How to Download Videos from Facebook Ad Library: A Guide

The world of digital marketing moves fast, and sometimes, so do your competitors’ best ideas. If you’ve ever tried to analyze what’s working in your industry, you know that Facebook Ad Library is a goldmine for uncovering your rivals’ video ads. But here’s the catch: there’s no “Download” button, and copying videos for deeper analysis or reporting can feel like you’re trying to catch fish with your bare hands. I’ve seen sales and marketing teams spend hours screen recording, fiddling with browser tools, or just giving up altogether. With video ads now driving compared to static images, not being able to capture and study these assets is a real handicap.

At Thunderbit, we’re all about making web data accessible—no coding, no headaches, just results. In this guide, I’ll walk you through why downloading videos from Facebook Ad Library matters, the old-school methods (and their pain points), and how you can use Thunderbit’s AI Web Scraper to grab those videos (and all their juicy metadata) in just a couple of clicks. Whether you’re a marketer, analyst, or just a curious competitor, let’s turn Facebook Ad Library into your own creative research lab.

What is Facebook Ad Library and Why Do Businesses Want to Download Videos?

For anyone new to the game, is Meta’s searchable database of all active (and some inactive) ads running across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network. It’s designed for transparency, letting anyone see who’s advertising what, where, and how. You can filter by region, advertiser, and even keywords to see the exact creative assets—including videos—your competitors are using.

But why do businesses care about downloading these videos? Simple: video ads are the backbone of modern digital campaigns. They’re packed with insights about messaging, design, calls-to-action, and even offer timing. Sales and marketing teams want to:

• Benchmark creative strategies against top performers.
• Build swipe files for campaign inspiration.
• Analyze competitor messaging and offers.
• Report on industry trends to leadership or clients.
• Train teams on what’s working (and what’s not) in real time.

In short, downloading Facebook Ad Library videos is about turning public data into a competitive edge.

The Business Value: How Downloading Facebook Ad Library Videos Drives Results

Let’s get practical. Here’s how teams use downloaded Facebook Ad Library videos—and the business outcomes they unlock:

It’s not just about curiosity— can lead to faster creative cycles, higher ROI, and better-informed campaign decisions. In fact, teams that regularly analyze competitor ads report up to for new campaigns.

Traditional Methods to Download Videos from Facebook Ad Library

Okay, so you want those videos. Here’s how most people try to get them:

1. Manual Download (Right-Click or Inspect Element)

• How it works: Try to right-click and “Save video as…” (usually blocked), or dig through the page source to find the video URL.
• Pros: Free, no tools needed.
• Cons: Tedious, often blocked, doesn’t work on most Facebook videos, and you’ll need to hunt through code.

2. Chrome Extensions or Browser Tools

• How it works: Use third-party extensions that claim to “download any video” from Facebook.
• Pros: Sometimes works for public videos.
• Cons: Many extensions are unreliable, break often, or come with privacy risks. Facebook updates can render them useless overnight.

3. Screen Recording

• How it works: Play the video and use a screen recorder to capture it.
• Pros: Works for anything you can play.
• Cons: Time-consuming, lower quality, manual effort, and you lose metadata (like ad copy, spend, or targeting info).

Here’s a quick side-by-side:

Bottom line: None of these are ideal for business users who need to download lots of videos, keep metadata, or automate the process.

The Thunderbit Advantage: Downloading Facebook Ad Library Videos with AI

This is where comes in. Our is built for business users who want to extract data from any website—videos included—without coding or technical headaches.

Here’s what makes Thunderbit different:

• Natural Language Prompts: Just describe what you want (“Extract all video ads from this page”), and Thunderbit’s AI figures out the rest.
• AI Suggest Fields: Click “AI Suggest Fields” and Thunderbit scans the page, recommending the right columns (like Video URL, Ad Copy, Advertiser Name, etc.).
• 2-Click Extraction: Select your fields, hit “Scrape,” and Thunderbit grabs the videos and metadata in seconds.
• Bulk & Subpage Scraping: Need videos from multiple ads or paginated results? Thunderbit handles pagination and can even visit subpages for more details.
• Export Anywhere: Send your data straight to Excel, Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, or download as CSV/JSON—free and easy.

No more copy-paste marathons, no more broken browser extensions, and no more missing out on the data that drives your business.

Step-by-Step: How to Download Videos from Facebook Ad Library Using Thunderbit

Ready to get hands-on? Here’s how to download Facebook Ad Library videos with Thunderbit—no technical skills required.

1. Install Thunderbit Chrome Extension

• Go to the .
• Click “Add to Chrome” and follow the prompts.
• Sign up for a free account (the free tier lets you scrape up to 6 pages, or 10 with a trial boost).

2. Navigate to Facebook Ad Library and Find Your Target Video Ads

• Visit .
• Search for your competitor, keyword, or industry.
• Scroll through the list to find the video ads you want.

3. Use “AI Suggest Fields” to Detect Video and Metadata

• Click the Thunderbit icon in your Chrome toolbar.
• On the Ad Library page, click “AI Suggest Fields.”
• Thunderbit’s AI will scan the page and suggest columns like “Video URL,” “Ad Headline,” “Advertiser,” “Impressions,” etc.
• Adjust or add fields as needed (for example, add “Ad Copy” or “Date Range”).

4. Click “Scrape” to Extract Video Data

• Hit the “Scrape” button.
• Thunderbit will extract the video URLs, ad copy, and any other fields you selected.
• For ads with subpages (like “See Ad Details”), use Thunderbit’s subpage scraping to grab even more info.

