Convert Amazon Prime Videos for VLC

Amazon Prime Video offers a great way to download your favorite movies and shows for offline viewing. However, these downloaded files are locked to the Prime Video app due to DRM protection, making it impossible to play them on other media players like VLC.

If you’ve ever wished for the flexibility to watch Prime Video content on VLC’s feature-rich platform, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through the steps to make it happen—legally and efficiently!

Part 1: Why Can’t Amazon Prime Videos Be Played Directly on VLC?

Amazon Prime Video typically downloads its content in an encrypted MPD (MPEG-DASH) format, often combined with Widevine DRM for encryption. These files are designed to be played exclusively within the Amazon Prime Video app, ensuring content protection. The specific format may vary slightly by device or region, but it’s not directly accessible or compatible with third-party media players like VLC.

Fortunately, we're going to show you how to use third-party software - StreamFox for Video - to help you play Prime video content on VLC safely and quickly.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Play Amazon Prime Videos in VLC

If you’re like me, you probably love the flexibility of VLC Media Player—it plays almost anything! Unfortunately, Amazon Prime videos are locked behind DRM, making them unplayable on VLC by default. But don’t worry! With a little effort, you can enjoy your favorite Prime content on VLC without restrictions. Here’s how I did it:

Step 1. Prepare the Video Files

The first step is to download the Amazon Prime videos you want to watch. I’ve found that Eassiy One-stop Streaming Video Downloader—StreamFox for Video works really well for this. It’s easy to use and saves high-quality prime video files directly to your computer.

Key Features of StreamFox for Video

• Unlimited download of Prime Movies and TV shows without subscription conditions.
• Allows video formats to be downloaded to VLC compatible video formats - MP4, MOV, MKV.
• Allows bulk downloads of movies and TV you want to watch on VLC at 10x download speed.
• After downloading, it will not be deleted by Amazon Prime, it can be permanently saved in your local folder, and you can also transfer and share with your friends at any time.

The steps to download Amazon Video Files are as follows:

1. Open StreamFox for Video and select the Amazon Prime icon.

2. Log into your Amazon Prime account in the StreamFox built-in browser to unlock the repository.

3. Enter a keyword or video link for the movie or TV you want to watch. Select the specific number of episodes in the pop-up window.

4. Drop down the video menu and select Video definition (720p-1080p), audio language format, and subtitle language.

Note: VLC support most audio file formats (AAC, AC3, ADPCM, ALAC, AMR, APE, ATRAC 3, DTS, DV Audio, E-AC-3, FLAC, LPCM, MACE, MIDI, MLP, Mod, MPEG, Musepack, QCELP, QDM2, QDMC, Real Audio, Speex, TrueAudio, TrueHD, Vorbis, Wavpack, and WMA, as well as MP3.)

5. In the upper right corner, also check the desired video format. (MP4, MOV, and MKV all play on VLC.)

6. Check All the videos you want to watch at VLC and click "Convert All".

Finally, Amazon Prime videos will be saved lossless in the output folder you set up. You can right mouse, through VLC open directly watch.

Step 2. Convert the Video Files to VLC-Compatible Formats

If you've already managed to bypass the DRM protection on your Amazon Prime videos, the next step is to convert them into a format VLC can read. Personally, I recommend using Eassiy Video Converter Ultimate—it's fast, reliable, and supports a wide range of output formats, like MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, MPG, MP3 etc.

Here are the steps to use Eassiy Video Converter Ultimate:

1. Once the Eassiy Video Converter Ultimate is launched, you'll be greeted with an interface that allows you to select video files for conversion.

2. Upload the video, open the "Convert All to" drop-down menu to select your output format, or click the format icon next to each file to choose individually. Here, MP4 was selected.

3. Click the "Convert All" button to start. If you want to change the save location, click the arrow next to the "Save to" path.

The progress bar will show the conversion status. Once done, you'll see "Success," and a red mark will appear next to "Converted." The folder with the final video will open automatically.

Step 3. Play the Converted Videos on VLC

Now comes the fun part—playing the video in VLC! Here’s how I do it:

1. Open VLC Media Player (you probably already have it installed, right?).

2. Go to Media > Open File.

3. Browse to the folder where you saved the converted video and select it.

4. Click Open, sit back, and enjoy!

Note: You can customize subtitle settings by going to “Tools” > “Preferences” > “Subtitles/OSD.” Here, you can adjust the position, font style, size, and color of the subtitles to your liking.

FAQs and Troubleshooting

Q. Why is my downloaded video not playing on VLC?

If your downloaded video isn't playing on VLC, the issue might be due to a few common factors. Large or complex media files can sometimes overwhelm VLC, causing playback issues. Additionally, missing or incorrectly encoded metadata in the file can prevent VLC from playing it. In some cases, the problem could also stem from a compatibility issue between the file format and VLC. If you're using StreamFox for Video to download, make sure the files are properly saved in a supported format for VLC.

Q. Can I play downloaded Amazon Prime movies offline?

Yes, you can play downloaded Amazon Prime movies offline, but only through the official Prime Video app on supported devices like Fire tablets, iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows 10. Unfortunately, due to DRM protection, these videos are not directly playable on third-party players like VLC. However, you can use StreamFox for Video to download and convert these titles into a compatible format for offline playback on VLC. Just make sure to follow the steps carefully to ensure legal and smooth playback.

Q. How to play video downloaded from Amazon Prime?

To play videos downloaded from Amazon Prime, you typically need to use the Prime Video app. Here’s how you can access your downloaded content:

• iPhone/iPad: Open the Prime Video app and tap the Downloads tab to find your downloaded videos.
• Fire Tablet/Android: Tap the left navigation menu, select Downloads, and choose the movie or TV show you want to watch.

However, if you're looking to play these videos outside the Prime Video app, you'll need to use a tool like StreamFox for Video to download and convert the videos into a format that can be played on VLC or other third-party media players. Keep in mind that DRM restrictions must be respected when handling these files.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Amazon Prime's DRM protection limits direct playback of downloaded videos on third-party media players like VLC, tools like StreamFox for Video offer a solution for converting these files into a compatible format. By following the steps to download, convert, and then play your content on VLC, you can enjoy your Amazon Prime videos offline without any restrictions. Just remember to respect copyright laws and use these methods for personal viewing only. Happy watching!