While our previous guide detailed the process to download Amazon Prime Video to PC (primarily based on Windows environment testing), macOS operates on a fundamentally different architecture—especially with the transition to Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3 chips) and its sandboxed file management.
This guide is specifically optimized for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac users. We have conducted deep-dive testing on:
- Compatibility across various macOS versions, see details on Downloading Amazon Prime Video via the Official macOS App, and
- Explore how to leverage the Apple Ecosystem, see details on Downloading Amazon Prime Video on Mac via Advanced Assisant Solution, to enhance your offline viewing experience.
Quick Answer: Can I Download Prime Videos on My Mac?
Yes. Whether you are using the latest M3 MacBook Pro or an older Intel-based iMac, you can download Prime Video titles using two primary methods:
- Official Prime Video macOS App: Best for users running macOS 11.4 or later. It is simple and fully compliant with Amazon's terms, though downloads are encrypted within the app and have strict expiration dates.
- Assisant Downloaders: Perfect for Macs who prefer manual file management via Finder, or seamless cross-device sharing (like AirDrop to your iPad).
Comparison at a Glance: Which Method Suits Your Mac?
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution for downloading Prime Video on a Mac. Your choice will largely depend on your hardware, your macOS version, and how you intend to use the downloaded files.
If you are running a modern Mac with the latest macOS and only need a few movies for a weekend trip, the Official App is the most straightforward route. However, if you are using an older Mac, need to save titles locally and manage your files via Finder, assistant downloader offers the flexibility that the Prime Video Mac ecosystem lacks.
The following table breaks down the critical differences to help you decide which method aligns with your specific needs:
| Feature | Prime Video App | StreamFab Amazon Downloader for Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Minium System Req. | macOS 13.0 or higher | macOS 11.0 or higher |
| Ecosystem Synergy | Restricted AirPlay/AirDrop | Native support for AirPlay, AirDrop & TV app |
| Quality | 720p as the best quality | lossless 1080p |
| Storage Method | Invisible in Finder | MP4/MKK visiable in Finder |
Downloading Amazon Prime Video via the Official macOS App
The most straightforward way to watch Amazon Prime Video offline is using Amazon’s native application. While it offers a seamless experience for modern Mac users, it comes with specific hardware requirements and "hidden" rules that differ from the mobile experience.
1. System Requirements & Compatibility (2026 Update)
Amazon frequently updates its app to leverage the latest macOS features. As of January 2026, the requirements have shifted:
- Operating System: Requires macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later for the newest version. While older builds supported macOS 11.4, you may miss out on critical security and performance updates if your system is outdated.
- Architecture: The app is natively built for both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) chips, ensuring high-quality playback across the lineup.
- Storage: The app itself is approximately 256MB to 365MB, but you should reserve at least 5–10GB for high-definition downloads.
2. Step-by-Step: How to Download Prime Videos on Your Mac
The insights provided in this guide are based on hands-on testing conducted in January 2026 using the following hardware and software configurations:
- • MacBook Air 13-inch (2026)
- • Chip: Apple M4.
- • macOS Version: Tested on macOS 15.2 (Sequoia) and macOS 16.0 Beta.
- • App Version: Prime Video for Mac Version 1.2.13 (Released Jan 2026).
- • Internet Environment: Fiber Optic (1Gbps Download/Upload) to verify 1080p download speeds.
If your Mac meets the requirements, follow these steps to start your offline library:
Install the App: Open the Mac App Store, search for "Amazon Prime Video," and click Install. Launch the app and enter your Amazon login credentials.
Adjust Quality: Before downloading, go to Settings (Gear Icon) > Streaming & Downloading > Download Quality. Choose "Best" for the highest resolution (up to 720p) or "Good" if you are low on disk space.
Find & Download: Navigate to a movie or series. Click the Download icon (a downward arrow). For TV shows, you can download entire seasons or individual episodes.
Access Offline: Your videos will appear in the "Downloads" section at the bottom of the navigation bar.
Based on this test, I observed that Amazon Prime Video app is optimized for Apple Silicon, showing near-instant loading times on M4 chips compared to previous Intel versions.A typical 2-hour movie at "Best" quality consumed approximately 2.9GB to 5.8GB of storage.
3. Limitations Feedback
In addition to my test, I found that there are reported problems about M-series overheating: users on M1, M2, and M4 chips have reported severe overheating and CPU spikes—sometimes reaching over 800% usage—even when the app is open but not playing a video.
What' more, on the latest macOS versions (such as macOS 16), some users experience jittery or stuttering playback in the app, even though the same titles stream smoothly in Safari.
For me, the biggest problem is that due to Amazon Prime download limits, I generally cannot AirPlay my Prime video downloads from a Mac to a Samsung, LG, or Roku TV. You will likely see a "Blocked" message or a black screen.
If you also meet some errors when downloading Prime videos on mac, there are some frequent limit problems in the left column, and you can try the quick fixes in the right column:
- Most content can be downloaded on only one device at a time
- Not all movies and shows are available for download
- Some titles from Prime Video Channels may follow different download rules
- You must start watching downloaded content within 30 days; Once playback begins, it will disappear after 48 hours
- There's a maximum limit on how many titles you can download, which varies by region
- Downloads are only playable in the Prime Video app
- You need to renew the subscription to keep access to Prime Video content
- Make sure your Mac is running macOS 11.4 Big Sur or later; older systems cannot install the Prime Video app.
- Confirm that your region and your account plan support Prime Video downloads and that the title itself is eligible for offline viewing.
- Check whether you've hit device or title limits in your account settings before starting a new download.
- Sign out of the Prime Video app, restart it, and try clearing the download cache if videos fail to start or keep showing errors.
