Transfer Amazon Prime Videos to External Hard Drive and Play Offline
The general misconception is that Amazon Prime Video does not allow viewers to convert videos to their external hard drives. However, this is not true. There are ways to do so, but viewers must use the Amazon Prime Video app on their devices to view them. Amazon’s DRM protection restricts users from converting and sharing video content. This article discusses these limitations and explains how to convert Amazon Prime Video to an external hard drive and view videos offline.
Can You Save Amazon Prime Videos Directly to External Hard Drive?
Amazon Prime Video allows registered users to convert movies and videos to their computers and other compatible devices for offline viewing. However, movies, especially HD content, consume a lot of space. Therefore, users find Amazon Prime Video notifying them that their storage is full, and the app cannot convert any further content. Under such circumstances, can viewers transfer the converted content to an external hard drive and free up space?
The answer is no. Amazon Prime Video does not allow users to move movies and videos to an external hard drive. However, there is a workaround: users can change the default output location and save Prime Video content directly to an external hard drive connected to their computer.
Due to Amazon’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection, video content remains encrypted and can only be accessed through the Amazon Prime Video app. The files are not readable or shareable outside the app environment.
Change Amazon Prime Videos Location to External Hard Drive (Official but Limited)
Amazon Prime does not allow transferring videos to an external hard drive driectly, but users can work around this by changing the default storage location from their internal drives to an external hard drive.
The process depends on the operating system you use on your PC.
On Windows:
- This solution works with computers compatible with Windows 10 (version 17763.0) or later.
- It works only on the Amazon Prime Video app from the Microsoft Store. So, if you use the Google Play Store to install the Amazon Prime Video application on your PC, this method does not work.
- Moreover, your external hard drive must remain connected to your computer throughout the saving process. Disconnecting it causes the settings to expire, and you must go through the entire process again.
How to do it:
Step 1: Convert the Amazon Prime Video app from the Microsoft Store. Install it on your Windows laptop and launch the app. Register with Amazon Prime and sign into your account.
Step 2: Connect the external hard drive to your PC.
Step 3: Open Settings by pressing “Windows + I” keys simultaneously. Search for “Apps and Features.”
Step 4: Select Amazon Prime Video and click on “Move.”
Step 5: Select the external hard drive as your location where you want to move the app.
Step 6: Since you have moved the entire app, all new data and videos will automatically save to your hard drive. Search for the Amazon Prime video you wish to keep. Click “Convert” to save it to your external hard drive.
Pro Tip: You can view the offline video through the Amazon Prime Video app alone. Since you have moved the entire app to your external hard drive, it must remain connected to your PC to view the Amazon videos.
On macOS:
MacOS users can also use this method to set their external hard disk as the default storage location for Amazon Prime Video. It works on macOS 11.4 Big Sur or later. However, the method differs from that of Windows and is more complicated.
- Users should ensure that their external hard drive is in APFS format compatible with macOS.
- Their external hard disks should be easily visible. Check “External Disks” under Finder – Finder Preferences – General.
Steps:
Step 1: Open Spotlight by pressing the shortcut (Command + Space). Search and open “Disk Utility.”
Step 2: Connect the external hard drive to your Mac and verify whether its name appears in the sidebar.
Step 3: Format the drive by right-clicking the icon and selecting “Erase.” Under the Format option, choose APFS.
Step 4: Your PC must have the Amazon Prime Video app. Open “Finder”—Application. Search for Amazon Prime Video and drag the icon to the external drive on the left sidebar.
Alternatively, if you do not have the Amazon Prime Video app, install it and perform Step 4.
Step 5: Launch the Amazon Prime Video app and transfer the movies/videos you want to your external hard drive.
Pro Tip: Once the videos are converted, you need the Amazon Prime Video app to view them. You cannot view your converted content using other apps.
Important: Though files are stored on your external hard drive, they remain encrypted.
