Download a film directly from its detail page

Open the Amazon Prime Video app on your phone or tablet, find the film you want to watch offline, and tap or click the download icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow and sits near the play button. The app will ask you to pick a video quality: Good uses less storage space, Better uses more, and Best uses the most. Choose based on how much free space your device has. The download starts immediately and shows a progress bar on the film's detail page.

On a computer, the download option is not available through the web browser version of Prime Video. You must use the Prime Video app from the Microsoft Store (on Windows) or the Mac App Store (on Apple computers). The process is the same: find the film, look for the download arrow, select your quality, and wait for the progress bar to finish.

Downloaded films stay on your device until you delete them manually. You can watch them as many times as you want while they are stored there, even if your internet connection drops. The download expires after a set period — usually 30 days from when you first downloaded it, though some films have different expiration windows. Prime Video will show you the expiration date on the film's detail page before you download.

Key Takeaways

  • The download button appears on every film's detail page in the Prime Video app for phones, tablets, and computers — but not in the web browser.
  • You choose the video quality before downloading, with Good using the least storage and Best using the most.
  • Downloaded films expire after 30 days on most titles, though some films have longer or shorter windows that Prime Video shows you upfront.
  • You can watch a downloaded film as many times as you want while it is stored on your device, with no internet connection needed.
  • Deleting a downloaded film from your device frees up storage space immediately.

Check your device storage before downloading

A single film can use anywhere from 500 megabytes to several gigabytes of storage, depending on the quality you choose and the film's length. Before you download, check how much free space your device has. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, then Storage. On an Android phone or tablet, go to Settings, tap Storage, and look for the available space number. On Windows, right-click the drive and select Properties. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage.

If your device is running low on space, delete old downloads you no longer need, clear your app cache, or move photos and videos to cloud storage. The Good quality setting uses roughly half the storage of Best quality, so choosing a lower quality is the fastest way to make room if you are tight on space.

Find your downloaded films in the app

Downloaded films appear in a separate section of the Prime Video app. On your phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom or side of the screen, then select Downloads. You will see all your downloaded films listed there. Tap any film to play it, or swipe left on it to delete it from your device.

On a computer, open the Prime Video app, look for a Downloads section in the menu on the left side, and click it. Your downloaded films appear as a list or grid. Click any film to play it, or right-click to delete it.

Understand expiration dates and renewal

Most films expire 30 days after you download them, but some titles have different windows — a few expire in 7 days, others in 48 hours. Prime Video shows the exact expiration date on the film's detail page before you download, and also displays it next to the film in your Downloads section once it is stored on your device. When a film expires, it automatically disappears from your Downloads list and you cannot watch it offline anymore, though you can download it again if you want.

If a film is expiring soon and you want to keep watching it, you have two choices: download it again before it expires (which resets the 30-day clock), or watch it while connected to the internet using the streaming version instead of the offline download. Some films also allow you to renew the download by tapping a refresh button that appears when the expiration date is close.

Troubleshoot downloads that fail or get stuck

If a download stops partway through or never starts, first check your internet connection — downloads need a stable connection to begin, though they can sometimes resume if the connection drops briefly. Open your WiFi settings and make sure you are connected to a network, or switch to a different network if the current one is weak.

If the download still will not start, close the Prime Video app completely and open it again. On a phone or tablet, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or tap the back button repeatedly (Android) to close all apps, then reopen Prime Video. On a computer, close the app window entirely and launch it fresh from your Start menu or Applications folder.

If a download is stuck at 99 percent or shows an error message, delete it and try again. In your Downloads section, swipe left on the film (phone or tablet) or right-click it (computer) and select Delete. Then go back to the film's detail page and download it once more. If the same film keeps failing, it may have a technical issue on Amazon's end — try downloading a different film to confirm the app is working, then come back to the problem film later.

Download films on WiFi to avoid data charges

Downloading over cellular data (4G, 5G, or LTE) uses your monthly data allowance and can trigger overage charges if you have a limited plan. The Prime Video app does not block downloads over cellular, so you have to manage this yourself. Before you download, check whether you are connected to WiFi or cellular by looking at the icon in your status bar — a WiFi symbol means you are on WiFi, and a cellular symbol (bars or letters like 4G) means you are using data.

If you are on cellular and want to download, find a WiFi network first. Most coffee shops, libraries, and retail stores offer free WiFi. Once you are connected, open Prime Video and start your download. If you are frequently downloading away from home, consider downloading at home or at a library before you leave, so you have the films ready to watch wherever you go.

Manage storage by deleting old downloads

Over time, downloaded films add up and fill your device. To free up space, go to your Downloads section, find a film you have finished watching, and delete it. On a phone or tablet, swipe left on the film and tap Delete. On a computer, right-click the film and select Delete or Remove. The film disappears from your device immediately and you regain that storage space.

You can also set the app to delete downloads automatically after you finish watching them. In the Prime Video app, go to Settings (usually a gear icon), look for a Downloads or Playback section, and toggle on any option that says "Delete after watching" or "Auto-delete completed downloads." This keeps your device from filling up without you having to remember to delete each film manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download the same film on multiple devices?

Yes. You can download a film on your phone, your tablet, and your computer all at the same time, as long as you are signed into the same Amazon account on each device. Each device stores its own copy, so the download on your phone does not affect the download on your tablet. Each copy counts toward that device's storage space separately.

What happens if I delete the Prime Video app — do my downloads disappear?

Yes. Deleting the app also deletes all downloaded films stored on that device. If you uninstall Prime Video by accident, you will lose your downloads. Reinstalling the app does not bring them back — you will need to download them again. To avoid losing downloads, back up your device regularly or download films again after reinstalling the app.

Can I watch a downloaded film if my Prime membership expires?

No. Once your Prime membership ends, you cannot watch any downloaded films, even though they are still stored on your device. The app checks your membership status each time you try to play a download. If you want to keep watching, you will need to renew your membership or watch the film through the streaming version if you have other ways to access it.

Why does a film say "download unavailable" even though I have Prime?

Some films and TV shows cannot be downloaded due to licensing agreements between Amazon and the studios that own them. These titles are only available to stream online. If a film has no download button on its detail page, that title is not available for offline viewing. You can still watch it by streaming over the internet.

How much storage does a typical film use?

A two-hour film in Good quality uses roughly 500 megabytes to 1 gigabyte. The same film in Better quality uses 1 to 2 gigabytes, and in Best quality uses 2 to 4 gigabytes or more. Longer films and films with higher resolution use more space. Check your available storage before downloading, especially if you plan to download multiple films.