Ever been stuck on a long flight with no Wi-Fi? Or maybe you’re in a remote area with spotty signal, and you just want to relax with your favorite show? That’s where the Prime Video download feature comes in. It lets you save movies and TV shows directly to your phone, tablet, or Fire device so you can watch them without an internet connection. No buffering. No data worries. Just play and enjoy.
How to Download Shows and Movies on Prime Video
Downloading content from Prime Video is simple, but not every title is available for offline viewing. First, open the Prime Video app on your iOS, Android, or Fire tablet. Tap the search icon and find the show or movie you want. On the title’s page, look for the Download button-it’s usually below the play button and looks like a downward arrow. If you see it, tap it. The download starts immediately.
You’ll know it’s working when the button changes to a progress bar. Once it’s done, you’ll see a checkmark. The title now lives in your Downloads section, which you can find by tapping the menu icon (three lines) and selecting Downloads.
Not every title has this option. Shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or Reacher usually do. But some newer releases or licensed content (like certain movies from Warner Bros. or Sony) might be blocked due to licensing rules. If you don’t see the download button, it’s not available for offline viewing-no workaround exists.
Where Your Downloads Are Stored
Your downloaded content doesn’t live in your device’s regular file system. Prime Video stores downloads in a secure, encrypted folder only the app can access. That means you can’t transfer them to another device or play them in a different video player. It’s a DRM protection, not a bug.
Each download is tied to your Amazon account. If you log out, uninstall the app, or switch devices, your downloads disappear. But if you just switch phones and log back in with the same account, you can re-download everything you had before-no need to hunt for titles again.
How Many Downloads Can You Have?
Amazon lets you have up to 25 downloaded titles at a time across all your devices. That includes phones, tablets, and Fire tablets. It doesn’t matter how many devices you use-the total limit is 25. If you hit that cap, you’ll need to delete one to make room for another.
Each device can store its own set of downloads. So if you have a phone and a tablet, you could have 25 on each, for a total of 50. But if you download the same show on both, it counts as two separate downloads toward your 25-device limit.
There’s also a 14-day expiration rule. Once you start watching a downloaded title, you have 48 hours to finish it. If you don’t, it disappears from your downloads. If you haven’t started watching it yet, it stays for up to 30 days before auto-deleting. That’s useful if you’re saving something for a future trip but haven’t gotten around to watching it.
Quality Settings and Storage Usage
Prime Video lets you choose between Standard and High quality when downloading. Standard uses less space-about 1GB for a 90-minute movie. High quality can take up 3GB to 5GB, depending on the resolution and audio format.
If you’re on a device with limited storage, stick with Standard. Most people won’t notice the difference on a 6-inch phone screen. But if you’re watching on a 10-inch tablet or Fire TV Stick, High quality looks noticeably better. You can change this setting under Settings > Download Quality in the Prime Video app.
For reference: a full season of a TV show (10 episodes) in Standard quality might use 8-10GB. In High quality, it could be 25GB or more. Always check your device’s available storage before downloading a big series.
Can You Download on Multiple Devices?
Yes, but with limits. You can download content on up to three devices at once using the same Amazon account. That means you could have one download on your phone, one on your tablet, and one on a Fire tablet. If you try to download on a fourth device, you’ll get an error message: “You’ve reached the maximum number of devices for downloads.”
There’s no way around this. Even if you delete a download from one device, you still can’t exceed three active download devices. This restriction is meant to prevent account sharing. If you need more, you’ll have to log out of one device first.
What Happens When Your Subscription Ends?
If you cancel your Prime membership or let it expire, all your downloads vanish the moment you lose access. You won’t be able to open or play them anymore. That’s because Prime Video downloads are licensed, not owned. Think of them like borrowing a DVD from a library-you can watch it as long as you’re a member, but you can’t keep it.
There’s no export option, no backup, and no way to save them permanently. If you want to keep content long-term, you’ll need to re-subscribe or buy the title outright through Amazon’s digital store.
Why Some Shows Won’t Download
Not every title on Prime Video can be downloaded. This isn’t a glitch-it’s because of how licensing works. Studios and networks license content to Amazon for streaming, and sometimes they only allow streaming, not downloads.
For example, new movie releases from Universal or Paramount often come with download restrictions. Same with some sports content or live events. Even some Amazon Originals might be blocked temporarily after their premiere date while rights are renegotiated.
If you’re curious why a specific show won’t download, check the title’s page on the Prime Video website. Sometimes it’ll say “Download not available” under the play button. That’s your answer.
Best Practices for Offline Viewing
- Download before you leave home. Wi-Fi is faster than cellular, and you’ll get better quality.
- Use airplane mode to test if your download works. If it plays, you’re good to go.
- Don’t rely on downloads for brand-new episodes. Wait 24-48 hours after release-they’re often locked for offline viewing initially.
- Clear old downloads regularly. You’ll free up space and stay under the 25-title limit.
- Use a microSD card on Android tablets if you have one. Some devices let you set external storage as the default download location.
Offline Viewing vs. Streaming: Which Is Better?
Streaming is great for home Wi-Fi or strong cellular signals. But if you’re on a plane, in a tunnel, or camping in the mountains, downloads win every time. No data overages. No buffering. No waiting.
Streaming uses more data-up to 3GB per hour for HD. Downloads use data once, then nothing. If you’re on a limited data plan, downloading saves money.
But downloads take up space. Streaming doesn’t. If you have unlimited storage and fast internet, streaming is more convenient. If you’re always on the move, downloads are a game-changer.
Can You Download on Fire TV or Roku?
No. The download feature only works on mobile devices: iOS, Android, and Fire tablets. You can’t download content to Fire TV sticks, Roku boxes, or smart TVs. Those devices only stream.
That’s because downloads require a touchscreen interface to manage files and storage. TV interfaces don’t support that. So if you want to watch offline, you need to use your phone or tablet and cast it to the TV later-via Miracast, AirPlay, or HDMI.
What If Your Download Fails?
If the download stops mid-process, it’s usually because of a weak internet connection or low storage. Try this:
- Check your internet-switch from Wi-Fi to cellular or vice versa.
- Free up space on your device. Delete old apps, photos, or downloads.
- Restart the Prime Video app.
- If it still fails, delete the title and try again.
Occasionally, Amazon’s servers glitch. If the problem persists for more than a day, try again later. It’s usually a temporary issue.
Can I download Prime Video content on my laptop?
No. Prime Video’s download feature is only available on iOS, Android, and Fire tablets. The web browser version on laptops and desktops doesn’t support downloads. You can stream on a laptop, but not save content for offline use.
Do downloaded videos expire?
Yes. If you start watching a downloaded title, you have 48 hours to finish it. If you haven’t started it, it stays for up to 30 days. After that, it automatically deletes. You’ll get a notification a few days before it expires.
Can I share downloaded Prime Video content with family?
Not directly. Downloads are tied to your Amazon account and device. Even if you’re in a Prime Family Plan, you can’t transfer downloads to another person’s device. Each family member must download content individually using their own login.
Why can’t I download some movies even though they’re on Prime Video?
Some movies and shows are licensed for streaming only. Studios like Warner Bros., Sony, or Universal sometimes restrict downloads to protect their theatrical or broadcast rights. This is common with new releases or recent additions. Check the title page-if the download button is missing, it’s not available offline.
Will my downloads work if I travel internationally?
Yes. Once downloaded, content works anywhere in the world-even without internet. But be aware: some titles are region-locked. For example, a show downloaded in the U.S. might not be available in the Prime Video library in Japan. If you download it while in the U.S., you can watch it in Japan. But if you try to download it while in Japan, it might not appear as an option.
