The design of Amazon’s streaming service, Prime Video, may seem straightforward and reminiscent of Netflix. It features a bunch of easily scrolled movie posters on a dark background.
But there are a handful of useful features that aren’t immediately obvious. They may be helpful for everyone from the hard up to the hard of hearing, from film nerds to sports fans.
Here’s a look at some hidden, helpful features on Amazon Prime Video.
1. Download movies and shows
Prime Video gives you the ability to watch movies and TV shows offline, making it perfect for when you’re stuck on a plane for hours.
You’ll want the Prime Video app, available for Apple and Android devices and Windows users. It’s also built into Fire tablets.
In the app, navigate to the details page of a show or movie you want to download. You’ll find an icon with a down arrow, which you can tap or click to download a movie or individual episode.
You’ll also find a downloads section that groups everything you’ve saved and makes it easier to watch again or delete the stuff you’re done with to save space.
2. Filter by free only
Somewhat confusingly, a lot of stuff on Amazon Prime Video isn’t free to watch even with a Prime subscription. You may need to rent content or sign up for an additional subscription.
Amazon used to have a prominent “Free to Me” button, but that was removed several years ago, leaving customers with no easy way to view only free content.
Fortunately, a 2024 update fixed the problem, and now you can easily find all the free content by clicking the “Prime” option in the main menu on the Amazon Prime website or in the app. You’ll find it located right next to the “Subscriptions” option.
3. Make dialogue louder
One of the more frustrating aspects of watching TV is the sometimes huge difference in volume between the actors speaking and the music or the sound of explosions and gunfire.
You don’t have to choose between straining to hear or hurting your ears. In 2023, Amazon introduced Dialogue Boost, which the company describes as “an innovation that lets you self-select dialogue volume levels to suit your needs on any device with Prime Video.”
The accessibility feature is available for supported titles on the web, Amazon devices and mobile devices. It uses AI to identify and enhance the audio of human speech patterns.
The option is available through the Audio and Languages menu that you can display while playing content. You can choose either “English Dialogue Boost: Medium” or “English Dialogue Boost: High.”
4. Identify actors and songs
Ever swear you recognize an actor from somewhere, but can’t put your finger on it? Prime Video can help, even if you haven’t been paying enough attention to catch the character’s name.
The so-called “X-Ray” feature helps identify actors and even songs. While watching a show or movie, tap the screen (or move your mouse cursor) and then click the “View All” button.
This will open the “X-Ray” feature, allowing you to select the tab you are interested in, including cast, music, trivia and bonus content, according to Amazon. You can also easily clip and share scenes on social media through this feature.
5. Show fantasy football stats and enhanced replays
Another part of the “X-Ray” feature is relevant for sports fanatics. Bring up the menu while watching “Thursday Night Football” or a live MLB or NBA game, and you can check real-time stats for your fantasy team or view “live play-by-plays, team and player information, and more.”
If you’re watching an NFL game, you can also see replays enhanced with play route visuals and completion probability, or you can participate in live polls with other fans.
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