A few years ago, my absolute favorite comfort movie, a quirky indie comedy from the early 2000s, vanished from every streaming service except for one: Amazon, where I had happily paid to "buy" it. I figured it was mine forever.
Then one day, I went to re-watch it and a dreaded notification popped up—due to new licensing agreements, it would soon be unavailable in my region. The panic was real. That feeling of losing a movie I owned made me figure out what "buying" digital content really means and how I could make sure my purchased movies were truly safe. If you've ever felt that same anxiety, you're in the right place.
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Download with the Prime Video app: convenient, safe, but the purchases may vanish
- Save purchases on mobile devices, Windows PC, and Mac
- Get encrypted videos that can only be played within the app. ➡️ Check Section 1
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Download with extra software: won't disappear, can be moved, but not so convenient
- Save purchases on Windows PC and Mac
- Get MP4 video files that can be moved, edited as you prefer. ➡️ Check Section 3
- Save purchases on Windows PC and Mac
How to Download Purchased Movies from Amazon?
With the Prime Video app on compatible Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Fire Tablet devices, you can download purchased movies from Amazon easily than you might think.
On Android, iOS, and Fire Tablet
Downloading on mobile is perfect for watching on the go. The process is nearly identical across all mobile devices (Android, iOS, and Fire Tablet).
Step 1. Open the App: Launch the Prime Video app on your phone or tablet.
Step 2. Find Your Video: Locate the purchased title (from My Stuff) you want to download.
Step 3. Tap to Download: Tap on the title to open its detail page, then tap the Download button. For TV shows, you can choose to download an entire season or individual episodes.
Download tip: You can manage the video quality to save more storage space. In the app's settings under "Streaming & Downloading," you can set the default download quality
On Windows PC or Mac
Prime Video provides an official app for Windows PC and Mac. You can search "Prime Video" in the App Store or Google Play to install it easily.
Step 1. Install the App: Head to the Microsoft Store on your Windows 10/11 PC or the App Store on your Mac (running macOS 11.4 Big Sur or newer) and search for "Prime Video."
Step 2. Sign In: Open the app and log in with your Amazon account credentials.
Step 3. Find Your Flicks: Navigate to "My Stuff" or search for the movie or show you've purchased.
Step 4. Download: On the movie's detail page, you'll see a Download icon (usually a downward-facing arrow). Click it to start the process. You can often choose the download quality here, too.
Download Tip: The Prime Video app typically saves files in a default, protected folder. On Windows, you can sometimes change the download location in the app's settings, which is handy if you're low on space on your main drive.
Official Download Rules and Limits About Amazon Purchases (Must Read!)
So, you've downloaded your movie. It's safe on your device. Well, mostly. This is where we need to talk about the fine print. The rules and technical limits can be a bit confusing, so I'll break them down in detail.
If you're bothered by the following limits and prefer free offline viewing, use KeepStreams for Prime Video to download purchased movies from Amazon and get the MP4 video files in their original quality.
First of all, I will explain the time limit, which is also the source of my confusion mentioned above. In fact, when we "buy" a digital video, we're not buying the file itself. you're buying a long-term license to watch it.
As I learned the hard way, these licenses can be revoked if Amazon's content agreements with the movie studios change. While this is less common, it means your purchased library isn't guaranteed to be permanent.
Of course, the word "buy" can be misleading. Not only I, other audiences on the Internet feel angry about the rule.
Official downloads are wrapped in Digital Rights Management (DRM). This is a layer of encryption that locks the video file to the Prime Video app. It's the reason you can't find a simple MP4 or AVI file in the download folder to play with VLC or another media player.
DRM-protected content is restricted from being played only within the Prime Video app. We users can not find it or move it. To get a free offline viewing experience, many audiences find a method to remove DRM from Prime Video shows, but it should be clearly noted that it's illegal and can be risky.
You can typically download the same title to a limited number of devices (usually 2) at once. The files are also stored in a protected, app-controlled location, not your standard "Downloads" folder.
Because of DRM, you can't just copy the downloaded video file to a USB flash drive or an external hard drive to watch on another device or to back it up. The file is encrypted and will only play on the specific device where it was downloaded.
Subtitles are embedded within the protected file and cannot be exported as separate SRT files.
How to Download Purchased Amazon Movies and Save the Video File?
After looking through all those rules and limitations, you might be wondering if there's a way to just... get the video file. A simple MP4 that you can save on your hard drive forever. This is where KeepStreams come into play.
| Feature | Prime Video App | KeepStreams |
| Output Format | Encrypted | MP4 or MKV |
| Video Quality | Up to 1080p | Up to 1080p |
| Simultaneous Streaming |
|
No Limit |
| Download Cap | No Limit for purchases | 100 downloads per day |
| External Drive Support | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Auto Download | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Subs to SRT Files | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Supported OS | Win/Mac/iOS/Android/Fire | Win/Mac |
Step-by-Step Guide
Tools like KeepStreams are designed to do one thing: capture the video stream as it plays and save it as a DRM-free video file on your computer. This process effectively converts the video into a standard format like MP4 or MKV, allowing you to copy it to a USB drive, store it on a personal server (like Plex or Jellyfin), or simply keep a permanent backup.
