Amazon Prime Video lets you download shows and movies to your phone or tablet, then watch them without an internet connection

The download feature works on the Prime Video app for iOS and Android devices. You can save individual episodes or entire seasons, and the files stay on your device until you delete them. Downloaded content expires after a set period — usually 48 hours for rentals, or 30 days for included Prime titles, though some shows have different rules set by the studio.

Not everything can be downloaded. Some movies and shows are only available to stream, and you'll see a download icon next to titles that support it. The downloaded files take up storage space on your phone or tablet, so you may need to delete older downloads to make room for new ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Prime Video app on your phone or tablet, find a title with a download icon, and tap that icon to save it to your device.
  • Downloaded content expires after 48 hours for rentals or 30 days for Prime-included titles, depending on what the studio allows.
  • You can download to multiple devices under the same Prime account, but each device counts toward your storage limit.
  • Downloaded files are stored on your device's internal storage or SD card, and deleting them frees up space immediately.

Finding and downloading a title on your phone or tablet

Open the Prime Video app and search for or browse to the show or movie you want to download. On the title's detail page, look for a download icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow inside a circle. If you don't see it, that title cannot be downloaded.

Tap the download icon once. The app will begin downloading the file to your device. A progress bar appears showing how much has downloaded. On most phones, this takes a few minutes depending on your internet speed and the length of the episode or movie. You can close the app and do other things while it downloads in the background.

For TV shows with multiple episodes, you can download individual episodes or tap "Download Season" to save all episodes at once. Downloading a full season uses more storage space but means you have the entire season ready to watch without waiting.

Where downloaded files are stored and how much space they use

Downloaded Prime Video files are stored in the Prime Video app's folder on your device. On Android, this is usually in your device's internal storage under Android/data/com.amazon.venezia, though you won't normally need to navigate there yourself. On iPhone, the files are stored within the Prime Video app and don't appear as separate files you can access.

The amount of storage each download uses depends on video quality and length. A one-hour TV episode typically uses 300 MB to 1 GB of space. A two-hour movie can use 1 GB to 3 GB. You can check how much space is available on your device in Settings, and the Prime Video app shows you how much space your downloads are using if you go to Settings > Downloads within the app.

If your device runs out of storage, you won't be able to download more content until you delete some downloaded files. Deleting a download from the Prime Video app removes it from your device and frees up that space immediately.

Managing your downloads and checking expiration dates

To see all your downloaded content, open the Prime Video app and tap the Downloads tab at the bottom of the screen. This shows every title you've downloaded on that device. You can sort by show, movie, or expiration date to find what you're looking for.

Each download shows an expiration date — the date after which you can no longer watch it without streaming. For Prime-included titles, this is usually 30 days from the download date. For rentals, it's 48 hours from when you started watching. Some studios set shorter windows. When a download is about to expire, the app sends you a notification.

To delete a download, swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) and select Delete. You can also delete all downloads at once by going to Settings > Downloads > Delete All. Deleting a download doesn't cancel your Prime membership or remove the title from your account — you can download it again later if you want.

Downloading on multiple devices under one Prime account

You can download the same title to different phones or tablets that are signed into the same Prime account. Each device stores its own copy of the file, so downloading to two phones uses twice as much total storage across both devices. There's no limit to how many devices you can download to, but each device's storage is separate.

If you download a title on your phone and then want to watch it on your tablet, you need to download it to the tablet separately. The download on your phone doesn't transfer to your tablet automatically. Both devices need their own copy of the file.

If you remove a device from your Prime account or sign out of the app, the downloaded files on that device become unwatchable. Signing back in restores access to your downloads.

Troubleshooting downloads that won't start or complete

If a download won't start, first check that you're connected to the internet — downloads require an active connection to begin, though they can continue in the background. Make sure you have enough free storage space on your device. If your device is nearly full, the app may not start a new download.

If a download stalls or gets stuck, close the Prime Video app completely and reopen it. This usually resumes the download. If it still doesn't work, delete the incomplete download and try again. You can delete it from the Downloads tab by swiping or long-pressing it.

Some titles download more slowly than others depending on file size and your internet speed. A movie may take 10 to 20 minutes on a typical home WiFi connection. If you're on a slower connection, try downloading over WiFi instead of mobile data, or download during off-peak hours when your network is less congested.

Differences between downloading and streaming

Streaming plays content directly from Amazon's servers as you watch, so you need an active internet connection the whole time. Downloading saves a copy to your device, so you can watch it anywhere — on an airplane, in a car, or anywhere without WiFi or cell service. Downloaded content uses your device's storage instead of your internet data.

Streaming lets you start watching almost immediately, while downloading requires waiting for the file to transfer. Streaming gives you access to the full Prime Video catalog anytime, while downloads expire and take up limited storage space. For occasional offline viewing, streaming is simpler. For regular travel or places without reliable internet, downloading makes sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download Prime Video content on my computer or laptop?

The download feature is only available on the Prime Video mobile app for iOS and Android. The web version and desktop apps do not support downloading. If you want to watch offline on a computer, you would need to use a mobile device instead.

What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Prime membership?

Downloaded files become unwatchable once your membership ends. The files remain on your device, but the app won't play them. If you renew your membership later, the downloads work again.

Can I transfer downloaded files from one phone to another?

No. Downloaded Prime Video files are encrypted and tied to your device and account. You cannot copy them to another phone or share them. You must download the content separately on each device.

Do downloaded videos use my mobile data plan?

Only during the initial download. Once a file is fully downloaded and saved to your device, watching it uses no data at all. To avoid using data during download, connect to WiFi first.

How do I know if a title can be downloaded before I try?

Look for the download icon on the title's detail page in the app. If the icon appears, the title can be downloaded. If there's no download icon, that title is streaming-only and cannot be saved to your device.