read movies and shows directly in the Prime Video app
Amazon Prime Video lets you read most movies and TV episodes to your phone or tablet through the Prime Video app itself. You open the title you want to watch, tap the read button (usually a downward arrow), and the file saves to your device. The read stays on your device until you delete it or until it expires — some titles have expiration dates set by the studio that owns them.
You cannot read through a web browser or the desktop app. The read feature only works on the mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. This is a limitation Amazon built in, not a technical barrier — the company restricts downloads to mobile devices to manage licensing agreements with studios.
Downloaded files take up storage space on your device. A typical movie uses 500 MB to 2 GB depending on video quality and length. A TV episode usually takes 200 MB to 800 MB. Before you read, check how much free space your phone or tablet has available.
Key Takeaways
- Open any movie or show in the Prime Video app, find the read button (a downward arrow), and tap it to save the file to your device.
- Downloads only work on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets — you cannot read through the website or desktop app.
- Downloaded files expire after a set period if the studio that owns the title has set an expiration date, and you will see the expiration date before you read.
- A movie typically uses 500 MB to 2 GB of storage, and an episode uses 200 MB to 800 MB, so check your device's free space before downloading.
- You can read the same title to multiple devices if you have Prime membership, but each device counts toward your read limit.
Where to find the read button in the Prime Video app
Open the Prime Video app and search for or navigate to the movie or show you want to read. Tap the title to open its detail page. On that page, you will see a row of buttons below the title name — these usually include a play button, an add-to-list button, and a share button. The read button is typically a downward-pointing arrow, and it appears in this same row.
Tap the read button once. The app will ask you to choose a video quality: typically Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD). SD uses less storage but looks grainier on larger screens. HD uses more storage but looks sharper. Select the quality you want, and the read begins when ready. You will see a progress bar showing how much of the file has downloaded.
For TV shows, you read episodes one at a time. Open the show, select the season, find the episode you want, and tap its read button. There is no option to read an entire season at once through the app.
How to watch your downloaded content offline
Once a read finishes, open the Prime Video app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom of the screen. Select "Downloads" from the menu. You will see a list of all your downloaded titles. Tap any title to play it, and it will play without needing an internet connection.
Downloaded content plays the same way as streaming content — you can pause, rewind, fast-forward, and adjust subtitles and audio tracks just as you would with a streamed title. The only difference is that the video comes from your device's storage instead of from Amazon's servers.
You can watch downloaded content for as long as you keep it on your device, unless the title has an expiration date. If a title is expiring soon, the Prime Video app will show a countdown timer next to it in your Downloads list.
Understanding expiration dates and read limits
Some movies and shows have expiration dates set by the studios that own them. Amazon shows you the expiration date before you read — it appears on the read confirmation screen. If a title expires, you cannot watch it anymore, even if the file is still on your device. You would need to read it again if it becomes available.
Amazon also limits how many titles you can have downloaded at once. The limit varies by device type and your membership level, but it is typically 25 to 100 titles per device. If you reach your limit, you must delete some downloads before you can read new ones.
Expiration dates are rare for newer releases and popular shows, but they are common for licensed content like movies from major studios. If you see an expiration date and you plan to watch the title later, read it sooner rather than later.
Deleting downloads and freeing up storage
To delete a downloaded title, open the Prime Video app, go to Downloads, find the title you want to remove, and swipe left on it (on iPhone or iPad) or long-press it (on Android). A delete button will appear. Tap it to remove the file from your device. The title will no longer appear in your Downloads list, and the storage space will be freed up.
Deleting a read does not affect your ability to watch the title later — you can always read it again if you want to watch it offline again. Deleting just removes the file from your device.
If you need to free up storage space quickly, check your Downloads list and delete titles you have already watched or no longer need. The Prime Video app does not automatically delete old downloads, so you have to manage them manually.
Downloading on multiple devices
You can read the same title to more than one device if you have an active Prime membership. Each device has its own read limit and its own storage, so you could read a movie to your phone and the same movie to your tablet without any problem.
However, you can only watch a downloaded title on the device where you downloaded it. If you read a movie to your phone, you cannot watch that specific read on your tablet — you would need to read it to the tablet separately. This is different from streaming, where you can start watching on one device and pick up on another.
If you share your Prime membership with family members, each person can read titles to their own device using the same account. Downloads are stored locally on each device, so one person's downloads do not take up storage on another person's phone or tablet.
Troubleshooting common read problems
If the read button does not appear on a title, that title is not available for read. Some content, especially newer releases or exclusive shows, can only be streamed. Check whether the title you want has a read button before assuming there is a problem.
If a read keeps failing or gets stuck, try closing the Prime Video app completely and opening it again. Make sure you have a stable internet connection — downloads pause if your connection drops, and they resume when you reconnect. If the problem continues, try downloading a different title to see whether the issue is specific to one title or a broader problem with your device.
If you see a message that you have reached your read limit, delete some older downloads from your device and try again. If you see a message that a title is no longer available, it may have been removed from Prime Video's catalog or your membership may have expired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Prime Video content on my computer?
No. Downloads only work on the Prime Video app for iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. The website and desktop app do not have a read feature. If you need to watch content offline on a computer, you would need to use a different streaming service that supports computer downloads.
How long do downloads stay on my device?
Downloads stay on your device until you delete them, unless the title has an expiration date set by the studio. Some titles expire after 30 days, 48 hours, or another period — Amazon shows the expiration date before you read. After expiration, you cannot watch the file, but you can read it again if it is still available.
Do I need an internet connection to watch downloaded videos?
No. Once a read finishes, you can watch it without any internet connection. Your device plays the file from its own storage. You do not need to be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Prime membership?
Downloaded files remain on your device, but you cannot watch them after your membership ends. Prime Video checks your membership status when you try to play a read, and it blocks playback if your membership is inactive. Reactivating your membership will restore access to your downloads.
Can I read subtitles with the video?
Subtitles are included with downloads when available. When you play a downloaded title, you can turn subtitles on or off and choose the language the same way you would with a streamed title. The subtitle files read along with the video.