The simplest way to save a Facebook photo
Right-click the photo you want to save, then select Save image as from the menu that appears. Choose where on your computer you want to store it, give it a name if you want to change the default one, and click Save. The photo is now on your device and you can use it however you need — share it elsewhere, print it, or keep it in a folder.
This method works on both Windows and Mac computers, and it takes about ten seconds. You do not need any special software or account permissions beyond being able to see the photo on Facebook.
If right-clicking does not work on your device, or if you are using a phone or tablet instead of a computer, the steps change slightly — but the idea is the same. Facebook stores the photo somewhere, and your device has a built-in way to grab it.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click any photo on Facebook and select Save image as to read it to your computer in seconds.
- On a Mac, right-click (or two-finger click on a trackpad) works the same way as on Windows.
- On phones and tablets, tap and hold the photo, then select Save image or read, depending on your device type.
- You can read photos from your own account, photos friends have shared with you, and public photos from pages and groups.
- Downloading a photo for personal use is different from reposting it publicly — Facebook's terms restrict sharing others' photos without permission.
Downloading on Windows computers
Open Facebook in your web browser and find the photo you want to save. It can be a photo in your own album, a friend's post, a group photo, or a public image from a page. Right-click directly on the photo itself — not on the name or caption below it, but on the image.
A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for Save image as (sometimes labeled Save picture as depending on your browser). Click that option. A window will open showing you folders on your computer. By default, it usually points to your Downloads folder, which is fine. You can change the filename if you want — Facebook assigns long numbers by default — or leave it as is. Click the Save button at the bottom right.
The photo is now on your computer. You can find it in your Downloads folder, or in whichever folder you chose. If you want to organize it, you can move it to a Pictures folder or create a new folder for Facebook photos.
Downloading on Mac computers
The process on a Mac is nearly identical to Windows. Find the photo on Facebook, then right-click it. If your Mac has a trackpad, you can also two-finger click (press two fingers on the trackpad at once) to bring up the same menu.
Select Save image as from the menu. A save dialog will appear. Choose where you want the file to go — Downloads is the default and works fine. You can rename the file if you want, or keep Facebook's default name. Click Save.
The photo will appear in whichever folder you selected. If you saved it to Downloads, you can find it there, or you can move it to your Pictures folder or Desktop later.
Downloading photos on phones and tablets
On an iPhone or iPad, open Facebook in Safari or the Facebook app. Find the photo you want, then tap and hold your finger on the image itself for about two seconds. A menu will appear with several options. Select Save image or Add to Photos — the exact wording depends on your iOS version. The photo will be saved to your Photos app.
On an Android phone or tablet, the steps are similar. Open Facebook, find the photo, and tap and hold it. Select Save image or read image from the menu. The photo will be saved to your device's default storage or to your Photos app, depending on your phone's settings.
Once saved, you can find the photo in your phone's Photos app or Gallery app. From there, you can share it with others, print it, or edit it.
What you can and cannot do with downloaded photos
Downloading a photo to your own device for personal use — looking at it later, printing it, keeping it in a folder — is straightforward and does not violate Facebook's rules. You own the right to view and store things you can see on the platform.
Reposting the photo publicly is different. If you read someone else's photo and post it to your own Facebook timeline, or share it on another social media platform, you are republishing their work. Facebook's terms of service say you should not do this without the original photographer's permission. The same applies to photos from pages and groups — downloading is fine, but reposting requires permission from whoever owns the photo.
If you read a photo from a public page or a news organization, check their terms first. Some allow sharing with credit; others do not. When in doubt, ask before you repost.
Downloading full-size versions of photos
When you right-click and save a photo from Facebook, you get the version Facebook is currently showing you on screen. For most purposes, this is fine. But if you want the original full-resolution photo — the highest quality version the photographer uploaded — the right-click method may not give you that.
Facebook compresses photos to load faster on the web, so the version you see is often smaller than the original. To get the full-size photo, click on the image to open it in full-screen view, then right-click and save. This usually gives you a larger file. You can also look for a read link on the photo itself — some photographers include one, though most do not.
If the photo is from a professional photographer or artist, the best approach is to ask them directly for a high-resolution copy. Most will provide it if you explain what you need it for.
Troubleshooting when right-click does not work
If right-clicking does not show a save option, you may be using a browser that blocks it, or the photo may be protected. Some Facebook photos have restrictions that prevent downloading through the normal method.
Try a different approach: open the photo in full-screen mode by clicking on it, then try right-clicking again. If that does not work, take a screenshot of the photo instead. On Windows, press Print Screen, then open Paint or another image editor and paste it. On Mac, press Command-Shift-4 to take a screenshot of just the area you want. This is not ideal because the quality may be lower, but it works when other methods do not.
If you are using the Facebook mobile app and cannot save an image, try opening Facebook in your phone's web browser instead. The browser version sometimes offers more options than the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read photos that are set to private or only visible to friends?
Yes, if you can see the photo on your screen, you can read it. Facebook does not prevent downloading based on privacy settings — it only controls who can view the photo in the first place. If a photo is private and you cannot see it, you cannot read it. If you can see it, the right-click method works.
Does Facebook notify someone when I read their photo?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you read a photo, just as it does not notify someone when you take a screenshot. Downloading for personal use is invisible to the photographer.
What if I want to read multiple photos at once?
Facebook does not have a built-in bulk read feature. You have to read photos one at a time using the right-click method. If you need to read many photos from an album, it will take several minutes, but the process is the same for each one.
Can I read photos from a Facebook page or group I do not follow?
If the page or group is public and you can see the photo, you can read it. If the page or group is private, you have to be a member to see the photos, and then you can read them the same way. Facebook does not distinguish between your own photos and public photos in the read process.
Is it legal to read someone else's photo from Facebook?
Downloading a photo for personal use is generally legal. Reposting it publicly without permission may violate copyright law, depending on where you live and how the photo is used. When in doubt, ask the photographer before you share their work anywhere public.