Have you ever been bothered by the insufficient storage on your mobile devices and had to delete 2 of your favorite movies? I know that pain. Plus, I prefer to enjoy shows offline on TV (bigger screen, better experience), without any buffering. A USB can solve these problems easily.
Because of DRM protection, the downloaded files from the Prime Video app remain encrypted and set with a typical time limit: you only have 30 days to start watching and 48 hours to finish it once the playback begins.
To solve the playback-on-a-bigger-screen and insufficient storage problems, I worked hard on finding a safe, reliable, and quick solution. This article is written to share my clear, no-nonsense ideas about Prime Video on USB.
Why Do You Need to Download Movies from Amazon Prime to USB?
2 unparalleled advantages:
- Save more space on your mobile devices.
- Provide compatibility with a TV or a bigger screen.
When I travel, I want movies that work on a plane, a café with shaky Wi-Fi, and hotel TVs that seem older than my journalism diploma. USB looks like a silver bullet: “download Amazon Prime movies to USB, plug into the TV, hit play.”
In reality, encryption and app-bound playback mean USB isn’t a portable player; at best, it’s storage for the app, not a way to bypass it. You can see the confusion in community threads—people ask how to download to a USB flash drive, whether they can move downloads to an SD card, or if purchased movies can live on a thumb drive.
A portable and plug-and-play USB can definitely help avoid all the troubles if we know how to download Amazon Prime movies to USB flash drive.
Can I Download Amazon Prime Movies to USB?
You can direct the app to save on a drive, but Amazon doesn’t recommend USB-connected drives. If you physically move those files to another device, they won’t play.
That's because all videos downloaded via the Prime Video app are encrypted and tied to the app on the device where you downloaded them.
Don't worry. Although you can't download movies from Amazon Prime to a USB via the official app, there are many workarounds you can select to achieve the same purpose.
How to Download Amazon Video to USB?
Here are some verified methods to help you download Amazon Video to USB on different devices:
- On Windows 10/11: Change the storage location on the Prime Video app (not recommended; limits still apply). Or use a third-party tool like KeepStreams to download videos in MP4/MKV format (no limits).
- On Mac, iPhone or iPad: Use KeepStreams to download movies to USB directly.
- On Android/Fire Tablets: Change the download location before you download a title (with limits).
Check the details of each method below.
On Windows 10/11
If you only want to change a storage location and are okay with the offline viewing only limited to the Prime Video app, follow these steps:
- Install/open the Prime Video app from the Microsoft Store.
- Find a title and tap Download.
- In Settings → Downloads, choose Download location (internal or another drive installed for apps).
On Windows, downloads live in the app’s encrypted folder; changing that folder often means changing where the app itself is installed (move app location, then re-download).
You can change the storage location to your hard drive in this way, but…
- Only within the app: It's impossible to play the downloaded videos with other players, let alone TVs.
- Viewing Window: Typically 30 days to start after download; 48 hours to finish once you press play (varies by title/region).
- Streams/devices: Up to 3 simultaneous streams per account; the same title on no more than 2 devices at once.
- Casting limits: Downloaded content can’t be played via Chromecast or AirPlay.
- Regional licensing can change time limits and availability. If you handle sensitive work devices, keep in mind that downloaded titles can expire without notice.
On Mac, iPhone or iPad
Officially, the situation on Mac or iOS devices is even worse: You can download inside the app, but there’s no external storage option, and files remain app-bound (and subject to all rules mentioned above).
Or, you can use KeepStreams for Prime Video as a workaround to download movies from Amazon Prime to USB. It works on Windows PC and Mac.
You will first need to download movies from Prime Video on your Windows PC or Mac and then transfer them to your USB drive:
Choose the Free Trial option so that you can get used to the tool before opting for a subscription.
From among the different streaming services available, choose Amazon. Sign in to your Prime account.
Search for the video that you wish to download to a USB drive. Play the video to bring up the download configuration window. This will let you configure your preferences for video resolution, audio tracks, and subtitle preferences. (KeepStreams allows 100 downloads per day)
After you have clicked on the Download Now button, the video will be saved to the folder you set (D:/KeepStreams by default). If you want to save the shows directly into your USB device, go to Settings → General → Download Directory → Customized directory and choose your USB location.