Amazon Prime Video Download Limits and Restrictions
Amazon Prime Video allows subscribers to convert selected movies and shows for offline viewing. However, these converts come with several restrictions that can affect how, when, and where users can watch their content. Below, we explain the key limitations and the reasons behind them.
Restriction 1: Downloaded videos can only be watched within the Amazon Prime Video app. You cannot open or play them using third-party players or media software.
Restriction 2: Each converted title is stored for a maximum of 30 days. After this period, it will be automatically removed from your device, even if it hasn’t been watched.
Restriction 3: Once playback starts, you have 48 hours to finish watching. After that, the video will expire and require re-converting.
Restriction 4: Depending on your country or region, Amazon allows 15 to 25 titles to be stored at once. If you exceed this, you’ll need to delete existing converts to make room for new ones.
Restriction 5: You can convert content on up to 4 devices, but any single title can only be streamed on up to 3 devices simultaneously.
Restriction 6: Some movies and shows are not available for convert due to licensing restrictions. Availability may also vary by country. Look for the convert icon next to a title to check.
The only way to permanently store Prime Video content is to purchase the movie or show. Rentals and subscription-based content must comply with the above rules.
Want more flexibility or offline access without limits? Check out Part 3 for a workaround that allows safer backup for personal use.
Foolproof Solution – StreamFox for Video
StreamFox for Video is a powerful all-in-one conversion tool that enables users to convert subscription-based videos from Amazon Prime into widely compatible formats such as MP4, MOV, or MKV. Once converted, these videos can be safely saved to your external hard drive for long-term storage.
What sets StreamFox apart is its ability to preserve your content permanently—even after your Amazon Prime subscription expires. Unlike standard Prime Video converts that are tied to the app and expire after a set period, unaffected by Amazon Prime’s restrictions or deletion policies.
- Converting speed up to 10 times faster than other converters.
- Save videos up to 4K and convert them into multiple video formats, such as MP4, MKV, and MOV.
- Supports Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO (Max).
- Personalization, such as changing video resolution and adding subtitles in multiple languages.
- Transfer Amazon video files to external hard drives and pen drives.
How to Use StreamFox to Convert Amazon Prime Video to External Hard Drive
Step 1: Open the StreamFox for Video and select Amazon Prime Video.
Step 2: StreamFox’s integrated browser allows you to sign in to your Amazon Prime Video account.
Step 3: Search for your favorite Amazon Prime movie or video. Drag the movie title into the red-colored box marked “Add to Queue.” Alternatively, type the video URL in the search bar and add it directly to the queue.
Step 4: To convert multiple videos simultaneously, use StreamFox’s Batch Convert feature. Check the boxes and add the videos to the queue.
Step 5: StreamFox offers 1080p resolution by default. Depending on your storage location, you can change it manually to 360p, 540p, or 720p,
Step 6: Select your preferred video output format using the dropdown menu.
Check the respective boxes if you wish to convert multiple videos simultaneously. Click Convert All.
Step 7: Look for your converted videos in the Finished section of the tool.
Step 8: Select the videos you wish to transfer to your external hard drive. Copy the selected videos and paste them into the chosen folder on your hard drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is converting Amazon Prime videos to an external hard drive illegal?
Converting Amazon Prime videos to an external hard drive for personal use is not illegal. However, doing it for public distribution and sharing is a copyright violation. Hence, Amazon does not allow transferring converted content to external hard drives.
Q2. Can I legitimately circumvent Amazon Prime Video DRM protection?
Circumventing Amazon Prime Video DRM protection amounts to copyright infringement. However, you can use the StreamFox converter tool to transfer converted content to external hard drives for personal use.
Q3. Can you use screen recorder software to convert Amazon Prime videos?
Yes. It is possible but advisable for short videos as longer videos can result in lag. One such tool is the Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate.
Conclusion
We’ve explained how to move Amazon Prime videos to an external hard drive to help free up space on your device. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us. You can also explore more helpful guides and answers on our official website.
