What to know about pausing Prime Video
What to know about pausing Prime Video
We’ll explain what you need to know about pausing a Prime Video subscription instead of canceling here.
Very few streaming services offer free trials anymore, but there was once a time when nearly every free streaming service allowed new customers to give it a try at no cost for at least a few days. Prime Video is one of the last holdouts; new Amazon Prime customers get to watch Prime Video free for 30 days as part of the free trial that comes with new Prime accounts.
Having the ability to pause a subscription is somewhat analogous to a free trial for canceling a streamer. Instead of canceling outright, pausing allows viewers to keep their account settings and viewing history while still avoiding having to pay for that subscription. So, does Prime Video allow viewers to pause a subscription instead of canceling? Find out what you need to know here.
What you need to know about pausing Prime Video
Can you pause a Prime Video subscription?
Yes, with a huge caveat: you must be subscribed to Prime Video through Amazon Prime in order to pause your subscription. An Amazon Prime account can be paused, but a standalone Prime Video subscription cannot — the only option for Prime Video-only customers is to cancel their account.
How to pause Prime Video subscriptions
To pause an Amazon Prime subscription and all the benefits included therein, you’ll have to be able to open the Amazon website on a desktop or mobile browser.
Then, use the following instructions:
- Click here to log in to your Amazon account.
- From the homepage, find the Accounts & Lists drop-down menu.
- Click Prime Membership.
- Tap the Manage Membership drop-down option.
- Under Manage Membership, click Update, cancel and more.
- Scroll down to Pause Membership, and click Continue to Pause.
- Choose your pause duration.
How long can you pause Prime Video for?
You can pause an Amazon Prime subscription for one month, two months, three months, or up to one year. Once your pause period ends, your subscription will automatically resume at the prevailing subscription price.
Can you resume a paused Prime Video subscription early?
Yes, you can resume a Prime Video subscription any time you like. Simply log back into Amazon and locate your Prime membership using the steps listed above to resume.
How to cancel Prime Video
If you’re ready to cancel Prime Video instead of simply pausing, or you are not eligible to pause your account, click here for full instructions for canceling a Prime Video subscription instead.
Why you might want to pause Prime Video
Having the ability to pause an Amazon Prime subscription, including Prime Video and all other included perks, is ideal for shoppers who decide they want to cut down on their time (and money) spent online. Pausing gives consumers the option of foregoing a monthly charge for Prime without having to worry about losing their purchase history and stored payment settings.
On the Prime Video side, pausing a Prime subscription instead of canceling will allow viewers to keep their watchlists and viewing histories intact. This means Prime will continue to be able to recommend new titles based on your past watches; if you cancel, you’ll lose it all and have to start all over.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.