Where to find your payment settings on Prime Video
Your Prime Video payment method lives in your Amazon account settings, not in the Prime Video app itself. This is because Prime Video is part of your broader Amazon account — the same account you use for shopping, Kindle books, and other Amazon services. When you change your payment method here, it affects all of them unless you set up separate methods later.
Start by going to amazon.com and signing in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, look for the account icon in the top right corner (it looks like a person's silhouette or shows your name). Click it, then select Your Account from the dropdown menu that appears.
From the Your Account page, you will see a section called Login & security on the left side. Below that is a section called Your payments — this is where your payment methods live. Click on Your payments to see all the cards and payment options currently attached to your account.
Key Takeaways
- Your Prime Video payment method is stored in your Amazon account settings under Your Account > Your payments, not in the Prime Video app.
- You can add a new card or payment method without removing the old one, then set the new one as your default for future charges.
- If you want to stop using a card entirely, you must remove it from Your payments — straightforward not using it does not delete it from your account.
- Changes to your payment method take effect when ready for new charges, but any recurring subscriptions will continue using the method they were set up with until you manually change them.
- If a payment fails, Amazon will try the default method on file; if that fails too, your Prime Video access may pause until you add a working payment method.
Adding a new payment method to your Amazon account
Once you are in Your payments, you will see a button that says Add a payment method or Add credit or debit card. Click it. Amazon will ask you to enter the card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the billing zip code. Fill in these details exactly as they appear on your card.
After you enter the card information, Amazon may ask you to verify it with a small test charge — usually a few cents that appears on your statement within a day or two. This is normal and is how Amazon confirms the card is real and belongs to you. Once verified, the card is active and ready to use.
If you are adding a different type of payment method — such as a prepaid card, a debit card linked to a bank account, or a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay — the process is similar but may ask for slightly different information. Amazon will guide you through each field.
Setting a new payment method as your default
After you add a new card, it does not automatically become your default. You need to set it yourself. In Your payments, look for the card you just added and find a button or link that says Set as default or Make primary. Click it. From that moment on, any new charge from Prime Video or other Amazon services will use this card instead of the old one.
Your default payment method is the one Amazon will charge if you have an active Prime membership, make a purchase, or have any other recurring subscription. If that card declines, Amazon will try other cards on file in the order you have set them. If none work, your Prime Video access may pause until you add a working payment method.
Removing an old payment method safely
Once you have set a new card as your default, you can remove the old one — but only if you are certain nothing is still using it. Before you delete it, check whether any subscriptions or recurring charges are still tied to that card. Prime Video itself charges monthly if you have an active membership, but you may also have other subscriptions through Amazon (like Prime Reading or Audible) that use the same payment method.
To remove a card, go back to Your payments, find the card you want to delete, and look for a Delete or Remove button. Click it. Amazon will ask you to confirm — this is your final note to change your mind. Once you confirm, the card is removed from your account and cannot be charged again.
If you delete a card while a subscription is still using it, that subscription will fail to charge on the next billing date. Amazon will then try your default payment method. If that also fails, your service may pause. To avoid this, always set a new default card before removing an old one.
What happens when a payment method fails
If Amazon tries to charge your Prime Video subscription and the card declines, you will receive an email within a few hours. The email will tell you which card was declined and ask you to update your payment method. You have a grace period — usually a few days — to add a working card before Amazon pauses your Prime Video access.
During this grace period, you can still watch Prime Video, but you cannot start new rentals or purchases. Once the grace period ends and no working payment method is on file, your access stops entirely. You will see a message in the Prime Video app or website saying your account needs attention.
To restore access, go back to Your payments, add a working card, and set it as your default. Access usually returns within a few minutes. If you have a subscription that is set to renew soon, make sure the new card is in place before that date arrives.
Changing payment method for Prime Video only
If you want Prime Video to use a different card than the rest of your Amazon account, you cannot do this directly through Prime Video settings. Instead, you would need to manage it through your Amazon account. However, there is a workaround: you can set up a separate Amazon account with a different payment method, subscribe to Prime Video on that account, and then use that account to watch.
Most people do not need to do this. Your default payment method in Your Account > Your payments is what Prime Video will use, and changing it there changes it for everything. If you want to keep your shopping separate from your streaming, the separate account approach is the only option Amazon offers.
Troubleshooting payment method changes that do not seem to work
Sometimes you add a new card, set it as default, but Prime Video still tries to charge the old one. This usually happens because your browser cached the old information. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then sign out of Amazon completely and sign back in. After you do this, go to Your payments again and confirm your default is set correctly.
If the problem persists, try a different browser or device. Open amazon.com in a private or incognito window, sign in, and check Your payments again. If the default is correct there, the issue is likely just a cache problem on your main browser.
If you have added a new card but it is not showing up in Your payments at all, check your email for a verification message from Amazon. Some cards require you to confirm ownership before they become active. Look for an email from Amazon asking you to verify the card, click the link, and complete any steps it asks for. After verification, the card should appear in Your payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different payment method for Prime Video than I use for Amazon shopping?
Not directly. Prime Video uses whatever payment method you set as your default in Your Account > Your payments. If you want to keep them separate, you would need to create a separate Amazon account with its own payment method and subscribe to Prime Video on that account instead.
What if my card expires while I have an active Prime Video subscription?
Amazon will try to charge your subscription using the expired card and it will fail. You will receive an email asking you to update your payment method. Add a new card and set it as your default before your next billing date to avoid any interruption. If you do not, your Prime Video access will pause until you add a working card.
Does changing my payment method affect my Prime Video watch history or saved shows?
No. Your watch history, saved shows, and all your viewing preferences stay exactly the same. Changing your payment method only affects which card Amazon charges — it does not touch any of your account data or content.
Can I use a prepaid card or gift card for Prime Video?
Yes. Prepaid cards and gift cards work the same way as regular debit or credit cards in Your payments. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV just as you would for any other card. Amazon may ask you to verify it with a small test charge before it becomes active.
What if I remove my only payment method by accident?
Go back to Your Account > Your payments and add a new card when ready. Until you do, you cannot watch Prime Video or make any purchases through Amazon. Once you add a card and set it as default, your access returns within a few minutes.