What you can read and where it works

Amazon Prime Video lets you read movies and TV shows to your phone or tablet through the Prime Video app, then watch them without an internet connection. Not every title is available for read — the studio or rights holder decides which ones allow it. When you open a movie or show page in the app, you'll see a read button (usually a downward arrow) if that title supports offline viewing.

Downloads work on phones and tablets running iOS or Android, and on some Fire tablets. You cannot read to a computer or Roku device. The downloaded file stays on your device for a set number of days — usually 30 days from when you read it, though some titles have shorter windows. Once you start watching, you typically have 48 hours to finish before the file expires.

You need an active Prime Video membership to read, and the app must connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to verify your subscription is still active. If your membership lapses, your downloads will stop playing.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Prime Video app on your phone or tablet, find the movie or show you want, and tap the read arrow if one appears next to the title.
  • Downloaded files expire after 30 days or 48 hours after you start watching, whichever comes first, so plan your viewing accordingly.
  • Downloads require an active Prime Video membership and an internet connection at least once every 30 days to stay valid.
  • You can manage your downloads in the app's Downloads section, where you can delete files to free up space on your device.

Downloading a movie on iPhone or iPad

Open the Prime Video app and search for or browse to the movie you want to read. Tap the title to open its details page. Look for a downward-pointing arrow icon — this is the read button. If you don't see it, that title is not available for offline read.

Tap the read arrow. The app will ask you to choose a video quality: typically Standard or High. Standard uses less storage space on your device; High uses more but looks sharper on your screen. Choose based on how much free space you have and how long you plan to keep the file. The read will begin when ready and usually finishes within a few minutes on a strong Wi-Fi connection.

You can watch the read progress in the Downloads section of the app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap Downloads. You'll see all your downloaded titles and how much of each read is complete.

Downloading a movie on Android phones and tablets

The process on Android is nearly identical to iPhone. Open Prime Video, find your movie, and tap the title to open its page. Tap the read arrow if it appears. Select your video quality and confirm — Standard or High — and the read will start.

Check your read progress by tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom, then Downloads. You'll see a list of everything you've downloaded and how much storage each one uses. Android devices sometimes show a notification when a read completes.

Make sure you have enough free storage space before downloading, especially if you choose High quality. A two-hour movie in High quality can use 2 to 4 gigabytes of space depending on the title.

Managing your downloads and storage space

Go to the Downloads section of the Prime Video app to see all your offline files. Each title shows how many days remain before it expires. You can delete any read by swiping left on it (iPhone) or long-pressing it (Android), then tapping Delete. Deleting a read frees up storage space when ready but removes the file from your device.

If you're running low on storage, delete downloads you've already watched or don't plan to watch soon. The app will warn you if your device is nearly full and may refuse to read new titles until you free up space.

You can re-read the same movie or show as many times as you want while your membership is active, so deleting a file doesn't mean you've lost access to it permanently. Just open the title again and tap read.

Understanding expiration dates and playback windows

Every read has an expiration date shown in the Downloads section. Most titles expire 30 days after you read them. Some titles have shorter windows — occasionally 7 or 14 days — depending on the studio's rules. When the expiration date arrives, the file becomes unplayable and you must delete it.

Additionally, once you start watching a downloaded movie, you have 48 hours to finish it. If you pause and come back three days later, the file will have expired and you'll need to read it again. This 48-hour clock resets if you delete the file and re-read it, but the original 30-day expiration from the first read still applies.

Plan your downloads around when you actually want to watch. Downloading a movie the night before a flight makes sense; downloading it weeks in advance does not.

Troubleshooting downloads that won't start or complete

If the read button doesn't appear on a title, that movie or show straightforward isn't available for offline read. This is a studio decision, not a problem with your app or account. Try searching for a similar title instead.

If a read starts but gets stuck, check your internet connection. Downloads pause automatically if you lose Wi-Fi or switch to cellular data (the app defaults to Wi-Fi only to save your phone plan). Reconnect to Wi-Fi and the read will resume. You can also manually pause and resume any read by tapping it in the Downloads section.

If the app crashes or you close it during a read, the read will resume the next time you open the app. You don't need to start over. However, if you uninstall and reinstall the Prime Video app, your downloads will be deleted and you'll need to read them again.

What to do if your membership expires

If your Prime Video membership lapses, your downloaded files will stop playing even if they haven't reached their expiration date. The app checks your membership status whenever you try to play a downloaded file. Renew your membership and the files will work again when ready.

If you let your membership lapse for an extended period, the app may delete your downloads automatically to free up space. When you reactivate your membership, you can read the titles again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read movies to my computer?

No. The Prime Video app for Windows and Mac does not include a read feature. You can only read to phones, tablets, and Fire tablets. If you need to watch offline on a computer, you'll need to read to a tablet and watch there instead.

What happens if I read a movie and then my internet goes out?

Once a read is complete, you can watch it without internet. The app only needs to connect to the internet once every 30 days to verify your membership is still active. If your internet is out for a week or two, your downloads will still play.

Can I transfer a downloaded movie to another device?

No. Downloaded files are locked to the device they were downloaded on and the account that downloaded them. You cannot copy them to another phone, tablet, or computer. If you want to watch on a different device, read the title on that device instead.

How much storage does a downloaded movie use?

It depends on the movie length and quality you choose. A two-hour movie in Standard quality typically uses 1 to 2 gigabytes; in High quality, 2 to 4 gigabytes. Longer movies and TV show seasons use more. Check how much free space your device has before downloading multiple titles.

Can I read a movie if I'm sharing my Prime membership with family?

Yes, anyone with access to the shared membership can read titles to their own device. Each person's downloads are separate and tied to their own device, not shared across the family account.