While you can’t technically “delete” a purchased movie from your Amazon Prime Video library entirely, you can effectively remove it from view across your devices, creating a cleaner and more manageable viewing experience. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to do just that, along with answers to frequently asked questions to help you manage your Amazon Prime Video purchases.
Understanding Amazon Prime Video Purchase Management
Amazon Prime Video differs from services like Netflix or Hulu, where you primarily stream content covered by your subscription. Amazon allows you to purchase or rent individual movies and TV shows. These purchases remain associated with your Amazon account, giving you the ability to re-download and watch them anytime. However, this permanence can become cumbersome, especially if you purchase content you no longer wish to see cluttering your library. The solution lies in removing content from your watch history and hiding purchased movies from your video library.
Why You Can’t Truly “Delete” Purchases
It’s crucial to understand that when you “purchase” a digital movie from Amazon Prime Video, you’re actually buying a license to view that movie. Amazon retains a record of that transaction. This is similar to purchasing an e-book from Kindle; you own the right to access the content, but the file is stored on Amazon’s servers. This system ensures you can re-download and watch your purchased content even if you lose your device or switch to a new one. Because of this, a true deletion that completely removes the movie from Amazon’s records is not an option available to the end user.
The Solution: Removing and Hiding Content
The workaround, and the focus of this guide, involves two key actions:
- Removing the movie from your Watch History: This prevents the movie from appearing in your “Continue Watching” section and influencing future recommendations.
- Hiding the movie from your Purchases: This declutters your “My Stuff” section, effectively removing the movie from your visible library.
Steps to Remove and Hide Purchased Movies
The process is relatively straightforward, but varies slightly depending on the device or platform you’re using.
On a Web Browser:
This is often the most comprehensive way to manage your Amazon Prime Video content.
- Navigate to the Amazon Prime Video Website: Go to amazon.com and sign in to your account. Then, click on “Prime Video” at the top.
- Access Your Video Library: Hover over the “Account & Lists” menu in the top right corner. From the dropdown, select “Your Video Library.” Or, click the settings icon then the ‘Account & Settings’ option. Click on the ‘Watch History’ tab.
- Find the Purchased Movie: Scroll through your purchases to locate the movie you want to remove.
- Remove from Watch History: Click the ‘x’ next to the movie title to remove it from your watch history. This will stop it from showing as something to continue watching.
- Hide the Purchase: After removing it from watch history, you may need to go to purchase history under your account on amazon.com and archive the order. This will remove the purchased movie from being seen on your video library.
On the Amazon Prime Video App (Mobile or Smart TV):
The process is similar, but the specific menu options might differ slightly.
- Open the Amazon Prime Video App: Launch the app on your device.
- Navigate to Your Library: Look for a “My Stuff,” “My Videos,” or similar section within the app’s menu.
- Find the Purchased Movie: Scroll through your purchases to locate the movie you want to remove.
- Remove from Watch History: Depending on the app’s interface, you might need to tap on the movie’s thumbnail, then look for options like “Remove from Watch History,” “Hide,” or “Not Interested.”
- Hide the Purchase: Some apps will allow you to hide the purchase directly from the movie’s details page. If not, you may need to use the web browser method described above to completely hide it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions users have about deleting and managing their Amazon Prime Video purchases:
FAQ 1: Will deleting the movie remove it from my account permanently?
No. As mentioned earlier, you’re not actually deleting the purchase record. You’re merely hiding it from view. The movie remains associated with your Amazon account, and you can usually unhide it later if you wish to access it again.
FAQ 2: How do I unhide a movie I’ve previously hidden?
The process for unhiding a movie varies. Typically, on the website, you can navigate to your video library, look for an option like “Hidden Videos” or “Archived Purchases,” and then choose to unhide the desired movie.
FAQ 3: Can I get a refund for a movie I purchased by accident?
Amazon’s refund policy for digital content varies. Generally, if you haven’t started watching the movie, you may be eligible for a refund within a certain timeframe (usually 48 hours). Contact Amazon customer support to inquire about a refund.
FAQ 4: Does removing a movie from my watch history stop Amazon from recommending similar titles?
While it helps, it’s not a guaranteed solution. Amazon’s recommendation algorithms are complex and take into account various factors. However, consistently removing titles you’re not interested in can improve the accuracy of future recommendations.
FAQ 5: Is there a way to prevent accidental purchases on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes, Amazon offers parental controls that can require a PIN for purchases. This can help prevent accidental purchases, especially by children.
FAQ 6: Will deleting a movie from my library free up storage space on my device?
No. Since you’re not actually deleting the movie file from your device, removing it from your library won’t free up any storage space. It only affects the visibility of the movie within your Amazon Prime Video account.
FAQ 7: Can I remove purchased movies from a specific device only?
No. Removing or hiding a movie from your Amazon Prime Video library affects your account as a whole. The change will be reflected across all devices linked to your account.
FAQ 8: What’s the difference between renting and purchasing a movie on Amazon Prime Video?
When you rent a movie, you have a limited time (usually 30 days to start watching and 48 hours to finish watching once you begin) to view the content. Once the rental period expires, the movie disappears from your library. When you purchase a movie, you have indefinite access to it, as long as Amazon continues to offer the service.
FAQ 9: How can I manage my family’s viewing activity on Amazon Prime Video?
Amazon offers features to create profiles for different family members. Each profile can have its own watch history and recommendations, allowing for a more personalized viewing experience. You can also set parental controls on individual profiles.
FAQ 10: Can I download my purchased movies to watch offline?
Yes. Amazon Prime Video allows you to download purchased movies to compatible devices (like smartphones and tablets) for offline viewing.
FAQ 11: Does deleting a movie from my Amazon Prime Video library affect my ability to watch it on other platforms?
No. Deleting or hiding a movie within Amazon Prime Video only affects its visibility on that platform. If you purchased the movie through another service (like Google Play Movies), it will remain accessible on that platform.
FAQ 12: What should I do if I’m having trouble removing a movie from my Amazon Prime Video library?
If you’re encountering difficulties, the best course of action is to contact Amazon customer support. They can provide personalized assistance and troubleshoot any technical issues you may be experiencing.
Conclusion
While you can’t achieve a true, permanent deletion of purchased movies from Amazon Prime Video, you can effectively manage your library by removing them from your watch history and hiding them from view. By following the steps outlined in this guide and understanding the nuances of Amazon’s digital content ownership model, you can maintain a clean and organized viewing experience. Remember to utilize parental controls and other account management features to optimize your family’s Amazon Prime Video experience.