Amazon Prime lets you download movies and TV shows to your device, but only through the official Prime Video app

You can download movies and shows directly in the Prime Video app on phones, tablets, and some Fire devices. The downloaded files stay on your device and play without an internet connection. Downloads expire after a set period — usually 30 days, or 48 hours once you start watching — so they are not permanent copies you own.

Desktop browsers do not support downloads. If you want to watch Prime content offline on a computer, you will need to use a phone or tablet instead, or watch it online before traveling.

Not every title is available to download. Licensing agreements with studios limit which movies and shows offer the download option. If a title does not show a download button, that studio has not permitted it.

Key Takeaways

  • Downloads work only in the Prime Video app on phones, tablets, and Fire devices — not on web browsers or computers.
  • Each download expires after 30 days, or 48 hours after you start watching, whichever comes first.
  • Not all titles support downloads; the download button appears only on content the studio has licensed for offline viewing.
  • Downloaded files use storage space on your device, so check available space before downloading multiple movies.

How to download a movie or show on your phone or tablet

Open the Prime Video app and search for the title you want. Tap or click the title to open its details page. Look for a download icon — usually a downward-pointing arrow or a cloud with an arrow. Tap it, and the app will begin downloading the file to your device.

The download progress appears on the title's page. Once complete, you can watch it offline by opening the app and going to your Downloads section. The app will remind you how many days remain before the download expires.

If the download button does not appear, that title is not available for offline viewing. This is a licensing restriction, not a technical limitation, and you cannot work around it.

Storage space and download limits

Each movie or show takes up space on your device's storage. A two-hour movie typically uses 1 to 4 gigabytes, depending on video quality. Before downloading multiple titles, check how much free space you have.

Prime Video does not set a hard limit on how many titles you can download, but your device's storage does. Once your device runs out of space, you will need to delete downloads to make room for new ones. Deleting a download does not affect your Prime membership or your ability to watch that title later online.

You can choose download quality in the app's settings. Lower quality uses less storage but looks grainier on larger screens. Higher quality looks better but takes up more space and takes longer to download.

Download expiration and renewal

Downloads expire automatically. Most titles expire 30 days after you download them, though some expire sooner depending on the studio's license. Once you start watching a download, the 48-hour timer begins, and the file deletes after two days of playback — even if the original 30 days had not passed.

When a download is about to expire, the app sends a notification. You can download the same title again at any time, as long as your Prime membership is active and the title remains in the Prime catalog. If a title leaves Prime, you will not be able to download it again until it returns.

Downloading on Fire tablets and Fire TV devices

Fire tablets and Fire TV devices run the Prime Video app and support downloads the same way phones and tablets do. The process is identical: open the app, find the title, tap the download icon, and wait for it to finish.

Fire devices often have more storage than phones, making them good choices for downloading multiple movies before a trip. Check your device's available storage in Settings before downloading large files.

What to do if a download fails or gets stuck

If a download stalls or fails, close the Prime Video app completely and reopen it. Tap the title again and start the download over. Most interrupted downloads resume from where they stopped rather than starting from the beginning.

If the download keeps failing, check your internet connection. Downloads require a stable connection to start, though they can continue over cellular data once they begin. If you are on a weak connection, move closer to your router or switch to a stronger network.

Restarting your device sometimes fixes download problems. If a download still will not work after restarting, delete it and try again. If the problem persists across multiple titles, uninstall and reinstall the Prime Video app.

Downloading while traveling or offline

Download titles before you leave home, while you have a reliable internet connection. Downloading over cellular data is possible but slow and may use a lot of data if you download multiple movies.

Once downloaded, you can watch offline anywhere — on a plane, in a car, or in a location without internet. The app does not need to connect to the internet to play downloaded files, though it will try to sync your watch history if a connection becomes available.

If your Prime membership expires while you are traveling, downloaded files will still play until they expire. Once your membership is active again, you can download new titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download movies on my computer or laptop?

No. The Prime Video website does not support downloads. You must use the Prime Video app on a phone, tablet, or Fire device. If you need to watch on a computer offline, download to a tablet first, then watch on the tablet instead.

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

Downloaded files continue to play until they expire naturally. Once your membership ends, you cannot download new titles. If you reactivate your membership later, you can download again, but old expired downloads are gone.

Can I transfer downloaded movies to another device?

No. Downloads are tied to the device and the account that downloaded them. You cannot move a downloaded file to a different phone or tablet. You must download the title separately on each device where you want to watch it offline.

Why does a movie show a download button sometimes but not other times?

Licensing agreements change. A studio may permit downloads for a limited time, then remove that permission. If a title previously had a download button and no longer does, the studio has ended offline viewing for that title.

Do downloaded movies use my internet data?

Downloads use data while they are downloading. Once complete, playing a downloaded file uses no data. If you download over cellular instead of Wi-Fi, check your data plan to make sure you have enough.