Weekend night, game in overtime, and I’m trying to stash a movie on my Mac for the commute. I open primevideo.com—wait, no Download button. Right, this only works in the Prime Video macOS app, not the browser.
Then the fine print hits: I typically get 30 days to start, 48 hours to finish after I hit Play, the same title can live on two devices max, and downloaded videos won’t AirPlay/Chromecast... I’ve already tripped over these gotchas—so here’s the clean, no-nonsense playbook to get offline viewing right on a Mac, plus what to know about third-party and free tools.
- Mac downloads require the Prime Video app for macOS. The web player has no download button.
- Typical expiry: ~30 days to start and 48 hours to finish (varies by title/region).
- Simultaneous device: The same title can be downloaded on up to 2 devices at a time.
- Prime Video Policy says: Downloaded videos aren’t allowed via AirPlay/Chromecast.
- No-limit offline viewing: Use a reliable tool to download Prime Video movies into MP4 format on a Mac. Do respect copyright and official rules, and do not bypass DRM.
Can You Download Amazon Prime Video on a Mac?
Yes. It's easy to use the Amazon Prime Video app for macOS to download videos. Just log in to your account, and you'll see a Download button on available titles. To learn more details and steps about how to do it, jump to Section 2.
Prime Video Download Rules You Should Know
Amazon applies DRM to protect its online video sources. It means that you have the right to watch videos under the condition stipulated by Prime Video, but you do not really own them. Here are the rules:
1. Expiration Windows: Every subscriber has 30 days to start watching the downloaded title, and 48 hours to finish once playback starts.
2. Device Rule: The same title can only be downloaded on up to 2 devices at the same time.
3. Download Cap: Every account can only have a maximum of (about) 25 titles across all devices.
4. Casting Rule: The downloads can't be played over AirPlay or Chromecast.
5. External Storage: It's not allowed to save downloads to USB-connected drives. (In fact, even if you move them to a USB, it's impossible to play the videos. Amazon only allows in-app playback.)
Read Prime Video Download Limits Explained to learn about why Prime Video sets so many caps, and the tips to enjoy offline viewing without these limitations.
Where Are Prime Video Downloads Stored on Mac?
To put it formally, all Prime Video content downloaded is saved inside the app's sandbox and protected by DRM. It's not easy to find the files, and they're not meant to be moved or played outside the app.
However, I found some tips on an online technology community. One user has spotted opaque cache folders under the app container after using a disk storage app: Users/Library/Containers/Prime Video/Data
But even if you find them, they aren’t portable video files. In fact, it's a package with a few folders. Thus, hunting the raw files is useless.
Manage your content inside the app under Downloads instead, or use a third-party tool to download Prime Video shows into MP4 format, a compatible format, so that you can get the real video files and move or edit them.
Q: Can I move downloads to USB/SD card?
A: Not recommended by Prime Video and also officially unsupported. At least, you need a third-party tool to do this. Read another post to learn how to change the Prime Video downloads location on Mac and other devices.
Method 1: Download Amazon Video on Mac with App
Before following these steps, be sure that you have installed the Amazon Prime Video app from the App Store. And most importantly, make sure that you're subscribing to Prime Video.
On a movie page, click Download. For TV series, you can choose a whole season or individual episodes.
- Choose download quality (e.g., Best/Better/Good) to balance storage and clarity.
- Set subtitles/CC from the playback menu and app settings.
- Auto-download new episodes if you binge on flights: My Stuff > Settings
You should be able to locate and manage the downloaded videos from the Downloads section. Always remember to keep free space and delete watched titles in time.
Method 2: Download Amazon Video on Mac with Downloader
If you want to directly get the video files from Prime Video on Mac, or shake off the download limits to watch the videos anytime you like, a third-party tool is necessary. KeepStreams for Prime Video is one of the excellent options for this purpose.
KeepStreams works by analyzing and extracting videos that have been DRM-removed by Prime Video. Therefore, it'll ask users to log in to their Prime Video account to get access to the videos. It's totally safe and legal to use.
