The basic steps to read a film on Amazon Prime
Open the Amazon Prime Video app on your phone or tablet, find the film you want to watch offline, and tap the read icon — usually a downward arrow next to the play button. The film will begin downloading to your device's storage. Once the read finishes, you can watch it without an internet connection by opening the app and selecting "Downloads" from the menu.
The read process takes a few minutes to an hour depending on the film's length and your internet speed. You do not need to do anything else while it downloads — you can close the app or use your device for other tasks. The film stays on your device until you manually remove it or until your Prime membership expires.
Desktop computers and web browsers do not support downloads. You must use the mobile app on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone or tablet. If you have a Fire tablet, the process is identical to other Android tablets.
Key Takeaways
- The read button appears next to the play button in the film's details page, and downloading takes a few minutes to an hour depending on file size and internet speed.
- Downloaded films stay on your device until you delete them or your Prime membership ends, at which point they become unwatchable.
- You can read up to 25 titles per device, and each device can hold only the downloads you put on it — they do not sync across phones or tablets.
- Downloaded films use between 500 MB and 3 GB of storage per title depending on the video quality, so check your available space before downloading longer films.
Where the read button is located
In the Amazon Prime Video app, navigate to the film's page by searching for it or finding it in a category. On the film's details page, you will see the play button in the center. To the right of the play button, you should see a downward arrow icon — this is the read button. Tap it once to start the read.
If you do not see a read button, the film may not be available for offline viewing. Some titles, particularly newer releases or certain licensed content, cannot be downloaded. In that case, you will only see the play button and an "Add to Watchlist" option. You can still stream these films on Wi-Fi or mobile data, but not offline.
On some older versions of the app, the read button may appear in a menu. Tap the three dots or "More" option on the film's page, and look for a "read" choice in the menu that appears.
Storage space and read limits
Each downloaded film takes up between 500 MB and 3 GB of storage on your device, depending on the video quality and the film's length. A two-hour film in standard definition uses roughly 1 to 1.5 GB, while the same film in high definition uses 2 to 3 GB. Before downloading, check your device's available storage by opening Settings and looking at the storage section.
Amazon Prime limits you to 25 downloaded titles per device. Once you reach 25, you must delete at least one read before adding another. This limit exists per device — you can have 25 downloads on your phone and a different 25 on your tablet at the same time.
Downloaded content does not sync between devices. If you read a film on your phone, it will not automatically appear on your tablet. You must read it separately on each device where you want to watch it offline.
How long downloads stay on your device
A downloaded film remains on your device indefinitely until you manually delete it. You can delete a read by opening the Downloads section of the app, finding the film, and tapping the delete or trash icon. Deleting a read does not remove the film from your account — you can read it again later.
If your Prime membership expires or is cancelled, all downloaded films become unwatchable within a set period, usually 24 to 48 hours. The app will notify you when this is about to happen. Renewing your membership will restore access to your downloads.
If you uninstall the Amazon Prime Video app, all downloads are deleted from your device. Reinstalling the app does not restore them — you will need to read them again.
Video quality and bandwidth considerations
When you read a film, Amazon Prime automatically selects a video quality based on your device's screen size and your account settings. You cannot manually choose the quality before downloading. Phones typically read in standard definition, while tablets may read in higher definition if your account allows it.
To check or change your default read quality, open the app, go to Settings, and look for "read Quality" or "Playback Settings." You may see options like "Standard" or "High." Changing this setting affects future downloads but does not change films you have already downloaded.
Downloaded films use your device's storage, not your internet bandwidth, so the quality setting does not affect how much data you use while watching offline. However, higher quality downloads use more storage space.
Troubleshooting downloads that do not work
If the read button does not appear or the read fails to start, first check that you are using the mobile app, not the web version. Amazon Prime downloads only work on phones and tablets, not on computers.
If the button is missing from a specific film, that title may not be available for offline viewing due to licensing restrictions. Try searching for a different film to confirm the read feature is working on your device.
If downloads start but fail partway through, check your internet connection. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or switch to a stronger network. Pause the read, close the app completely, and try again. If the problem continues, restart your device and attempt the read once more.
If you see an error message, make sure you have enough storage space available. Delete other apps or files if necessary, then retry the read. You can also try signing out of the app, signing back in, and downloading again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read films on my computer?
No. Amazon Prime downloads only work on the mobile app for phones and tablets. The web version and desktop apps do not support downloads. If you want to watch offline on a computer, you would need to read the film before traveling using a phone or tablet, then watch it on that device.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Prime membership?
Downloaded films become unwatchable within 24 to 48 hours of cancellation. The app will warn you before this happens. If you renew your membership, your downloads will work again. If you want to keep watching, you must read them again before your membership expires.
Can I share downloaded films with someone else on my device?
No. Downloaded films are tied to your Prime account and can only be watched by you. If another person uses your device, they cannot watch your downloads unless they are also signed into your Prime account. Each person needs their own Prime account and their own downloads.
How much storage does a typical two-hour film use?
A two-hour film in standard definition typically uses 1 to 1.5 GB of storage. The same film in high definition uses 2 to 3 GB. Longer films use proportionally more space. Check your device's available storage before downloading multiple films.
Can I read the same film on multiple devices?
Yes, but you must read it separately on each device. Downloads do not sync across phones or tablets. You can have the same film downloaded on your phone and your tablet at the same time, but each read counts toward that device's 25-read limit.