Sharing your Amazon Prime Video movie library with family and friends can seem like a digital enigma. The truth is, directly “sharing” purchased movies in the way you might share a Netflix account isn’t possible. However, there are legitimate and practical methods to grant others access to your content, centered around Amazon Household and device sharing.
Understanding the Limitations
Amazon’s focus is on content security and maintaining its subscription revenue. Allowing unchecked sharing of purchased movies would undermine both. Therefore, direct, one-off sharing links are not available. Think of it this way: you don’t give away the physical DVD you bought; similarly, you don’t directly “share” the digital copy. What you can do is provide access to your Amazon account, within carefully controlled boundaries.
The Key: Amazon Household
The primary and safest method for sharing access to your Amazon Prime Video movie library is through Amazon Household. This feature allows you to link two adults (each with their own Amazon account) and up to four children. Benefits extend beyond Prime Video, encompassing shared shipping benefits, access to shared digital content (including books and music), and simplified family management.
Setting Up Your Amazon Household
Setting up an Amazon Household is straightforward:
- Go to the Manage Your Household page on the Amazon website (typically found under “Accounts & Lists”).
- Choose whether to add an adult, a teen, or a child.
- For adults, you’ll need to send an invitation to their Amazon account email address.
- The invited adult must accept the invitation to join your Household. This adult will need to authorize payment methods to be shared (although settings can be adjusted).
- For teens, you can grant them shopping permissions and monitor their purchases.
- For children, you can set parental controls on devices and apps.
Important Considerations: Sharing an Amazon Household means sharing some level of financial information and access. Trust and communication are key.
Sharing on Devices
Another way to facilitate movie watching is through shared devices. If you have a smart TV, Fire TV Stick, or other device logged into your Amazon account, anyone using that device will have access to your purchased movies.
Guest Profiles on Fire TV
The introduction of guest profiles on Fire TV devices provides a more secure way to allow temporary access. Guests can watch your movies without needing to know your login credentials. When they are finished, they can log out, deleting their browsing history.
User Profiles on Fire TV
If you have multiple family members sharing a Fire TV, creating individual user profiles is highly recommended. Each profile has its own watch history, recommendations, and personalized settings, improving the viewing experience.
Potential Workarounds (Use with Caution!)
While not recommended, some users explore methods like screen recording and then sharing the recording. This violates Amazon’s terms of service and can result in account suspension. It also potentially infringes on copyright laws. It’s best to avoid these methods.
Another workaround involves sharing your Amazon account login credentials directly. This is a very risky practice. It gives the other person complete access to your Amazon account, including your payment information and personal data. This is strongly discouraged.
Ensuring a Secure Sharing Experience
Regardless of the method you choose, prioritize account security. Use a strong, unique password for your Amazon account. Enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of protection. Regularly review your Amazon account activity for any suspicious behavior.
Sharing Across Borders: Geoblocking
Be aware of geoblocking. Access to purchased movies can be restricted based on location. If the person you’re sharing with is in a different country, they may not be able to access all of your content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I share a purchased Amazon Prime Video movie with someone who doesn’t have Amazon Prime?
Yes, but only if they are part of your Amazon Household, or if you share a device logged into your account. They will still be able to watch movies you’ve purchased, even without a Prime subscription of their own. However, they won’t get access to movies available through the Prime Video streaming library (the ones included with Prime).
2. How many people can I add to my Amazon Household?
You can add one other adult, up to four children, and (sometimes) teens to your Amazon Household. The specifics vary slightly by region.
3. If I share my Amazon Household, can the other adult see my purchase history?
The other adult in your Amazon Household cannot directly see your full purchase history. However, they will be able to see shared payment methods. Therefore, trust is crucial.
4. Can I “gift” a purchased movie to someone on Amazon?
Unfortunately, you cannot directly gift a purchased movie. As an alternative, you could purchase an Amazon gift card so the recipient can buy the movie themselves.
5. How do I remove someone from my Amazon Household?
You can remove someone from your Amazon Household through the Manage Your Household page on the Amazon website. Be aware that there are limitations on how frequently you can switch Amazon Households.
6. Does sharing my Amazon Household give the other person access to my Amazon Prime benefits beyond Prime Video?
Yes. Sharing an Amazon Household grants access to several Prime benefits, including free shipping, Prime Reading, and some shared discounts.
7. What happens if I leave an Amazon Household?
If you leave an Amazon Household, you lose access to the shared benefits, including shared Prime Video content. You will need to repurchase any movies you want to continue watching.
8. Can I restrict what my children can watch on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes. Amazon offers parental controls that allow you to restrict access to certain movies and TV shows based on ratings. These controls can be set on individual devices or accounts.
9. Is it legal to record an Amazon Prime Video movie and share it?
No. Recording and sharing copyrighted content from Amazon Prime Video without permission is illegal and violates Amazon’s terms of service.
10. What is the difference between an Amazon user profile and an Amazon Household?
An Amazon user profile is specific to a device like a Fire TV, allowing multiple individuals to have personalized experiences on that device. An Amazon Household is a broader grouping that links Amazon accounts and shares benefits across the entire Amazon ecosystem.
11. Can I share my purchased movies with someone who lives in a different country?
Potentially, but geoblocking might prevent them from accessing certain titles. Content availability varies by region.
12. What should I do if I suspect someone is misusing my shared Amazon account?
Immediately change your Amazon password, enable two-factor authentication, and review your purchase history and payment methods for any unauthorized activity. Contact Amazon customer service to report any suspicious behavior.