Click on Download Now, and the video will be downloaded instantly on your device. You can check the download progress and the downloaded video within the program.
Other professional Prime Video downloaders can also do this easily. And most of them support downloads on Windows PC and Mac at the same time.
Method 3: Download Amazon Video on Mac with Online Tools
Browser extensions and free web downloaders pop up often. They work by analyzing the URL you provide and extracting videos from it. Most add-ons and online tools are easy to try and can save money.
But the drawbacks are obvious, too. For example, the success is inconsistent, quality can be capped, policy/DRM limits still apply, and they might carry malware or viruses. What's worse, many won’t work with services that enforce strict content protection (like Prime Video).
Let's take KeepVid as an example to see how you can download Prime Video content on a Mac with such tools:
If the tool doesn't ask for an active Prime Video subscription, it means it's taking a method to bypass DRM, which is prohibited by DMCA Section 1201. Use it carefully and always respect platform terms.
Compare The 3 Methods to Download Amazon Videos to Mac
I downloaded 3 titles (TV episodes and films) by using the 3 methods mentioned above, on my MacBook Air (Sequoia 15.5). For the third-party tool, I used KeepStreams and Video DownloadHelper (add-on). Here are my test results:
| Official App | KeepStreams | Video DownloadHelper | |
| Video Quality | 1080p,2K, 4K | 1080p | 720p |
| Output Format | Encrypted | MP4/MKV | MP4 |
| Download Limit | 30days, 48h, 25 titles | 100 downloads per day | No limits |
| Batch Download | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Auto-Download | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Stability | High | Medium | Low |
| Risk | No risk | Low | High |
Tips to Fix Errors and Improve Offline Viewing on Mac
To get the best offline viewing experience on a Mac, some tips are necessary. During my test, I found some common errors on Mac. Check the list to avoid or solve problems when they pop up:
Error 1: "Device/Download limit reached."
If the same title already exists on 2 devices, delete one copy, then re-download. Also, clear old downloads if you hit the account’s overall cap (about 25 titles).
Error 2: "AirPlay won’t play my downloaded movie."
None of the subscribers is permitted to cast Prime Video content under the official policy, no matter whether the videos are online or offline.
Error 3: "Storage full/low quality."
When the warning pops up, try to lower the video quality. Or, try to raise download quality in settings and free space before retrying.
Tips for Better Offline Viewing:
- Before you travel: Download on Wi-Fi, confirm subtitles, and test playback once.
- Storage hygiene: Keep 10–20 GB free if you’re grabbing long series. Delete watched episodes in Downloads and avoid USB targets.
- Quality tips: If the plane’s seatback power is flaky, lower quality to reduce battery/space.
FAQs
Q1. Can you download Prime Video on a Mac?
A1. Yes. Officially through the Prime Video macOS app, but not all titles are available for download here. You can also use a third-party video downloader or online tools to download Prime Video on Mac in a compatible MP4 format.
Q2. Why is there no Download button on the website?
A2. The browser player is streaming-only. Use the app for offline viewing if you want to download Amazon Prime Video to Mac.
Q3. How many devices can hold the same download?
A3. If you're using the Prime Video app, a specific title can be downloaded on up to 2 devices at once. If you're using a third-party tool (downloader or online tools), there is no limit on simultaneous offline viewing.
Q4. Where are the Prime Video downloads stored on Mac?
A4. When you download Prime Video content with the app, all downloads will be saved inside the app’s sandbox. Files are DRM-protected and not user-movable. You're only allowed to manage them in the app.
Rex's Suggestion
If you just want the simplest, most reliable route: use the Prime Video app for macOS and keep the key rules in mind—app-only downloads, 30/48 timing, two devices per title, no AirPlay/Chromecast for downloads, and avoid USB targets. This combo keeps you within policy, preserves quality/subtitles, and works great before flights.
For power users who want to control their downloads better, tools like KeepStreams for Prime Video offer file-based workflows. They can help you download Prime Video in MP4 video files on Mac, and avoid all limits for you.