You found the perfect Loom recording — a tutorial, a client walkthrough, a teammate’s demo — and you want to keep a copy. But when you open it, there’s no Download button anywhere. If you need to download a Loom video without download button access, the good news is that there are several free, legitimate ways to do it. The important first step is understanding why the button is missing, because that tells you which method will actually work.
In almost every case, one of two things is true: the video owner deliberately turned off downloads in their sharing settings, or the video was shared with you and you are not the owner, so the option simply isn’t available to you. Before you try anything below, make sure you have permission to save the recording. If it’s your own Loom, the fastest fix is in your settings. If it belongs to someone else, the respectful path is to ask — and we’ll cover the alternatives for when that’s genuinely allowed.
If you have any contact with the person who made the video, this is the cleanest solution — and it takes them about ten seconds. Loom lets every creator toggle download permission on a per-video basis, and it’s often switched off simply by default rather than by intention.
This gives you the highest possible quality with zero workarounds. If the owner is unreachable or the video is part of a public resource you’re permitted to reuse, move on to the methods below.
If the Loom is shared with a public link, the simplest hands-off option is to import it into ScreenStory. ScreenStory has a built-in “Import from Loom” feature: you paste a public Loom share URL and it pulls the video in and processes it for you — no browser extensions, no recording, no software to install.
It only works with genuinely public share links, which keeps it on the right side of the permission line: it’s a way to get a public Loom out cleanly, not a tool for bypassing private or download-restricted videos.
ScreenStory is browser-based with nothing to install, runs on self-hosted H100 GPUs, supports 15+ languages, and plans start at $9.99/mo with a free trial. If you just want the raw file, the import alone is enough; if you want to turn a rough Loom into something publishable, the same flow handles both. You can also read our general guide on how to download a Loom video for context.
When you can play the video but can’t download it, screen recording captures whatever is on your screen. Every major operating system ships with a free recorder, so this needs no extra software.
The trade-off is quality: a screen recording re-captures the playback rather than copying the source file, so you may see slight compression, frame drops, or captured cursor movement. It’s reliable and free, but it won’t match the crispness of the original. For tidying up the result, see our guide on how to edit a Loom video, and for phones specifically, downloading Loom on iPhone and Android.
You’ll find browser extensions and “Loom downloader” websites that promise a one-click save. Some work for public videos, but treat this category with caution.
If you go this route, stick to public videos you’re allowed to save, and prefer a method you control end-to-end. For converting whatever you end up with, our convert Loom to MP4 guide walks through the formats.
| Method | Works when | Quality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask owner to enable download | You can reach the owner | Original / best | The cleanest, highest-quality copy |
| Import into ScreenStory | Link is public | High, plus optional polish | Public Looms you want to save or refine |
| Screen recording | You can play the video | Good, some compression | No-software captures on any device |
| Browser tools / extensions | Public videos, often hit-or-miss | Variable | Quick grabs — with privacy caution |
Only download videos you own or have explicit permission to download. The absence of a Download button is frequently a deliberate choice by the creator, and a shared Loom may contain confidential, internal, or personal material. Saving someone’s recording without consent can breach their trust, company policy, or copyright. When in doubt, ask first — it’s faster than you think and keeps everyone comfortable. If you’re weighing your overall recording setup, our roundup of the best Loom alternatives is a good next read, and you can compare options on our pricing page.
Usually because downloads were turned off in the sharing settings, or because you’re viewing a video someone else owns. If it’s your own recording, open its share settings and enable “Allow viewers to download.” If it’s someone else’s, ask them to enable it.
Only with permission. The polite and correct approach is to ask the owner to enable downloads or send you the file. If the video is shared as a public link and you’re allowed to keep it, you can import that public link into ScreenStory or screen-record your own playback.
Use your device’s built-in screen recorder — Shift + Cmd + 5 on macOS, Win + G on Windows, or the Control Center / Quick Settings recorder on mobile. For public links, ScreenStory’s browser-based import needs no install at all.
A little. Screen recording re-captures the playback rather than copying the source file, so expect mild compression or occasional frame drops. Enabling the owner’s download button gives you the original quality; importing a public link into ScreenStory preserves more fidelity than a typical screen capture.
Yes. Most saved Loom files are already MP4, and screen recordings can be exported as MP4 too. If you need to change formats or compress the file, follow our guide to converting a Loom video to MP4.
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