ClipSaver for Threads

Adds a download button to Threads posts that contain video, opening a download

Overview

ClipSaver for Threads is a userscript that adds a download button to Threads posts containing video. Clicking it opens a companion download launcher for the selected post, and an optional panel page can trigger downloads and display progress.

Threads offers no convenient built-in way to save videos from posts, so users must copy a post link and open an external service by hand. This script places a download entry point directly on each video post.

Threads users on desktop browsers who run a userscript manager and want a fast way to hand video posts to an external download service.

Key features

  • Injects a download button beside the action buttons of Threads posts that contain video.
  • Resolves the canonical post link and opens a language-aware download launcher for it.
  • Provides an optional companion panel page that can trigger downloads and show running/done/failed progress.
  • Panel controls expose a scan interval for how often the page is re-scanned for new posts.
  • Falls back gracefully between GM storage and localStorage for saved settings.
  • Includes an in-memory runtime log that the panel can pull for diagnostics.
  • Connects the panel once per browser profile to avoid repeatedly opening tabs.

Supported sites

  • www.threads.com
  • www.threads.net

Permissions

This script requests the following userscript-manager permissions. Review them before installing.

  • GM_openInTab
  • GM.openInTab
  • GM_addStyle
  • GM_setValue
  • GM_getValue

How to install & use

  1. Install a userscript manager such as Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey for your browser.
  2. Click the "Download / install" button to open the script source on GitHub and install it with your userscript manager.
  3. Open the target site and use the script as documented.

How to use

  1. Install a userscript manager and add the script.
  2. Open threads.com or threads.net and browse posts that contain video.
  3. Click the download icon added beside the post's action buttons.
  4. The script opens the download launcher for that post in a new tab.
  5. Optionally open the companion panel page to trigger a download for the current post or adjust the scan interval.

Limitations

  • Only posts that contain a video element receive the download button; text- or image-only posts are skipped.
  • The script does not download or store videos itself; it hands the post URL to an external download service.
  • Only works on threads.com and threads.net.
  • Requires a userscript manager that supports GM_openInTab/GM.openInTab; the panel connection is attempted once and remembered per profile.

FAQ

Where does the video actually get downloaded?

The script opens an external download service in a new tab and passes it the post URL; the actual retrieval happens there, not inside the script.

Why don't I see a button on some posts?

The button is only added to posts that contain video. Posts without a video element are ignored.

Do I need to log in or give the script an account?

No. The script only adds the button and opens the launcher; it does not collect accounts or credentials.

What does the panel page do?

It can request a download for the current post and shows progress states such as running, done and failed.

Safety & privacy

The script requests the userscript manager permissions GM_openInTab/GM.openInTab, GM_addStyle, GM_setValue and GM_getValue. When a download is triggered, the URL of the current post is sent to the external download service so it can process the request. Runtime logs are held only in an in-memory ring buffer (maximum 200 entries) and are cleared on reload; they are not persisted or uploaded. Panel messages are origin-checked and accepted only from the trusted panel origin and the script's own page. Saved settings use GM storage with a localStorage fallback.