Or, if the videos are already saved in the local folder on your computer, find the folder (click the file icon beside the downloaded videos in KeepStreams) and right-click it to move it to the USB drive.
All videos downloaded by KeepStreams will be converted into a compatible MP4/MKV format automatically, and that's also the reason why you can play these saved videos on any player, including TVs.
And yes, videos downloaded in this way shake off all download limits of Prime Video, so that you can move, transfer, and watch them as you prefer.
On Android/Fire Tablets
In the Prime Video app: Settings → Stream & Download → Download Location. Pick Internal storage or SD card on devices that support it.
If you switch storage later, you generally re-download to the new location. Remember, moving an already-downloaded encrypted file is not supported.
Where to find downloaded files?
On Windows, downloads are in an encrypted app data directory; on Android, they live under the app’s managed storage (internal or SD as chosen). You can’t play them with third-party players.
To gain more freedom and flexibility, use KeepStreams for Prime Video instead to download Prime Video movies into MP4 or MKV files and then play/transfer them as you prefer.
How to Download Purchased Movies from Amazon to USB?
It's impossible. Purchasing a title only gives you ongoing access within Amazon’s ecosystem, not a transferable MP4. You can download for offline viewing on supported devices, under the same app-bound rules.
If you really want to download your purchased videos from Prime Video, I still recommend using KeepStreams or other similar tools (a dedicated tool is better and safer).
Legality and Risk: Is the Workaround Really Safe?
Amazon only permits offline viewing in-app. Breaking DRM or distributing decrypted files can violate the Usage Rules (Check Amazon Prime Video Usage Rules) and applicable copyright law (DMCA 1201).
Meanwhile, as a legal subscriber, you have the right to make personal copies for offline viewing. It's acceptable as long as you don't share the downloads with other people or use them for commercial purposes.
Tools like KeepStreams don't break DRM. Before downloading videos, they require an active subscription on a particular streaming platform to help them access videos that have been un-DRMed once you log in. Therefore, you can rest assured to using them.
FAQs
Q1. Can I transfer Prime Video downloads to a USB stick and watch them on a TV?
A1. Not possible with the official app. You may store encrypted files, but playback requires the Prime Video app on the download device, not a TV’s generic USB reader. You can use a tool like KeepStreams to download Prime Video movies into MP4/MKV files (no encryption) first, and then move them to a USB drive.
Q2. Is it legal to download Prime Video to a USB?
A2. Downloads for personal offline viewing are allowed. But copying/decrypting for commercial purposes or sharing may violate the Amazon Prime Video usage rules or law.
Q3. How to download purchased movies from Amazon to USB?
A3. It's impossible officially. Purchases don’t become portable MP4s. You're only allowed to download for offline viewing in the app. Or use a third-party tool like KeepStreams to help download the purchased videos into MP4 files.
Q4. How to download movies from Firestick to USB?
A4. You can't directly download movies from Firestick to USB. But you could change the download location to free up more space: Settings → Stream & Download → Download Location → Select Internal storage or SD card on devices.
Q5. Where are Prime Video downloads stored on Windows/Android?
A5. If you download a video via the official Prime Video app, you can find the downloads in this way:
- On Windows, they are stored in an encrypted app folder. You might need to adjust the default settings of the File Explorer.
- On Android: internal/SD as selected in the app. Neither is meant for third-party players.
Conclusion
Well, although Prime Video allows you to change the download location on Android/Amazon mobile device and Windows PC, there is no default option to download Amazon Prime movies to a USB drive.
However, using KeepStreams for Prime Video, you should be able to easily download the titles into MP4/MKV format, and then move them to your USB drive.
If you evaluate third-party software, vet it on: OS support, resolution/bitrate, audio/subtitles, update cadence, support, and—most importantly—legal compliance. Your local laws and Amazon’s Usage Rules apply. Again, this article doesn’t encourage DRM circumvention.