Prime Video Mac app is a great convenience, and the fact that Amazon offers offline viewing on Mac at all is a win for us users (remember, many streaming services still don’t on desktop). But if you’re someone who, like me, loves watching stuff offline, or you simply want your offline picks easier to manage on your Mac, these rules are honestly kind of a pain. This is why I wrote the following parts.
Downloading Amazon Prime Video on Mac via Advanced Assisant Solution
Unlike the official app, which acts as a "walled garden," assisatnt tools are designed to bridge the gap between Prime Video streaming services and your local Mac ecosystem.
- Download Prime Video on Mac in 1080p with EAC3 5.1 audio (where available)
- Save videos in MP4/MKV format for offline viewing on compatible devices (for personal use only)
- Download offline in H.264 or H.265 codecs based on your needs
- Optional series tools (for example, organizing episodes for offline viewing)
- Watch offline along with subtitles and audio in the language you prefer
1. Why Mac User Prefer This Method?
Why I choose an advanced assistant? It enhanced my Apple ecosystem experence from at least the following 3 aspects:
1. Legacy Mac Support: While the official app demands recent macOS versions, StreamFab supports a much wider range of systems, from macOS 11 all the way to 15.x. This makes it the only viable solution for "vintage" MacBooks or iMacs that Apple no longer updates.
2. Uncompromising Quality: I can fetch 1080p Full HD video with EAC3 5.1 surround sound, ensuring my home theater setup or high-end Mac speakers are fully utilized.
3. Apple TV App Integration: I can import these downloads into my local Apple TV (formerly iTunes) Library. This allows my downloaded Prime movies to appear alongside my purchased Apple content, complete with metadata and posters. You can play Prime downloads natively via Plex if you run a home media server on a Mac mini.
3. Step-by-Step: Downloading Prime Video to your Mac Library
Using a dedicated downloader is designed to be as intuitive as a web browser. Here is the typical workflow for Mac users:
Log in with your Amazon account credentials, just as you would on a web browser. The program needs access to your account to fetch the videos (don’t worry – reputable apps won’t misuse this, StreamFab just uses it to stream the content).
Choose the video quality (up to 1080p Full HD), the audio language and subtitle language, etc.
Click the Download button (in StreamFab, it might be an icon next to the video, or a big “Download” option when you play the video). You can usually queue up multiple videos, StreamFab supports batch downloads.
Note: StreamFab is intended solely for creating personal backups of streaming content that you can lawfully access (e.g., with a valid subscription).
4. Safety Check and Rules When Use
To be clear, downloads made via StreamFab (or similar) are for your personal use. Distributing those files or sharing them is not supported by StreamFab. Treat it like making a DVR recording of a TV show – okay for personal time-shifting, but not okay to upload or sell. Use these capabilities responsibly.
To ensure your Mac and your Amazon account remain secure, follow these best practices:
- Keep downloads for your personal viewing only and never upload, sell, or share them publicly.
- Only grab stuff you’ve actually bought, rented, or accessed yourself on Amazon.
- Stick to well-known vendors with transparent updates and support, and avoid unofficial or tampered builds from untrusted sources.
- If you're unsure what is allowed, first review Amazon's terms of use and the copyright rules in your country.
I just got the new Sky Blue Mac and I couldn't wait to see how it performs! In this video, I'm archiving my first test run using StreamFab Amazon Downloader for Mac. I'll show you the download stability, speed, and the amazing 1080p output quality on this beautiful new machine. If you have any questions, comment on my YouTube video, our team will answer you guys from the YouTube channel.
If you want to look for more alternatives for your Mac, TuneFab Amazon Video Downloader is another popular choice. It supports downloading Prime Video titles into common formats like MP4, MKV, and MOV in 1080p Full HD. But it does have some limitations compared to StreamFab:
- Audio Quality: It generally supports stereo audio but lacks the advanced EAC3 5.1 surround sound support found in StreamFab.
- Automation: It does not feature a "Scheduled Task" function, meaning you cannot set it to automatically download new episodes of your favorite series as they are released.
We encourage you to download the trial versions of both StreamFab and other alternatives, eg. TuneFab to see which interface and performance level best suit your MacBook or iMac setup.
FAQ
1. Why is my download stuck at 99% or showing a "Download Failed" error on Mac?
This is a common glitch in the official app, often caused by a network handshake timeout or insufficient disk permissions. First, ensure you have at least double the file size in free space on your Mac SSD. If it persists, toggle your Wi-Fi off and on, or try clearing the app's cache in ~/Library/Containers/ to reset the download queue.
2. Can I change the download location to an external SSD or SD Card?
Amazon Prime Video App: No. Amazon locks downloads to the primary internal drive for security reasons. Changing this via symlinks often breaks the app's DRM.
StreamFab: Yes. You can freely set the output directory to any external Thunderbolt drive or SD card in the "Settings" menu, which is ideal for MacBook users with limited 256GB internal storage.
Conclusion
To help you make the best choice for your specific MacBook or iMac setup, we have summarized the technical differences and how you can enjoy a more flexible Apple ecosystem experience. One of the most significant differences for Mac users is file visibility.
By downloading Prime video on Mac with StreamFab, the downloads are visible in Finder, which means that you can use Tags to organize them, back them up to an external Thunderbolt drive, or even import them into the Apple TV app for a unified media library. This suits my demands.
- • Jan 29, 2026: Updated Mac-specific compatibility info. Focus on saving Amazon Prime videos on macOS and optimizing Prime video offline media ecosystem.
- • Feb 08, 2026: Added a YouTube video demonstration on my Mac, which provides a visual step-by-step to help users understand the process more intuitively.
Note: This product is intended solely for creating personal backups of streaming content that you can lawfully access (e.g., with a valid subscription). No commercial use, no sharing, and no illegal distribution.
