What "connecting" Amazon accounts means and when you need to do it
Connecting Amazon accounts usually means one of three things: linking a separate Amazon account to your primary one so you can manage both from one place, authorizing a third-party app or service to access your Amazon account, or setting up a household profile so family members share Prime benefits. The steps are different for each, and which one you need depends on what you're trying to do.
The most common reason people search for this is they have two separate Amazon accounts — maybe one personal and one for a business, or an old account and a new one — and want to use them together without logging out and back in repeatedly. Amazon does not offer a built-in "merge accounts" feature, but you can link them through Amazon Household or by authorizing one account to manage the other in specific ways.
A second reason is you want to let an app or website use your Amazon login or access your Amazon data. That uses Amazon's authorization system, which is different from account linking.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon does not merge accounts, but Amazon Household lets up to six people share Prime membership, music, and video from separate login credentials.
- To add a second account to your household, go to Your Account > Login & Security > Amazon Household, then invite the other account holder by email.
- If you want one account to manage purchases or subscriptions on another, you can authorize it through the account settings of the account being managed.
- Third-party apps and websites that ask to "connect your Amazon account" use a login authorization system — you grant permission without sharing your password.
- You can revoke access to any third-party app or service from Your Account > Login & Security > Apps and Authorizations.
Setting up Amazon Household to share Prime and manage multiple accounts
Amazon Household is the official way to link up to six separate Amazon accounts so they share Prime membership, Prime Video, Kindle books, and music. Each person keeps their own login, password, and purchase history, but they all get Prime shipping and video access from one Prime membership.
To set this up, sign into the primary account (the one that pays for Prime), go to Your Account in the top right, then select Login & Security. Scroll down to Amazon Household and click Manage Your Household. You will see options to invite adults or add children. For adults, click Invite an Adult, enter their email address, and send the invitation. The other person will receive an email and can accept the invitation from their own account. Once they accept, both accounts are linked to the same household.
Children can be added the same way, but Amazon offers a separate Amazon Kids profile option that gives parents more control over what a child can buy and watch. If you are setting up a household with children, you may want to use that instead of a standard adult invitation.
Authorizing one account to manage purchases on another account
If you do not want to use Amazon Household but need one account to manage subscriptions, orders, or settings on another account, you can set up authorization through account settings. This is less common than Household, but it works if you are managing an account for someone else — like a parent or a business partner — and they want you to have limited access without sharing their password.
The account being managed (the one you want to access) goes to Your Account > Login & Security and looks for Manage Your Profiles or Account Permissions depending on what you are trying to authorize. The options here vary by what Amazon service you are using. For example, if you want to manage someone's Alexa devices, you would go to the Alexa app instead and add them as a household member there.
For most day-to-day linking of accounts, Amazon Household is simpler and more direct than trying to set up individual permissions. Use account-level authorization only if Household does not fit what you need.
Connecting third-party apps and websites to your Amazon account
Many apps and websites let you sign in using your Amazon account instead of creating a new username and password. When you do this, you are not linking accounts in the traditional sense — you are authorizing that app to use your Amazon login as proof of who you are.
When you click a button that says "Sign in with Amazon" or "Connect to Amazon," you will be taken to an Amazon login page. After you enter your password, Amazon shows you what information the app is asking for — usually your name, email, and sometimes your shipping address. You then click Agree or Allow to give that app permission. Your actual Amazon password is never shared with the app; Amazon just tells the app "yes, this person is who they say they are."
This is safer than giving an app your password directly, because you can revoke access at any time without changing your Amazon password. If you later decide you do not want an app to have access, go to Your Account > Login & Security > Apps and Authorizations, find the app in the list, and click Remove. The app will no longer be able to access your Amazon account.
Linking Amazon accounts for business or seller purposes
If you sell on Amazon or use Amazon Business, the linking process is different from personal accounts. Amazon Business accounts can be linked to a personal account so you can switch between them, but the steps are specific to the Business dashboard.
To link a Business account to a personal account, sign into your Amazon Business account, go to Settings, then Account Info, and look for Link Your Personal Account. You will be asked to sign into your personal Amazon account to confirm the link. Once linked, you can switch between the two accounts from a dropdown menu in the top left without logging out.
If you are an Amazon seller, you cannot link multiple seller accounts to one personal account through the standard settings. Instead, you would need to contact Amazon Seller Support to discuss your situation. Some sellers manage multiple accounts, but Amazon has specific rules about this, and you may need approval.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If you are trying to set up Amazon Household and the invitation is not going through, check that you are using the correct email address for the other account. The email must be the one associated with their Amazon account, not just any email they use. If they have multiple Amazon accounts, make sure you are inviting the right one.
If an app or website is not recognizing your Amazon login, clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. Sometimes cached login information can interfere with the authorization process. You can also try signing out of Amazon completely, closing your browser, and then attempting the connection again.
If you are trying to remove a third-party app from your authorizations and it is not disappearing from the list, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Amazon sometimes takes a moment to process the removal. If it still appears after an hour, try removing it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I merge two Amazon accounts into one?
No, Amazon does not offer account merging. However, you can use Amazon Household to link up to six accounts so they share Prime membership and video access. Each account keeps its own login and purchase history, but they function as one household for benefits.
What happens to my orders and history if I link accounts?
Your order history and purchase records stay separate. Linking accounts through Amazon Household does not combine your past orders or recommendations. Each account maintains its own order history and preferences.
Can I use Amazon Household if I do not have Prime?
Amazon Household requires the primary account to have an active Prime membership. If the primary account does not have Prime, you cannot set up a household. However, you can still authorize individual accounts to manage specific services like Alexa devices.
Is it safe to authorize third-party apps to access my Amazon account?
It is generally safe if the app is from a company you recognize and trust. Amazon shows you exactly what information the app is requesting before you authorize it. You can revoke access at any time from your Login & Security settings, and the app will never have your actual password.
Can I connect my Amazon account to multiple devices?
Yes. You can sign into your Amazon account on as many devices as you want — phones, tablets, computers, and Alexa devices. Each device will have access to your account, orders, and preferences. You can sign out of any device individually from the account settings.