How to Watch Amazon Prime Video on Apple TV

When it comes to TV, Apple and Amazon Prime show you what you want

What to Know

  • On an Apple TV: Select the App Store and search for and install the Amazon Prime Video app.
  • On an iOS device: Download the Amazon Prime Video app and stream content to your Apple TV via AirPlay.
  • On a Mac: Open a web browser, go to Amazon Prime Video, choose a movie or TV show, then select AirPlay to stream to your Apple TV.

This article explains how to access Amazon Prime Video content on an Apple TV by downloading the Amazon Prime Video app onto your Apple TV. You can also use the Amazon Prime Video app on an iOS device or Mac and then stream it to your Apple TV.

How to Get the Amazon Prime Video App on Apple TV

The easiest way to watch Amazon Prime videos on your Apple TV is to download the app directly to your Apple TV. Note that you'll need an Amazon Prime subscription and a third-generation or later Apple TV device.

Person watching Amazon Prime Video on an Apple TV
Maddy Price / Lifewire

The Apple TV (3rd generation) doesn't have an app store, but Amazon Prime Video comes pre-installed on its latest operating system.

  1. Turn on your Apple TV and go to the main menu.

  2. Select the App Store icon on the screen.

    App Store icon on Apple TV screenshot
  3. Search for Amazon Prime Video in the tvOS App Store. If you don't see it, select Search at the top of the screen or press the microphone on your remote to initiate a voice search. 

  4. Click on the Amazon Prime Video icon when you find it to open an information screen.

    Install icon in Amazon Prime Video app description screen on Apple TV
  5. Choose Install to add the Amazon Prime Video app on your Apple TV.

If you're part of a family in which one person pays for Amazon Prime and includes you as part of the deal, the Prime account holder has to share the Prime benefits with you before you can take advantage of Prime videos. When two people become part of an Amazon household and share payment methods, they can both use Prime Video.

Using Prime Video on an iPhone or iPad

If you'd rather use an iOS app to watch Amazon Prime videos, you can get the app on your iPhone or iPad. After you install the app, you can use it to stream Amazon Prime videos to your Apple TV as well as browse, watch, and rent your way through the available catalog.

  1. Tap the App Store icon on your iPhone or iPad and download Amazon’s Prime Video.

    Main screen for Amazon Prime Video on iPad
  2. Open the Amazon Prime Video app and sign in with your Amazon Prime account and password. You can immediately access the Prime Video content on your iPhone or iPad.

    Screenshot of sign in form for Prime Video on iPad, including email and password fields

Watch Prime Video on Apple TV From an iOS Device

When you want to play your movies on the Apple TV instead of your iOS device, use the AirPlay feature on your iPhone or iPad to direct the videos to the Apple TV.

  1. Ensure your iOS device is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV.

  2. Launch the Prime Video app and log in to your account on your mobile device.

  3. Choose the movie you want to watch and press Play on the app.

  4. Tap once on the playing video, and you will see the AirPlay icon in the upper right corner.

    Swipe upward from the bottom of your iPad screen in earlier versions of iOS (or down from the top right corner in iOS 11 and later) to display the Control Center, where you can also find the AirPlay control.

  5. Tap the AirPlay button, which resembles an upward-pointing triangle with a rectangle that looks like a television.

    Airplay icon in upper right corner of playing video on Amazon Prime Video

    If you don't see the AirPlay button, enable it first and then try again. The steps for turning on AirPlay are similar on the iPhone and on the iPad.

  6. Choose the Apple TV you want to stream the movie to (if you have more than one) and tap its name in the dialog box.

    Screenshot of AirPlay chooser on iPad, showing Living Room Apple TV selected
  7. The Amazon Prime movie or TV show should now be playing on your Apple TV.

Stream Prime Video From a Mac to Your Mac

You can also stream Amazon Prime Video from your Mac to your Apple TV as long as it is running macOS 10.11 or later.

  1. From your web browser, select the movie or TV show you want to watch from Amazon's website.

  2. When the movie begins, tap the AirPlay button at the top right corner of the Mac Menu bar (to the left of the volume icon) and select the Apple TV you want to stream the content to.

    Screenshot of Apple TV icon in menu bar of macOS, selecting Living Room Apple TV from the list
  3. Your Mac desktop appears on your TV screen. Tap the full-screen button in the video so that the full image displays on the Apple TV.

FAQ
  • How do I watch Amazon Prime on a smart TV?

    Download the Amazon Prime Video app from your device's app store if it is not preinstalled among your apps. Then, sign in with your Amazon Prime account login information and start watching.

  • How do I watch Amazon Prime on a Samsung TV?

    Amazon Prime Video is installed on most Samsung TVs manufactured in 2015 or later. If you don't see it among your options, go to the Samsung smart TV's Home screen and launch the App Store. Search for Amazon Prime Video and select Add to Home to install the app.

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