How to Download Amazon Prime Video to a USB Drive

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Amazon officially allows "downloads," but those files are locked inside the app. If you've ever tried transferring them to a USB stick, you already know: they simply won't play anywhere else.

Don't worry. This guide walks you through everything: why the official download won't work for USB, and how to actually get your Prime Video content onto a USB drive as a standard video file like MP4 or MKV.

Part 1. Can You Download Prime Video Videos to a USB Drive?

Not directly, but there's a reliable workaround.

Amazon Prime Video's official app (Windows, Android, iOS, and Fire tablet) does support offline downloads. But here's the catch: every single file it saves is protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management) encryption.

So no matter whether you're on a Prime membership, renting, or have bought a title, the official download path hits the same wall when you want USB storage.

The solution? Convert the video to an unencrypted format such as MP4 or MKV first, and then you can move it anywhere, including a USB drive.

Part 2. What You Need Before Downloading Prime Video to USB

Before diving into the steps, make sure you have the following ready:

Why choose VidiFab? It is designed specifically for streaming platforms and takes care of the technical details. It supports up to 1080p Full HD, allows batch downloading of entire seasons, multiple audio tracks, and both embedded and external subtitles. Plus, hardware acceleration can download at speeds up to 8x faster once you purchase a license, which means a 1-hour episode may take as little as 7 to 8 minutes to finish downloading. You can click the Download Free button to test it out on your computer.

Part 3. How to Download Amazon Prime Video to a USB Drive

There are two steps: first, download Prime Video content as an MP4 file with VidiFab; second, move the file to your USB drive.

Phase 1: Download Prime Video as MP4

Here's how to use VidiFab Prime Video Downloader to download videos from Amazon Prime Video to your PC or Mac as MP4 files.

Step 1. Set Output Preferences and Log In

Open VidiFab Prime Video Downloader. Click the Menu icon and select Preferences. Set the output format to MP4 for maximum compatibility. Choose H.264 for video codec and AAC for audio codec for smooth playback at 1080p.

Once saved, click the Amazon Prime Video icon on the main interface and log in through the built-in browser using your Amazon account.

Step 2. Find and Analyze the Prime Video

Use the built-in browser to browse or search for your movie or TV show. You can also paste a video URL. Once the page loads, VidiFab will analyze the video, and a Download button will appear.

Step 3. Customize Your Download Settings

Click the Download button. In the popup, select 1080p Full HD for the best quality. Choose your preferred audio quality and language. For subtitles, select either embedded or external (.srt) files. If downloading an entire season, check the Select all box.

Step 4. Start Downloading

Click Download to start. After it's done, go to the History tab and click the folder icon to find your files. Prepare your USB flash drive to transfer them.

Phase 2: Transfer the Downloaded Prime Video Files to Your USB Drive

Step 1. Connect Your USB Drive

Plug the USB drive into your computer and confirm it's recognized. For large HD movie files, make sure the drive is formatted correctly (see Part 4 to figure out how to format your USB drive).

Step 2. Copy the Files

Navigate to the output folder where VidiFab saved your MP4 files. Then simply drag and drop, or copy and paste, the files onto your USB drive. Once the transfer completes, safely eject the drive.

Step 3. Play Prime Videos on Any Device

Plug the USB flash drive into the playback device. Use the default media player or any player to find and play the Prime Video you transferred offline.

Part 4. Best USB Formats for Prime Video Downloads

To make sure your Prime Video MP4 files, especially large HD movies and TV shows, work smoothly on different devices, choosing the right USB file system is important.

Format your USB as exFAT. It handles large files, works across Windows and Mac, and is recognized by most smart TVs and car media systems.

How to Format Your USB Drive

On Windows:

1. 01

   Plug in the USB drive and open File Explorer.

2. 02

   Right-click the USB drive and select Format.

3. 03

   Under File system, choose exFAT.

4. 04

   Set Allocation unit size to Default. Add a volume label if you like (e.g., "Prime Videos").

5. 05

   Check Quick Format, click Start, and confirm the warning.

6. 06

   Click OK when done.

On Mac:

1. 01

   Plug in the USB drive.

2. 02

   Open Disk Utility (Launchpad or Spotlight: Command + Space → "Disk Utility").

3. 03

   In the sidebar, click View and select Show All Devices.

4. 04

   Select the top-level physical USB device.

5. 05

   Click Erase in the top menu.

6. 06

   Set the Format to exFAT and Scheme to GUID Partition Map.

7. 07

   Click Erase, confirm the action, and click Done.

Once formatted, copy your MP4 files over and you're good to go.

Part 5. Is It Legal to Download Prime Video to a USB Drive?

Downloading your own purchased content for personal offline use is usually acceptable as long as you don't share it.

Amazon Prime Video's Terms of Use make it clear that users only receive a limited license to watch content, not ownership of the videos. The rules also say you cannot:

In practice, Amazon mainly focuses on stopping large-scale piracy, such as uploading or sharing content publicly. It is less likely to target people who simply keep content for personal offline use.

Under U.S. DMCA: Bypassing DRM goes against streaming terms, but "format shifting"—converting purchased media for personal use—is usually accepted in many areas and rarely enforced against individuals.

Part 6. FAQs

Final Thoughts

Prime Video's official download feature is convenient, but those files are protected by DRM. This means you cannot copy them directly to a USB drive or stick.

If you want to save space, watch on your TV, watch offline while traveling, or keep movies for a long time, you should first convert them to MP4 or MKV files. Please only do this for movies you have bought, and follow copyright laws.

Once you have the MP4 or MKV files, you can treat them like any other video. You can save them to a USB drive or hard drive and watch them on any device you want.