Prime Video offers an impressive entertainment library that rivals some of the best streaming services available today.
While it started out as a handy extra perk for Amazon Prime subscribers, Prime Video is now a major player in the streaming game. A quick look at our list of the best Prime Video shows will show you that Amazon's been behind some of the most talked-about shows in recent memory, like "The Rings of Power", "The Boys", "Fallout" and many, more. Yes, the integration of ads on Prime Video was certainly a big frustration, but the service is still a welcome rival to the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus.
Even though the service has been around for a long time, there are a number of Prime Video hidden features that even long-term subscribers may not be aware of. These "hidden" features can help you maximize your viewing experience, either by offering additional info about the shows and movies you're watching or by allowing you to customize or otherwise improve the way you watch stuff on Amazon's streaming platform. And yes, these are features that still exist even after the big Prime Video redesign took place in July.
Hidden Prime Video features: See cast details and fun trivia with X-Ray
Every time you pause a film/show, Prime Video’s X-Ray feature displays a list of the actors that appear in the scene. Although it’s not the most surprising feature to appear on this list considering how easy it is to encounter, it’s certainly unique compared to most streaming services.
Considering Amazon owns IMDb, the website which hosts all the information that appears via X-Ray, it’s highly unlikely that it would allow other platforms like Netflix or Disney Plus to use it as well.
It’s simple and elegant, and incredibly handy at preventing headaches caused by thoughts such as, “Where have I seen that actor before?”. X-Ray can also help make rewatching old shows more exciting by sharing an assortment of trivia facts and production goofs each time you take a break.
Hidden Prime Video features: Download TV shows and movies
Prime Video isn't the only streaming platform to offer a downloading option for offline viewing. In fact, similar features are available for subscribers of other major competitors, such as Netflix and Disney Plus. But in 2013, Prime Video was the very first streaming service to start the trend. The feature was first exclusively available on Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, and now it's offered on any device running on iOS or Android.
It allows you to enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies in an offline setting. So if you're about to hop on a long flight, or if your Wi-Fi connection isn't stable enough, this feature will certainly come in handy. To download a video, simply tap/click on the save icon next to the title.
Hidden Prime Video features: Pay less for Prime Video
This isn't exactly a feature, but it's worth considering if you're only using your Amazon Prime subscription to indulge in Prime Video. That's right: there is actually a cheaper subscription option solely for Prime Video users, priced at $8.99 per month for the ad-supported tier. (You can eliminate ads for an extra $3/month).
Be aware that this plan means you can't take advantage of Prime's other perks, such as free and priority shipping when placing an order on Amazon. And do keep in mind that this type of subscription also doesn't have the option to pay annually. Regardless, this is a great way to try out the streaming service if you're new to Amazon Prime. You can make changes to your membership directly in the settings menu.
Hidden Prime Video features: Customize your subtitles
This feature may not be all that exciting, but it might help make your viewing a bit more accessible, and it's a must-have for anyone who always has the subtitles on. Unlike Netflix, the default look of subtitles on Prime Video isn't appealing and doesn't blend well with the videos that you're watching. That's normally the case when you're viewing content through any device, whether it's on iOS, Android, or even through a browser.
On Prime Video, you can customize how the subtitles appear on screen pretty easily. There are a number of preset options available, allowing viewers to change the font size, color, background and more. All you need to do is to tap/click on the "Subtitles" icon, select the "Subtitles Settings" option, and you can switch things up to your liking.
Hidden Prime Video features: Shuffle your favorite episodes
If you’re looking for ways to spice up rewatching your favorite TV show for the umpteenth time, you’ll be glad to know that you have the option of “shuffling” the order in which you watch the episodes. This allows you to watch a TV show out of order, making it a bit more interesting since you won’t know what to expect next.
The bad news is that this feature is fairly inconsistent as to where it can be used. First off, it’s only available via the Android app, and even then, it doesn’t seem to be available on every TV show. We've spotted it available for popular sitcoms like "Scrubs", and "The Office" as well as a number of Prime Video Originals including "Fallout", "Clarkson's Farm" and "The Boys", but not everything on the platform
Now that you've learned all about Prime Video's hidden features, why not learn more about the other streaming services on the market? If you're looking to become a streaming expert, check out our guides to the Netflix hidden features and Disney Plus hidden features we've found. And if you're trying to find your next watch, check out our guide to the best movies on Prime Video.
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