Why Facebook Saved Videos Disappear (Fix)
Your saved Facebook videos could vanish in 30 days. No warning. No recovery.
"Lost my stepdad's funeral [video]. Didn't notice until the anniversary of his death yesterday."
This heartbreaking post appeared on Reddit recently. A person saved a precious video of their stepfather's funeral on Facebook, expecting it to be there forever. It wasn't.
Facebook is Deleting Your Saved Videos
In mid-2025, Facebook began automatically deleting saved videos after 30 days. This includes Facebook Live recordings, shared videos, and videos from groups and pages. There is no warning before deletion and no way to recover them.
Days until your saved videos are permanently deleted
Recovery chance once videos are deleted
Warnings Facebook gives before deletion
If you've saved videos on Facebook—family moments, recipes, tutorials, or memories—they could disappear at any moment. This guide explains why it's happening and, more importantly, how to protect your videos before it's too late.
Table of Contents
Why Facebook Deletes Your Saved Videos
In July 2025, Facebook quietly updated their policies regarding saved video content. The changes affect all users, but most people only discover this when they go looking for a video that's no longer there.
The 30-Day Deletion Policy
Facebook now automatically removes saved videos 30 days after they were originally posted. This isn't 30 days after you save them—it's 30 days from when the creator posted the video.
If you save a video that was posted 25 days ago, you only have 5 days before it disappears from your saved folder.
The Official Reasons
Storage Costs
Video hosting is expensive. Facebook claims the deletion policy helps manage server costs and improve platform performance.
Copyright Management
Limiting video retention reduces long-term copyright liability and disputes with content owners.
"Fresh Content" Strategy
Facebook wants users engaging with new content, not revisiting old saves. Deleting old videos pushes users back into the feed algorithm.
The Real Impact
Whatever Facebook's reasons, the result is the same: your saved videos are not permanent. Treating Facebook as a video library is risky. The platform prioritizes its business needs over your personal archives.
What Types of Videos Get Deleted
Not all content on Facebook is affected equally. Understanding what's at risk helps you prioritize what to save first.
High Risk: Gets Deleted
- Facebook Live recordings — Deleted after 30 days
- Videos from public pages — Removed from saves
- Group videos — Especially when groups are archived
- Shared videos from others — When originals are deleted
- Old saved videos — Anything over 30 days
Lower Risk: Usually Safe
- Your own uploaded videos — You control these
- Videos in your albums — More permanent storage
- Downloaded copies — Stored on your device
"Facebook is now deleting all Facebook live videos after 30 days... I've lost years of memories."
Real Stories of Lost Videos
These aren't hypothetical scenarios. Real people are discovering their precious saved videos are gone—often at the worst possible moments.
The Anniversary Discovery
"Lost my stepdad's funeral [video]. Didn't notice until the anniversary of his death yesterday. I wanted to watch it to feel close to him again. It's just... gone."
This person discovered their loss on one of the most emotionally significant days of the year. The video can never be recovered.
Years of Memories Gone
"My old sentimental videos are missing... ranging back to 2010-2012. These were from my college years, my grandmother's last birthday, my wedding day clips. All gone."
Older videos are often the first to disappear, and they're irreplaceable.
The Frustrating Pattern
"I'll save at least 50 videos a week yet when I go to my saved folder I see if I'm lucky 1. Where are they all going? This has been happening for months."
Many users notice the pattern but don't realize it's an intentional policy until it's too late.
These stories share a common thread: nobody warned them. By the time they looked for their videos, recovery was impossible.
How to Protect Your Videos (Before It's Too Late)
The good news: if you act now, you can save your important videos before they disappear. Here's what to do immediately.
Download Your Most Important Videos NOW
Don't wait. Go through your Facebook saved videos today and download anything you can't afford to lose:
- Family events (weddings, birthdays, funerals)
- Videos of people who have passed away
- Tutorials or recipes you reference regularly
- Any video with sentimental value
Request Your Facebook Data Archive
Facebook allows you to download all your data, including videos you've posted:
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings
- Click "Your Facebook Information"
- Select "Download Your Information"
- Choose "High Quality" for videos
- Create the file and download when ready
Stop Relying on Facebook for Video Storage
Facebook is a social platform, not a video vault. Once you've recovered what you can, establish a proper backup system for all your social media videos. This applies to all saved videos, not just Facebook.
Time Is Critical
If you have videos saved more than 2 weeks ago, they could be deleted any day. Don't procrastinate on this—videos deleted by Facebook are permanently gone.
The Permanent Solution: Never Lose a Saved Video Again
Downloading individual videos is a temporary fix. What you really need is a system that automatically preserves and organizes every video you want to keep—from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
ReelRecall: Your Personal Video Vault
ReelRecall creates a permanent, searchable library of all your saved videos:
- Permanent storage — Videos are preserved even if creators delete them
- AI transcription — Search videos by what was said in them
- Cross-platform — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube in one library
- Automatic organization — AI tags and categorizes your videos
Without ReelRecall
Videos disappear after 30 days. No way to search saved content. Scattered across multiple platforms. Lost forever when deleted.
With ReelRecall
Videos preserved permanently. Search by spoken words. All platforms unified. Protected from platform deletions.
Your memories deserve better than a 30-day expiration date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my saved Facebook videos disappearing?▼
Facebook implemented a 30-day deletion policy for saved videos in 2025. Videos are automatically removed from your saved folder 30 days after the original post date. This applies to Facebook Live recordings, shared videos, and videos from pages and groups.
Can I recover Facebook videos that were already deleted?▼
Unfortunately, once Facebook deletes a saved video, there's no way to recover it. The video is permanently removed from Facebook's servers. The only exception is if you or someone else downloaded the original video before deletion.
How can I download Facebook videos before they're deleted?▼
For videos you posted: Go to Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information. For videos others posted: Use the three-dot menu on the video and look for a download option, or use a video download service. Act quickly—you may only have days before older videos disappear.
Does Facebook warn you before deleting saved videos?▼
No. Facebook does not notify users before deleting saved videos. The deletion happens silently. Most people only discover the policy after realizing their saved videos are gone.
Are Facebook Live videos affected by the 30-day deletion?▼
Yes. Facebook Live recordings are specifically mentioned as being deleted after 30 days. This has caused significant distress for users who saved live streams of family events, memorials, or special occasions, expecting them to be available forever.
How do I permanently save videos from social media?▼
Use a dedicated video preservation tool like ReelRecall. It automatically archives your saved videos from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube with full transcription and search capabilities. Videos are preserved permanently, even if they're deleted from the original platform.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
Your saved videos could disappear any day. Start protecting your memories now with ReelRecall's permanent video vault.