How to Watch Prime Video on TV & Other Devices in 2023: Prime Video App Guide
You’ve probably heard of Prime Video. However, if you’re not sure how to watch Prime Video, we’ve got just the information you need. Below, we explain how you can watch Prime Video on devices like smartphones, TVs and computers.
You can watch Amazon Prime Video on almost any device as long as you have an Amazon Prime membership. The app is available for smartphones, computers, TVs and gaming consoles. Once you install the app on your device, log in to your Amazon account and you’ll have access to your favorite shows and movies.
Don’t know how to watch Prime Video? We explain how below.
Key Takeaways:
- Amazon Prime Video is a major streaming service. Watching Amazon Prime Video is fairly simple, though slightly different based on the device you’re using to stream.
- Amazon Prime Video is available in over 200 countries, except a few, like China and North Korea. You can access Amazon Prime Video in these countries using a VPN.
- You’ll also need a VPN when you want to access a foreign country’s content library on Amazon Prime Video.
While the process is fairly simple, you may want some help if you’re setting up Amazon Prime Video for the first time. In this guide, we help you set up and watch Amazon Prime Video on TVs (smart and non-smart), smartphones and computers. We also explain how you can access almost any country’s content library on Amazon Prime Video using a virtual private network (VPN) service.
-
03/01/2022 Facts checked
Changed Amazon Prime Video’s pricing to reflect the recent increase.
-
09/05/2022 Facts checked
Article updated to reflect changes on Amazon Prime Video and VPN services.
You can watch Amazon Prime on your TV by installing the app. If you don’t have a smart TV, you can use a streaming device like Firestick to watch Amazon Prime shows and movies on a non-smart TV.
You can start watching Prime Video by logging in to your account on either the website or the app on a supported device. However, if you’re in a country with heavy censorship like China, you’ll need a VPN to watch Prime Video.
Yes, Amazon Prime members have access to Prime Video as well. You can also subscribe to Prime Video separately if you don’t want other perks of the Prime membership.
How to Watch Prime Video on TV: Smart & Non-Smart
Amazon Prime Video has an app for almost all popular devices. If you want to stream content on your smart TV, installing the Amazon Prime Video app is a simple solution. You’ll find an app in your app store on Android and Apple TVs.
So, what about non-smart TVs? You can still stream Amazon Prime Video content on a non-smart TV, provided you have a streaming device like Firestick. Using Firestick isn’t difficult, but the process is different from using the Amazon Prime app on a smart TV.
Below, we walk you through the process, so you can quickly start viewing your favorite Amazon originals.
Steps on How to Watch Amazon Prime on Non-Smart TV With Firestick
Here is a three-step process to watch Amazon Prime Video on a non-smart TV with a Firestick:
- Set Up the Firestick
If you’re using the Firestick for the first time, you’ll first need to set up the Firestick. Connect it to your TV and follow the on-screen steps to set it up. You can learn the complete process from our guide on setting up a new Firestick. When you’re done, move to the next step.
- Set Up Your Amazon Prime Video Account
Once you’ve set up the Firestick, launch the Amazon Prime Video app on the Firestick. Select the “sign in” option to log in and set up your account on Prime Video.
- Enter Login Code
To complete logging in, you’ll need to follow the on-screen instructions. Go to “amazon.com/code” and enter the login code displayed on your screen to complete the account setup.
- Select a Movie or TV Show
You’ll see the Amazon Prime content once you’ve signed in. Select a movie or TV show you want to stream and you’re all set.
How to Watch Amazon Prime Video on a Smartphone
Watching Prime Video content on a mobile device helps you stream your favorite movies and TV shows on a smaller screen. The process to set up Amazon Prime Video on Android and iOS devices is pretty much the same, except for downloading the app from the relevant app store.
Here is how you can get Amazon Prime Video access on a smartphone:
- Download the Amazon Prime App
Start by downloading the Amazon Prime Video app on your phone. You can do this by visiting the Google Play Store (on Android mobile devices) or the app store (on iOS devices), searching for Amazon Prime Video and installing the app.
- Sign In to Amazon Prime
Launch the app on your smartphone and sign into your Amazon account (assuming you have an account already).
- Start Streaming Content
You’ll see the content available on Amazon Prime Video once you’ve signed in. At this point, you can start streaming content on your smartphone.
How to Connect Amazon Prime to TV From Mobile
If you have the Amazon Prime Video app installed on your Android or iOS device, you can cast the screen to your TV to enjoy content on a bigger screen. There are multiple ways to do this, such as with Chromecast or by using a Firestick.
How to Watch Prime Video on Laptop
Streaming on laptops is generally more comfortable than smartphones. If you’re home and in front of the laptop, you can either use the Prime Video app or the Amazon website to stream content.
- Install the App or Go to the Website
You’ll need to start by installing the app or visiting the Amazon Prime website. The apps for Windows and Mac are available in their respective stores.
- Sign In to Amazon Prime
Whether you’re using the app or the website, you’ll need to sign in to your Amazon Prime account. Once you sign in, you’ll see all the content Amazon offers in your region.
- Start Watching Content
You should be able to watch Amazon Prime Video’s content library once you’ve signed in. You’re all set at this point and can start watching content.
