Download TikTok Videos with an iPhone Shortcut
Set it up once, then send any TikTok to ReelTik straight from the share sheet
Create a shortcut in Apple's Shortcuts app that accepts links from the share sheet, URL-encodes the link and opens https://reeltik.com/#url= followed by it. From then on, tap Share → More in TikTok and pick the shortcut: ReelTik opens in Safari with the link already filled in and fetches the post by itself, so all that is left is tapping Download.
Build the shortcut (about two minutes)
- Create a new shortcut. Open the Shortcuts app, tap + and give it a name such as Download with ReelTik.
- Let it receive links. Tap the ⓘ details button, turn on Show in Share Sheet and set the input to URLs and Text. Under If there's no input, choose Get Clipboard so that a copied link works too.
- Encode the link. Add the URL Encode action; it encodes the Shortcut Input by default.
- Build the address. Add a URL action, type https://reeltik.com/#url= and insert the URL Encoded Text variable right after the equals sign. Browsers do not send the part after # when they load a page, so the link is not in the address the server logs; the page reads it from there and then clears it.
- Open it. Add the Open URLs action and tap Done. The shortcut now shows up in the share sheet.
Using it from TikTok
Open a video or photo post, tap Share, then More at the end of the row to bring up the iPhone share sheet, and pick your shortcut. Safari opens ReelTik with the link in the box and starts fetching the post right away.
You can also copy the link first (Share → Copy link) and run the shortcut from the Shortcuts app or from a Home Screen icon: with Get Clipboard as the fallback it picks up the copied link.
Where the file goes
Safari saves downloads to the Files app, in the Downloads folder on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive. To keep a video in Photos, open it in Files, tap Share and choose Save Video.
If the shortcut does not appear
Scroll to the bottom of the share sheet and tap Edit Actions to check that the shortcut is switched on. It only appears when Show in Share Sheet is on and URLs or Text are allowed as input.
If Safari opens but the box stays empty, check that the URL action ends with #url= followed directly by the URL Encoded Text variable, with no space in between.
The four actions at a glance
| Action | Setting | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Receive (share sheet) | URLs and Text; if there's no input: Get Clipboard | Takes the link from TikTok's share sheet or from the clipboard |
| URL Encode | Encode Shortcut Input | Makes the link safe to put inside another address |
| URL | https://reeltik.com/#url= followed by URL Encoded Text | The ReelTik address with your link in it |
| Open URLs | No settings | Opens that address in Safari |
iPhone shortcut questions
Do I need to install an app?
No. Shortcuts is built into iOS and iPadOS, and ReelTik runs in Safari; the shortcut only opens a web address.
Does the shortcut save the video by itself?
It opens ReelTik with the link filled in and fetches the post. You then tap the button you want (no watermark, HD, MP3 or photos) and confirm the download in Safari.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. The same steps work in the Shortcuts app on iPad.
Does ReelTik keep my link?
No. The link is used once to fetch the post and is not stored, the page clears it from the address bar after reading it, and ReelTik sets no cookies.
Does it work with photo posts and sounds?
Yes. Photo posts get a button for every image plus the sound as MP3, and any video can be saved as MP3 as well.
Can I put the shortcut on my Home Screen?
Yes. In the shortcut's details tap Add to Home Screen. Copy a TikTok link, tap the icon, and the copied link is used.
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