Getting ready for a flight or a long trip and hoping to catch up on your favorite shows, only to find Amazon Prime Video not downloading? It’s a frustrating problem that can disrupt your entertainment plans. Whether you’re seeing a pending download error, a download that fails midway, or the download button is missing entirely, you’re not alone. The good news is that this issue is always fixable.
The reasons for Prime Video download failures can range from simple connectivity issues and insufficient storage space to hidden account limitations and app glitches. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most effective solutions, from basic checks to more advanced troubleshooting steps. By following this guide, you can resolve the Prime Video download error and get back to saving your favorite movies and series for offline viewing.
Method 1. Verify Your Internet Connection and Settings
The most common reason behind a failed download is a poor internet connection. Video files are large, and they require a stable, strong connection to download successfully.
First, ensure you are connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network. While you can download over cellular data, it’s often slower and can be disabled by default in the app’s settings to save you from unexpected data charges.
Step 1: Check Your Internet Speed
- Open a web browser on your device and visit a speed testing website.
- If your speed is extremely slow, it may be the source of the problem. Try restarting your router or connecting to a different network.
Step 2: Check Prime Video’s Network Settings
The Prime Video app has a specific setting to prevent large downloads over a mobile network. If you’re not on Wi-Fi, this setting could be blocking your download.
For Android & iOS:
- Open the Amazon Prime Video app.
- Tap on My Stuff in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Settings in the top right corner.
- Select Streaming & Downloading.
Look for the option Download on Wi-Fi only and ensure it is toggled off if you are trying to use cellular data. If you are on Wi-Fi, ensure your device’s Wi-Fi is turned on and connected to the correct network.
Method 2. Check Your Device’s Storage Space
This is another frequent and often-overlooked cause. High-definition movies and TV show seasons can consume a significant amount of storage space. A one-hour episode in “Best” quality can easily take up over 1 GB of space. If your device is nearly full, Amazon Prime Video won’t be able to complete the download.
Here’s how to check your available storage on different devices:
On iOS:
- Go to Settings>Tap General>Select iPhone/iPad Storage.
You will see a visual breakdown of your used and available space. If it’s nearly full, you will need to free up space by deleting old photos, unused apps, or other media.
On Android:
- Open your device’s Settings app>Scroll down and tap on Storage.
The screen will show you how much space is available. You can also see a breakdown by category to help you decide what to delete.
On Windows 10/11:
- Click the Start menu and go to Settings>Select System>Click on Storage.
This will show your local disk usage and what’s taking up the most space.
If storage is low, try deleting old downloads within the Prime Video app first, then move on to other non-essential files on your device.
Method 3. Restart Your Device and the Prime Video App
A simple restart can clear temporary glitches, memory leaks, and background processes that might be interfering with the app’s ability to download content.
Step 1: Force Close the Prime Video App
Before restarting your device, force-stop the app to ensure it shuts down completely.
- On iOS (iPhone X and later): Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the app switcher. Find the Prime Video app and swipe it up to close.
- On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps. Find and tap on Prime Video, then tap Force Stop.
Step 2: Restart Your Device
- Press and hold the power button on your device until the power-off option appears.
- Power it down completely, wait about 30 seconds, and then turn it back on.
Once your device has fully rebooted, open the Prime Video app and try the download again.
Method 4. Review Amazon’s Download Limits
Another important reason why Amazon Prime video not downloading is due to the download restrictions. You can only have a maximum of 15 or 25 titles (depending on your region) downloaded across all devices registered to a single Amazon account. If you’ve hit this cap, you must delete an old download before you can save a new one. Besides, a single movie or episode can typically only be downloaded to a maximum of two separate devices at once. If you and a family member have both downloaded the same movie, a third person on the account won’t be able to.
The downloaded videos can only be watched inside the Prime Video app. That’s why users wonder how to download movies from Amazon Prime to pendrive. Once you download a title, you usually have 30 days to start watching it. After you begin playback, you typically have just 48 hours to finish it before it expires and is automatically deleted. If the title has expired, you’ll need to delete it and download it again.
To fix this, go to the Downloads section of your Prime Video app on all your devices and delete any movies or shows you’ve already watched to free up slots.
Method 5. Clear the Prime Video App Cache
Over time, apps accumulate temporary data known as a cache. This data helps the app load faster, but it can sometimes become corrupted, leading to strange issues like downloads getting stuck. Clearing the cache can resolve these problems without deleting your personal data or login information.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
- Find and select Prime Video.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- Tap the Clear Cache button.
- Restart the app and attempt the download again.
On iOS:
Apple’s iOS does not provide a direct option to clear an individual app’s cache. The most effective equivalent is to offload the app.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find and tap on Prime Video.
- Tap Offload App. This deletes the app but keeps its documents and data.
- Once offloaded, tap Reinstall App.
Method 6. Update or Reinstall the Prime Video App
An outdated app can contain bugs that have been fixed in newer versions. Developers frequently release updates to improve performance and patch issues, including problems with downloading content.
Step 1: Check for Updates
- On iOS: Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and scroll down to see pending updates.
- On Android: Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select Manage apps & device, and check for available updates for Prime Video.
Step 2: Reinstall the App
If updating doesn’t work, a full reinstall can fix deeper-rooted problems. Please note that uninstalling Prime Video app will delete all your existing downloads from the device.
Method 7. Download Amazon Prime Videos to MP4
If the above methods don’t fix Amazon Prime video not downloading issue, you can try the ultimate way to save Prime movies and shows to MP4 format. As the downloads from Prime app are encrypted, you can use a Prime downloader to bypass Amazon Prime download limits.
Here are the steps:
Step 1. Download and install Keeprix Downloader on your computer.
Step 2. Launch the software and log in to your Amazon Prime account.
Step 3. Find your desired movies or shows by searching or pasting the links.
Step 4. Click the download button to save them directly.
Step 5. Wait for the downloading process. After that, you can access the downloaded videos in the Complete tab and watch them offline on any media player.
Keeprix Downloader can help save videos to MP4 or MKV format, which allows you to keep the downloads forever. It doesn’t require the Amazon Prime app. You can definitely download your favorite movies or shows without restrictions.
Conclusion
When Amazon Prime Video is not downloading, it is inconvenient, but the solution is usually within reach. By systematically checking your internet connection to bypassing the Prime video download limit, you can get the problem solved. Following this guide should resolve your Prime Video download error and let you enjoy your favorite content anywhere, anytime. Now, go ahead and get those downloads started for your next adventure!