Change your payment method in your Amazon account settings

To change how Prime Video charges you, you go into your Amazon account — not into the Prime Video app itself. Amazon uses the same payment method for Prime Video, regular purchases, and any other services tied to your account. When you update your payment information in one place, it updates everywhere.

The steps are the same whether you're using a computer, phone, or tablet. You'll need to sign into your Amazon account first, then navigate to the payment settings section. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Video uses whatever payment method is set as your default in your main Amazon account, so you change it there rather than in the app.
  • You can add a new card, delete an old one, or switch which card is your primary payment method all from the same settings page.
  • Changes take effect immediately, so if you're switching cards before a charge date, update it as soon as you know the old card won't work.
  • If a payment fails, Amazon will try again a few times over several days before suspending your Prime membership.

Steps to update your payment method on a computer

Open your web browser and go to amazon.com. Sign in with your email and password if you're not already logged in. Look for the account icon in the top right corner — it usually shows your name or a silhouette — and click it to open a dropdown menu.

From that menu, select "Account" to go to your account page. On the left side, you'll see a list of options. Click "Your Account" at the top, then look for a section called "Login & security" or "Payment options." The exact wording varies slightly depending on your region, but it's always in the account settings area. Once you find it, click on "Payment options" or "Manage payment methods."

You'll now see a list of all the cards and payment methods attached to your account. To add a new card, click the button that says "Add a payment method" or "Add card." Enter the card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and the billing address. To remove an old card, find it in the list and click "Delete." To make a different card your primary payment method, click on that card and select "Set as default."

Steps to update your payment method on a phone or tablet

Open the Amazon app or go to amazon.com in your phone's web browser. Sign in if needed. Tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines — usually in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Account."

On the Account page, tap "Login & security" or scroll to find "Payment options." Tap "Manage payment methods." From here, the steps are the same as on a computer: tap "Add a payment method" to add a new card, tap the three dots next to a card to delete it, or tap a card to set it as your default.

The mobile app sometimes hides these options deeper in the menu than the website does. If you can't find the payment settings in the app, switch to amazon.com in your phone's browser instead — the website version is usually faster to navigate.

What happens when you change your payment method

The change takes effect right away. If Prime Video was set to charge your old card on the 15th of the month and you change your payment method on the 10th, the charge on the 15th will go to your new card instead. You don't have to do anything else or confirm the change with Amazon.

If you're removing a card because it's expired or lost, make sure you have another valid card set as your default before you delete the old one. If you delete your only payment method, your Prime membership will stay active, but when the next charge date arrives, the payment will fail and Amazon will send you an email asking you to add a new card.

What to do if a payment fails

If a charge to your card is declined — because the card is expired, the account is closed, or you've hit your credit limit — Amazon doesn't immediately cancel your Prime membership. Instead, it tries the charge again over the next few days. You'll receive an email from Amazon letting you know the payment failed and asking you to update your payment method.

Open that email and click the link to go straight to your payment settings, or follow the steps above to add a new card or update the existing one. Once you've added valid payment information, Amazon will attempt the charge again within 24 hours. If the second attempt succeeds, your membership stays active with no interruption. If it fails again, Amazon will eventually suspend your Prime membership until you provide working payment information.

Using a different payment method for just one purchase

If you want to use a different card for a one-time Prime Video purchase — like buying a movie to own rather than streaming it — you can do that without changing your default payment method. When you go to buy or rent a title, you'll see a payment method selector before you confirm the purchase. Click or tap it to choose a different card from the ones you have on file, then complete the purchase.

Your Prime membership subscription will still charge to your default card. Only that single purchase will use the card you selected. This is useful if you want to use a gift card balance, a card with better rewards, or a card with a lower balance for a specific buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different payment method for Prime Video than I use for regular Amazon purchases?

No. Prime Video is part of your Amazon account and uses the same default payment method as everything else. However, you can add multiple cards to your account and switch which one is the default whenever you need to. For one-time purchases like renting a movie, you can choose a different card at checkout without changing your default.

What payment methods does Amazon accept besides credit cards?

Amazon accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards. You can also link a debit card, a prepaid card, or an Amazon store card if you have one. Some regions support other methods like bank transfers or digital wallets, but this varies by country.

Will changing my payment method affect my Prime membership?

No. Your membership stays active and continuous. The change only affects which card gets charged on your next billing date. There's no interruption, no need to restart your membership, and no change to your membership end date.

What if I want to pause my Prime membership instead of changing the card?

You can pause or cancel your Prime membership from the same Account page where you manage payment methods. Look for "Manage Prime membership" or "Your memberships and subscriptions," then select the option to pause or cancel. This stops all charges until you restart it, rather than just changing the card.

How long does it take for a new payment method to start working?

It's immediate. As soon as you add a new card and set it as your default, Prime Video will use it for the next charge. If you add a card today and your billing date is tomorrow, the charge tomorrow will go to the new card.