when you save their pictures. Downloading is completely private on your end. The only way someone would know is if you tell them or if you use the picture in a way that makes it obvious you took it.
What if I want to download a picture but it's blurry or small?
Right-click the picture and select Open image in new tab. This usually opens a larger version. Then save that larger version instead. If it's still too small, that's the highest quality Facebook has for that particular picture, and saving a larger version won't improve it.
Can I download pictures from a private profile I'm not friends with?
No. If someone's profile is private and you're not friends with them, you can't see their pictures at all, so there's nothing to download. You'd need to send them a friend request first, and they'd have to accept it.
Do downloaded pictures stay on my device if the Facebook post gets deleted?
Yes. Once a picture is downloaded to your computer or phone, it's completely separate from Facebook. If the person deletes the post or their account, the picture you saved stays on your device.