Amazon Prime lets you add family members to your account so they can watch shows, order items, and use Prime benefits without needing their own subscription
Amazon Prime sharing works through two different methods depending on what you want family members to access. The first is Amazon Household, which links up to two adults and up to four teens or children to a single Prime membership. Everyone in the household gets their own login, their own watchlist, and their own recommendations — but they all use the same Prime benefits and payment method. The second method is Prime Video sharing, which lets you share just the video streaming part with people outside your household, though they cannot use Prime shopping or other benefits.
Most families use Amazon Household because it covers everything Prime includes. You set it up directly in your Amazon account settings, and it takes about five minutes. Family members do not need to live at the same address, though Amazon asks you to confirm they are part of your household.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Household links up to two adults and four younger family members to one Prime membership, and each person gets their own login and recommendations.
- You set up a household through your Amazon account settings under "Login & security" or "Account settings," depending on your device.
- Family members need their own Amazon account before you can add them, and you will need their email address or phone number.
- If you want to share Prime Video only with people outside your household, use Prime Video sharing instead, which does not include shopping or other Prime benefits.
- You can remove family members at any time, and they lose access to Prime benefits when ready.
Setting up Amazon Household on a computer
Go to amazon.com and sign in with your account. Click on the account icon in the top right corner (it looks like a person's head) and select "Account" from the menu. Look for a section called "Login & security" or scroll down until you see "Household settings" or "Amazon Household." Click on it.
You will see an option to "Manage your household" or "Add an adult" or "Add a teen." Click whichever matches the family member you want to add. Amazon will ask for their email address or phone number. Enter it and click next. Amazon sends them an invitation email or text message. They need to accept the invitation from their own email or phone — you cannot accept it for them. Once they accept, they appear in your household list.
If you are adding a child under 13, the process is slightly different. You will need to set up a child profile instead, and Amazon asks for their birth date. You control what they can watch and what they can order. Teens aged 13 to 17 can be added as regular household members with fewer restrictions than children.
Setting up Amazon Household on a phone or tablet
Open the Amazon app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right. Scroll down and tap "Account." Look for "Login & security" or "Household settings." Tap "Manage your household" or "Add a member."
Enter the family member's email address or phone number and tap next. They will receive an invitation they need to accept from their own device. The process is the same as on a computer — you cannot complete their acceptance for them.
If the Amazon app does not show household settings, open a web browser instead and go to amazon.com. The website version always has the full household menu, even if the app does not display it on your phone.
What family members can and cannot do
Everyone in your Amazon Household can watch Prime Video, read Prime Reading books, listen to Prime Music, and use Prime shipping on orders. They can also use Prime Gaming if you have that benefit. Each person has their own watchlist, their own recommendations, and their own viewing history — what one person watches does not affect another person's suggestions.
For shopping, all household members use the same payment method and address by default, though adults can change their delivery address at checkout. Children and teens have restrictions: you can set spending limits and control what they can order. Teens can usually order without approval, but children need an adult to approve purchases over a certain amount.
Family members cannot change the payment method or the primary account holder's password. They cannot remove other household members. Only the account owner can make those changes.
Sharing Prime Video only, outside your household
If you want to share Prime Video with someone who does not live with you, or if you do not want them to have access to shopping and other Prime benefits, use Prime Video sharing instead of Amazon Household. This feature lets you share your Prime Video subscription with up to three other people.
Go to amazon.com, sign in, and click your account icon. Look for "Prime Video settings" or "Manage your Prime Video membership." Find the option for "Share your Prime Video" or "Sharing settings." Enter the email address of the person you want to share with. They receive an invitation and can start watching once they accept.
People you share Prime Video with can only watch shows and movies — they cannot order items, use Prime Music, or access other Prime benefits. They also cannot see your watchlist or your purchase history. If you stop sharing with them, they lose access to Prime Video when ready.
Removing a family member from your household
Go to your Amazon account settings and find "Household settings" or "Manage your household." You will see a list of everyone in your household. Find the person you want to remove and click the option to remove them — it is usually a trash icon or a button that says "Remove."
Amazon asks you to confirm. Once you confirm, that person loses access to Prime benefits when ready. They can still use their own Amazon account to shop or watch videos if they have their own Prime membership, but they no longer share yours.
If you are removing an adult, Amazon may ask you to confirm that you are the account owner. If you are removing a child, you do not need their permission. If you are removing yourself from someone else's household, go to the same settings and look for an option to "Leave household" instead of "Remove."
Troubleshooting common problems
If a family member does not receive an invitation email or text, ask them to check their spam or junk folder. Sometimes Amazon's invitation lands there by mistake. You can also try sending the invitation again from your household settings — there is usually a "Resend invitation" option next to their name.
If someone accepts the invitation but does not see Prime benefits, have them sign out of the Amazon app or website completely and sign back in. Sometimes the app does not update right away. If they still do not see Prime Video or Prime shipping, check that they are signed into the correct Amazon account — people sometimes have multiple accounts and sign into the wrong one.
If you cannot find household settings in your account, make sure you are signed in as the account owner, not as a family member. Family members cannot manage the household — only the primary account holder can add or remove people. If you are the account owner and still cannot find it, try using a web browser instead of the app, or try a different browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can family members in different countries share one Prime membership?
No. Amazon Prime is tied to a specific country's version of Amazon — US Prime, UK Prime, India Prime, and so on. Family members must be in the same country as the account owner. If someone moves to a different country, you will need to remove them from your household.
What happens to a family member's watchlist if I remove them?
Their watchlist stays on their account, but they lose access to Prime Video unless they have their own Prime membership. If you add them back later, their old watchlist is still there. Removing someone does not delete their account or their history — it just disconnects them from your Prime benefits.
Can I have two adults on the same Prime membership?
Yes. Amazon Household lets you add up to two adults to one Prime membership. Both adults have equal control — either one can add or remove family members, change settings, and manage the household. If you and another adult want separate control, you would need separate Prime memberships.
Does sharing Prime with family members cost extra?
No. Everyone in your household shares the same Prime membership and the same subscription cost. You do not pay more to add family members. If you use Prime Video sharing with people outside your household, that is also included with your Prime membership at no extra cost.
Can I share Prime with a roommate or friend?
Amazon Household is designed for family members, and Amazon asks you to confirm that household members are part of your family. Sharing with roommates or friends technically violates Amazon's terms, though enforcement is inconsistent. A safer option is to use Prime Video sharing, which lets you share just the video streaming with anyone without the household restriction.