When you log in to your Prime Video and play purchased videos in the built-in browser of KeepStreams, this tool works by reading and extracting the videos that are already DRM-free by Prime Video. In this way, your account can be safer when downloading MP4 files.
Here's the text-based tutorial:
- Install and Launch: Download and install the KeepStreams software on your computer.
- Log In: Choose the Amazon Prime Video service and log in to your account within the built-in browser.
- Find and Download: Navigate to the purchased movie or show you want to save. When you play it, the software will automatically detect the video and prompt you to download.
- Choose Your Quality: Select your preferred video quality and subtitle options, then click "Download Now." KeepStreams will save the video as a video file in MP4 to your computer.
Is it Legal to Use Third-Party Tools to Download Amazon Purchases?
When it comes to extra software, you must have the same doubt as I: Is it legal and safe to use a third-party tool? Will my Prime Video account be banned for this? It's important to tread carefully here.
1. Legality: It depends on your country's copyright laws regarding "fair use" for personal backups. In the US, it's acceptable to make personal copies for offline viewing later. However, Bypassing DRM may violate Amazon's terms of service, which could carry risks for your account.
2. Potential Account Risks: Using third-party software to download videos is typically against Amazon's terms of service. While enforcement can vary, there is a potential risk to your account.
[Bonus] Troubleshooting Common "Why Can't I Download?" Issue
Running into an error when using the official Prime Video app? Don't worry, it does happen sometimes. Here are some of the most common download hiccups and how to fix them.
Problem 1: The Download Button is Missing or Greyed Out.
This usually means one of 3 things:
- You're trying to download from a web browser (remember, you need the app!).
- The studio that owns the movie hasn't authorized it for download.
- You're traveling and the movie isn't available in your current country's catalog.
Problem 2: My Downloaded Video Expired or Disappeared.
If it is a rental, your 48-hour viewing window likely closed; If it is a purchased movie, this could be due to the rare licensing issue I mentioned. Unfortunately, in this case, the only solution is to contact Amazon customer support.
To avoid such a tragedy, downloading your favorite shows from Prime Video into MP4 files in advance is a good choice.
Problem 3: "Device Limit Reached" Error.
You have the same movie downloaded on too many other devices. You'll need to go to one of your other devices, open the Prime Video app, and delete the downloaded file from it. This will free up a "slot" for your current device.
To learn about more download limits of Prime Video, continue to read this post.
Problem 4: I Can't Cast My Downloaded Video to a TV.
This is another DRM restriction. Most of the time, casting (using Chromecast or AirPlay) is disabled for downloaded offline content to prevent easy copying. You’ll need an internet connection to stream it to your TV.
Or, if you use KeepStreams to rip Prime Video titles into MP4 files, you can move them to a USB drive and plug it into your TV. In this way, you can watch Amazon Prime on a smart TV offline easily.
FAQs
Q1. What’s the real difference between downloading a rented vs. purchased Prime Video?
A1. A rented download expires 48 hours after you start watching it. A purchased download lasts as long as Amazon holds the license, but is technically not permanent.
Q2. Can I download my purchased Amazon movies to a USB or external hard drive?
A2. Not using the official Prime Video app. The files are DRM-protected. You would need an extra tool like KeepStreams to save them as a standard MP4 file first.
Q3. Why did my purchased Amazon movie disappear?
A3. This is likely because Amazon's licensing agreement with the movie studio expired. Remember, while you "purchased" it, you only purchased a license to view it, which can be revoked.
Q4. Where does the Prime Video app store downloads on Windows and macOS?
A4. The files are stored in a hidden, protected folder within the app's installation directory. You can't access them directly, and they are not playable video files.
Q5. Will I lose my downloads if my Prime subscription expires?
A5. This question is a bit tricky. For videos that are part of the Prime subscription, yes, you will lose access. For videos you purchased separately, they are tied to your Amazon account, not your Prime subscription status. You should still be able to watch and download them.
Q6. Does "buying" a movie on Amazon mean I own it forever?
A6. No. Prime Video uses this word to mean that you have purchased a long-term license to watch the movie through Amazon's platform. As seen in some cases, that license can be revoked.
Takeaway from Alyssa
The official Prime Video app is fantastic for its convenience and simplicity—it's the perfect tool for quickly saving a movie for offline viewing on a trip. But sometimes, I can get confused by its limits of various types.
But if you, like me, believe that "buying" something should mean you get to keep it, then understanding the limitations of DRM and digital licenses is crucial. Tools like KeepStreams for Prime Video offer a bridge to that feeling of true ownership, allowing you to create a lasting personal library.
Whichever path you choose, I hope this guide has empowered you to take control of your movie collection.