5. Export Videos and Metadata

• Once scraping is done, preview your data in Thunderbit’s table.
• Click “Export” to send your results to Excel, Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, or download as CSV/JSON.
• For video files, you’ll get direct URLs you can use to download or analyze further.

Tips for Power Users:

• Pagination: If your search returns multiple pages, Thunderbit can follow “Next” links and scrape all results.
• Bulk Exports: Scrape hundreds of ads at once—just let Thunderbit run in the background.
• Subpage Scraping: For each ad, Thunderbit can visit the ad detail page and enrich your table with extra fields.

For a visual walkthrough, check out the or our .

Automating Facebook Ad Video Downloads: Scheduled Scraping for Ongoing Insights

If you’re tracking competitors or trends over time, you don’t want to repeat this process every week. Thunderbit’s Scheduled Scraper feature lets you automate video downloads on your schedule.

• Set It and Forget It: Just describe your schedule in plain English (“Scrape every Monday at 9am”), and Thunderbit handles the rest.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Perfect for agencies, brands, or analysts who want to keep tabs on new video ads as they launch.
• Automatic Exports: Push new data to Google Sheets, Airtable, or Notion for real-time dashboards or alerts.

This means you’ll always have the latest creative assets and insights—without lifting a finger.

Beyond Downloading: Analyzing and Formatting Facebook Ad Videos with AI

Thunderbit isn’t just about grabbing files—it’s about turning raw data into actionable insights. Here’s how you can go beyond basic downloads:

• AI Prompts for Analysis: Add custom instructions to each field (“Summarize the ad message,” “Categorize by product type,” “Translate ad copy to English”) and Thunderbit’s AI will label, format, or translate as it scrapes.
• Flexible Export Formats: Export videos and data as CSV, Excel, JSON, or push directly to your favorite tools.
• Creative Benchmarking: Use AI-powered tags to compare ad styles, calls-to-action, or even sentiment across campaigns.

For example, you can set up a workflow where every new video ad is automatically tagged by theme (“discount,” “new product,” “testimonial”), making it easy to spot trends or gaps in your own creative.

Thunderbit’s AI-powered workflows help you not only collect data but also organize, label, and analyze it for maximum business value.

Staying Compliant: Legal Considerations When Downloading Facebook Ad Library Videos

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: compliance. Downloading and using Facebook Ad Library videos comes with responsibilities.

• Respect Copyright: Videos in the Ad Library are owned by the advertisers. Downloaded content should be used for internal research, benchmarking, or reporting—not for republishing or commercial use.
• Follow Facebook’s Terms: prohibit scraping for commercial redistribution or violating privacy.
• Thunderbit’s Safeguards: Thunderbit provides compliance guidelines and monitoring tools to help you stay on the right side of the law. Always review your intended use and consult legal counsel if unsure.

Pro Tip: Use downloaded videos for competitive analysis, training, or internal presentations—not for public sharing or paid campaigns.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions When Downloading Facebook Ad Videos

Even with AI, web scraping can hit a few bumps. Here are the most common issues (and how to fix them):

• Video Not Loading: Some ads may be region-locked or removed. Make sure you’re logged into Facebook if needed.
• Pagination Problems: If Thunderbit isn’t scraping all pages, check your pagination settings or try breaking up the scrape into smaller chunks.
• Export Errors: Double-check your export format and make sure your spreadsheet tool supports video URLs.
• Missing Fields: Use Thunderbit’s “Custom Instruction” feature to clarify what you want (“Extract the highest-resolution video”).
• Compliance Warnings: If you see a compliance alert, review Thunderbit’s guidelines and adjust your workflow.

Need more help? Check out or reach out to our support team for personalized troubleshooting.

Key Takeaways: Making the Most of Facebook Ad Library Video Downloads

Let’s wrap it up:

• Facebook Ad Library is a treasure trove for competitor research, creative inspiration, and campaign reporting—but downloading videos isn’t easy without the right tools.
• Traditional methods are slow and unreliable. Manual downloads, browser extensions, and screen recording all have major drawbacks for business users.
• Thunderbit’s AI Web Scraper makes it simple. With natural language prompts, AI field suggestions, and 2-click extraction, anyone can download Facebook Ad Library videos (and metadata) in minutes.
• Automation and AI analysis unlock even more value. Schedule recurring scrapes, tag and benchmark creative, and export data wherever your team needs it.
• Compliance matters. Use downloaded videos responsibly and always follow Facebook’s terms and copyright law.

Ready to level up your ad research? and start building your own creative intelligence library today. For more guides and tips, check out the .

FAQs

1. Is it legal to download videos from Facebook Ad Library for business use?
Yes, as long as you use the videos for internal research, benchmarking, or reporting—not for republishing or commercial redistribution. Always respect copyright and Facebook’s terms.

2. Can Thunderbit download videos from all Facebook Ad Library ads?
Thunderbit can extract video URLs and metadata from most public ads. Some region-locked or removed ads may not be accessible.

3. What export formats does Thunderbit support for Facebook Ad Library videos?
You can export video URLs and metadata to Excel, CSV, Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, or JSON—whichever fits your workflow.

4. How does Thunderbit handle ongoing monitoring of new Facebook Ad videos?
Use Thunderbit’s scheduled scraping feature to automate regular downloads. Set your schedule in plain English, and Thunderbit will keep your data up to date.

5. What should I do if I run into issues scraping Facebook Ad Library videos?
Check Thunderbit’s documentation for troubleshooting tips, or contact support for help. Common fixes include logging in to Facebook, adjusting pagination, or refining your field instructions.

Ready to see Thunderbit in action? and start downloading Facebook Ad Library videos in just a few clicks. Happy scraping!