How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Offline
You can download Prime Video titles for offline viewing using a Fire tablet or the Amazon Prime Video app for Windows, Mac, Android or iOS.
The process is pretty straightforward. Start by navigating to the title you want to view offline. The Windows and Android Prime Video apps have a direct option to save titles for offline viewing.
If you’re downloading a movie, you’ll find the download option on the detail page. If you’re downloading a TV show, you can download the entire season or download individual episodes by clicking on the download button next to each episode.
Is Amazon Prime Video Available in All Countries?
Amazon Prime Video is available in over 200 countries, except a few countries like China, Russia, North Korea and Syria. If you’re in one of these countries, you can use a VPN to access Amazon Prime Video. A VPN can help you bypass censorship in countries like China and also bypass geoblocks, so you can access virtually any country’s content library.
How to Watch Amazon Prime Video With a VPN
Using a VPN to watch Amazon Prime is fairly easy. You can get into any country’s content library simply by connecting to the appropriate VPN server.
For example, if you want to view Amazon Prime Video U.S., you connect to a U.S. server. The VPN assigns you a U.S.-based IP address. When you go to Amazon Prime Video, it will see you as physically located in the U.S. and provide access to the U.S. content library.
You might want to consider using ExpressVPN, given it’s our best VPN for streaming. However, you may also select a service from our list of the best VPNs to make sure you pick one of the best VPN services on the market. Below, we walk you through the process of using a VPN to watch Amazon Prime Video from anywhere.
- Download and Install a VPN
Start by downloading a VPN app — we recommend ExpressVPN — and install the VPN on your device. You can install ExpressVPN on almost any device such as a smartphone, computer, smart TV, game console and router, among others.
- Connect to a VPN Server
You’ll see a list of servers in the VPN app after you’ve installed it. Select a server based on the library you want to access. For example, if you want to access the U.S. content library, connect to a server in the U.S.
- Access Amazon Prime Video
Access Amazon Prime Video via the app or the browser once you’ve connected to a VPN server. You should be able to access the appropriate content library.
The 3 Best VPNs for Watching Amazon Prime Video
Using a VPN can help you access another country’s content library on Amazon Prime Video. The process for watching Amazon Prime Video remains unchanged. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server before you access Prime Video.
1. ExpressVPN
Pros:
- Excellent streaming speed
- Fast connections
- MediaStreamer feature
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching Amazon Prime Video because it’s a streaming beast. It offers excellent connection speeds, bypasses geoblocks easily and has servers in over 94 countries — which means you can access Amazon Prime Video content for many countries.
You also get streaming-specific features like MediaStreamer. The feature improves connection speeds because it doesn’t encrypt your connection. It only assigns you a different country’s IP address, so you can access that country’s Amazon Prime Video content. Learn more about ExpressVPN in our ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN doesn’t come cheap. If you don’t mind the extra cost, ExpressVPN is your best bet for streaming content on Prime Video. You can also try it out risk-free before committing for the long term using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
Pros:
- Fastest VPN
- SmartPlay technology
- Massive server network
Cons:
- No phone support
NordVPN is almost as good as ExpressVPN when it comes to streaming. According to our speed tests, NordVPN is also the fastest VPN, which means you’ll never need to sit in front of a buffering video even if you’re streaming in 4K. Also, you can easily access almost any country’s content library on Amazon Prime Video using NordVPN — it has over 5,500 servers across 59 countries.
NordVPN uses the SmartPlay Technology that combines its security features with Smart DNS. The technology ensures that you always have access to the Amazon Prime Video content you want to watch without the platform detecting that you’re using a VPN. Learn more about the service in our comprehensive NordVPN review.
NordVPN costs almost half of ExpressVPN. Given its feature set and performance, NordVPN is a steal. However, you can still use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not fully satisfied.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Windscribe
Pros:
- Generous free plan
- Flexible build-a-plan option
- Fast connection speeds
Cons:
- 3-day money-back guarantee
Windscribe is the best free VPN that can unblock Amazon Prime Video. Unlike most free VPNs, Windscribe is a reliable service that offers excellent speeds, top-notch security and has a strict no-logs policy.
The free plan offers 10GB of free data and access to servers in 10 countries once you confirm your email. The data cap might be insufficient if you stream a lot of content or stream in 4K; if you need more data, you can use Windscribe’s build-a-plan option.
The build-a-plan option has a minimum checkout value of $3 per month. With that $3, you can either buy three server locations for $1 per month each, or two server locations and unlimited data plus access to R.O.B.E.R.T. (Windscribe’s browser extension and ad-blocker).
We discuss R.O.B.E.R.T. and Windscribe in more detail in our Windscribe review. However, you can also just get a ready-to-use plan. You also have the option to try it using the three-day money-back guarantee.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Final Thoughts
Amazon Prime Video is one of the most popular streaming services, competing with the likes of Netflix and Hulu. You can access the service on almost any device, but if you’re in a country where Amazon Prime Video is unavailable, or if you want to access another country’s content, you’ll need a VPN.
A VPN will allow you to access geoblocked content and bypass censorship. It can help you access content regardless of your physical location on all major streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Have you used a VPN to stream Amazon Prime Video before? If yes, which one? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
