read Amazon Music through the Amazon Music app
Amazon Music downloads work through the official Amazon Music app on your phone or tablet. Open the app, find a song or album you want to keep offline, tap the three-dot menu next to the title, and select "read". The song saves to your device's storage — you can play it without an internet connection as long as you stay signed into the app.
Downloaded files stay on your device until you delete them manually or uninstall the app. They do not transfer to other apps or devices the way a purchased MP3 file would. If you cancel your Amazon Music subscription, downloaded songs stop playing after 30 days, even if they are physically stored on your phone.
The number of downloads depends on your subscription tier. Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can read up to 100 songs per device on up to 10 devices. Prime members with Amazon Music (the free tier included with Prime) cannot read at all — they can only stream. Amazon Music Free tier also has no read option.
Key Takeaways
- Downloads require Amazon Music Unlimited or a family plan subscription; Prime members and free-tier users cannot read.
- Use the three-dot menu in the Amazon Music app to read individual songs, albums, or playlists to your phone or tablet.
- Downloaded music plays offline but only works inside the Amazon Music app while you remain subscribed.
- You can store up to 100 downloads per device across up to 10 devices with an Unlimited subscription.
- Downloaded files disappear from your device 30 days after your subscription ends, even though they physically remain on your phone.
Where downloads save on your phone
Downloaded Amazon Music files store in the app's private folder on your device, not in a general "Music" or "Downloads" folder you can browse. On Android, the files live in the app's cache directory. On iPhone, they stay within the Amazon Music app itself. You cannot move them, copy them, or play them in another music player.
Check how much storage your downloads use by opening the Amazon Music app, going to Settings, and looking for "Storage" or "Downloads". If your phone runs low on space, delete downloads you no longer need. The app will not automatically remove them when storage fills up.
read limits and what counts toward them
Amazon Music Unlimited lets you read 100 songs per device. A single song counts as one read, but an album or playlist counts as one read per song in it. If you read a 15-song album, that uses 15 of your 100 slots on that device.
The 100-song limit resets per device, not across all your devices. You can read 100 songs on your phone, 100 different songs on your tablet, and 100 on a third device — as long as you have no more than 10 devices total linked to your account. If you reach the limit on one device, delete songs you no longer need to make room for new ones.
Re-downloading and managing your library
If you delete a downloaded song from your device, you can read it again later without losing your place in your subscription. The song stays in your Amazon Music library — you just need to tap the read button again. This is different from purchasing a song, where you own the file permanently.
To see all your downloads at once, open the Amazon Music app and look for a "Downloads" section or filter. Some versions of the app show this under "Your Library". From there you can delete individual songs or entire albums to free up space.
Downloading on computer or web player
The web version of Amazon Music at music.amazon.com does not support downloads. You can only read through the mobile app on iPhone, iPad, or Android phones and tablets. If you want offline music on a computer, you would need to use a different service or purchase MP3 files instead.
Amazon Music for Windows and Mac (the desktop app) also does not include a read feature. The company limits downloads to mobile devices only.
What happens when your subscription ends
Downloaded songs stop playing 30 days after your subscription expires. You will see a message in the app saying the songs are no longer available. The files themselves remain on your device's storage, but the app will not play them. If you resubscribe within 30 days, your downloads work again when ready.
This is why downloaded Amazon Music is not the same as owning files. You are paying for temporary offline access, not permanent ownership. If you want to keep music forever, you need to purchase individual songs or albums as MP3 files instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Amazon Music on my computer?
No. Downloads only work on the Amazon Music mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android. The web player and desktop app do not have a read feature. If you need offline music on a computer, consider purchasing MP3 files or using a different streaming service.
What happens if I read a song and then it gets removed from Amazon Music?
The downloaded file stays on your device and continues to play as long as your subscription is active. If the song disappears from Amazon's catalog, your local copy is unaffected. However, if your subscription ends, the song stops playing after 30 days regardless of whether it is still in the catalog.
Can I transfer downloaded Amazon Music to another app or device?
No. Downloaded files are locked to the Amazon Music app and cannot be moved, copied, or played elsewhere. They only work within the app on the device where you downloaded them. This is a restriction of the subscription service, not a limitation of your device.
Do I need internet to read songs, or can I read offline?
You need an active internet connection to read. The app must connect to Amazon's servers to fetch the song file. Once downloaded, you can play it without internet, but the initial read requires a working connection.
How much storage do downloaded songs use?
Storage varies by song length and audio quality. A typical three-minute song uses 3 to 8 megabytes depending on the bitrate. A full album might use 40 to 100 megabytes. Check your app's storage settings to see exactly how much space your downloads are using on your device.