Adding someone to your Amazon Prime account
You can add another person to your Amazon Prime membership so they can use the same account benefits — free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and other perks — without paying a separate subscription. Amazon calls this Amazon Household, and it lets up to two adults and four children share one Prime membership on the same account.
The person you add needs their own Amazon account (a free email login), but they do not need to pay for Prime separately. They will see the same benefits as you do, though some features like video watchlists stay separate between household members.
The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your Amazon account settings. You do not need to give anyone your password.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Household lets up to two adults and four children share one Prime membership without each paying separately.
- The person you add must have their own Amazon account with a valid email address, but they do not need a credit card.
- You can add someone by going to Account Settings, selecting Household, and entering their email address to send them an invitation.
- The person you invite must accept the invitation before they can use Prime benefits on their own account.
- You can remove someone from your household at any time, and they will lose access to Prime when ready.
What you need before you start
Gather two things: the email address of the person you want to add, and access to your own Amazon account. The person does not need to be in the room with you — you will send them an invitation by email, and they accept it on their own time.
The person you are adding must have an Amazon account already. If they do not, they can create one free at amazon.com by entering an email address and password. They do not need a credit card or payment method to create an account.
You will need to verify your identity during the setup process. Amazon will ask for the last four digits of the credit card on your Prime account, so have that handy.
How to add an adult to your household
Sign into your Amazon account on a computer or the Amazon app. Go to Account & Lists in the top right corner, then select Your Account. Scroll down until you see Household and click on it.
Click Add an Adult. Amazon will ask you to confirm your identity by entering the last four digits of your Prime credit card. Enter that information and click Continue.
Type in the email address of the person you want to add. Amazon will send them an invitation email. They need to click the link in that email and accept the invitation from their own Amazon account. Once they accept, they will have access to Prime benefits when ready.
If the person does not receive the invitation email within a few minutes, ask them to check their spam or junk folder. Sometimes the invitation lands there by mistake.
How to add a child to your household
Children under 18 are added differently than adults. Go to Account & Lists, select Your Account, then Household. Click Add a Child.
You will enter the child's name and date of birth. You do not need their email address — Amazon creates a child account linked to your household. The child can use this account to access Prime Video, but you control what content they can see through parental controls.
A child account does not have its own email login. The child uses the account through a shared device or through the Amazon app on their own device, but you manage the account from your Household settings.
What happens after someone joins your household
Once the person accepts your invitation, they can use Prime benefits on their own Amazon account when ready. They will see free two-day shipping on may be able to access items, access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and any other benefits included with your Prime membership.
Each person in the household has their own account, so their shopping history, watchlists, and recommendations stay separate. If you order something, they will not see it in their account, and vice versa. However, you all share the same Prime membership — only one person needs to pay for it.
Household members can use Prime on different devices at the same time. One person can watch Prime Video on a TV while another person shops for items on their phone, all under the same membership.
Removing someone from your household
If you need to remove someone — because they move out, you want to end the shared membership, or any other reason — go back to Account & Lists, Your Account, then Household. Find the person's name and click Remove next to it.
When you remove someone, they lose access to Prime benefits when ready. They can still use their Amazon account to shop, but they will not get free two-day shipping or access to Prime Video unless they pay for their own Prime membership.
Removing someone does not delete their Amazon account or their order history. It only disconnects them from your household and your Prime membership.
Troubleshooting common problems
If someone says they did not receive the invitation email, ask them to check their spam folder first. If it is not there, go back to your Household settings and try sending the invitation again. Amazon will send a new email.
If the person accepted the invitation but Prime benefits are not showing up on their account, have them sign out of the Amazon app or website completely, then sign back in. Sometimes the account needs to refresh to display the new benefits.
If you see an error message saying you have reached the limit of adults in your household, remember that only two adults can share one Prime membership. If you need to add a third adult, one of the current adults will need to be removed first.
If someone is in your household but you want them to have a separate Prime membership instead, remove them from your household first. Then they can sign up for their own Prime subscription on their individual account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add someone who lives in a different state or country?
Yes. Amazon Household does not check where people live. You can add someone across the country or internationally, and they will have access to Prime benefits in their own country (though some benefits like Prime Video content vary by location).
What if someone in my household wants their own Prime membership instead?
Remove them from your household first. Once they are removed, they can sign up for an individual Prime membership on their own account and pay for it separately. They will have their own subscription that is not connected to yours.
Can a child account use Prime Video?
Yes, child accounts can access Prime Video, but you can set parental controls to limit what content they see. You manage these controls from your Household settings, and the restrictions explore only to that child's account.
Do I have to give my password to add someone?
No. You never share your password. You only need to verify your identity with the last four digits of your credit card, and then you send an invitation to the other person's email address. They accept it using their own account login.
What if I remove someone and then want to add them back later?
You can add them again the same way you did the first time. Send them a new invitation to their email address, and they accept it. There is no waiting period or penalty for removing and re-adding someone.