Boasting of hit originals such as Carnival Row, Fleabag, Hanna, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon Prime Video is a must-have service for TV show buffs. And if you have a Roku streaming player, you can use it to stream these shows in high definition (HD) and enjoy a seamless streaming experience. With the right Roku model, you can even access select Prime Video content in ultra high definition (UDH) for even more vivid picture quality.
Even for those who want to stream Prime Video from multiple devices at a time, you have the option to access it from 2 additional screens other than your Roku player. This post shows you how to watch Amazon Prime Video on Roku so you can enjoy it across all your devices.
Is the Prime Video app available on all Roku devices?
The Roku Amazon Prime Video app is available across all current models of the device. Although Roku doesn’t specify when it added the app to its Channel Store, the two companies have partnered up for a while. Roku was already a leading device to stream Prime Video even when Apple TV and Chromecast didn’t support the service ecosystem back in 2015.
You can get the Roku Amazon Prime Video app for free from the Roku Channel Store. But to start using the service, you need to pay for a subscription. If you get Prime Video through an Amazon Prime subscription, that means $12.99/mo. or $119/yr. But if you want to get just Prime Video without all the extra Prime membership perks, it’ll cost $8.99/mo.
For those with an existing Prime Video account, you just need to link it to your Roku device after installing the app.
How to download Prime Video on Roku
The process of adding the Roku Amazon Prime Video app to your device doesn’t take too much time. If you’ve already added channels to your device before, you can skip right to the “search” step. For those who don’t know how to add an app from the Roku Channel Store, here’s what you need to do:
- Turn on your Roku device and press the “Home” button on your remote.
- On the left menu, select “Streaming Channels.” This will open the Roku Channel Store.
- Use the search bar to look for Amazon Prime Video, and then select the option once you find it.
- From the Prime Video channel page, select the “Add Channel” button to begin the installation.
After the installation finishes, you’ll find Prime Video along with the rest of your channels. Launch it to begin signing up and/or connecting your device to your existing Amazon Prime account.
Alternatively, you also have the option to download Prime Video using the Roku mobile app. Open the app and tap on the “Channels” icon at the bottom of the screen. This will launch the Channel Store, from which you can search for Amazon Prime Video. Select the channel from your search results and tap on “Add Channel.”
The Roku Amazon Prime Video app offers a smooth and straightforward interface that’s easy to use and navigate. It highlights featured titles at the top, after which you can also find personalized recommendations and original content.
For an uncluttered layout, it puts the menu buttons at the top of the screen. From here, you can access your settings, discover movies and shows, and search for titles. You even get the option to find kid-friendly programming or access your watchlist from here.
What Roku device does the Amazon Prime Video app support?
One of the best parts about using Roku with Amazon Prime is that the app is compatible with every current model. This includes the Roku 2, Roku 3, Roku Express, Roku Express+, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, and Roku Ultra. It also works with Roku TVs, so you can start streaming on your smart TV without an additional media player.
Keep in mind, however, that Prime Video no longer provides updates for the app on older Roku models such as the Roku 1. At the same time, it doesn’t give a detailed breakdown of the Roku OS versions that are compatible with the service.
Additionally, Roku has also discontinued support for its older players. This includes Roku 1 and the first generation Roku 2 players as well as Roku 4. So you can no longer get updates for the Prime Video app on these devices.
Are there 4K streaming options for Prime Video on Roku?
With Prime Video having a decent selection of 4K titles in its lineup, you might want a streaming device that lets you stream in 4K. Roku gives you this option on select models. For now, the Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, and Roku Ultra players will let you stream select Prime Video content in 4K Ultra HDR up to 60 frames per second (fps).
Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need an external display that supports this streaming quality. The Roku Premiere+ and Roku Ultra players also provide high dynamic range (HDR) support on compatible TVs. You can even get 4K streaming options on Roku 4K TVs but not on Roku HD TVs. Meanwhile, the rest of the compatible Roku models will let you stream Prime Video content in up to 1080p.
What else should I know about Prime Video on Roku?
For those who like the idea of taking their mobile streaming to the big screen, you even have the option to cast Prime Video from your phone to your Roku device. Just open your Prime Video mobile app and tap on the cast icon at the bottom of the screen. Then select your Roku device to begin casting.
Alternatively, you can mirror the screen of your Android or Windows device using select Roku devices. This allows you to see your entire mobile or computer screen on your Roku-connected TV. So you might enjoy this feature if you prefer streaming Prime Video from the browser or the mobile app but still want to watch content on a bigger screen.
While adding the Roku Amazon Prime Video channel is usually a seamless experience, you might occasionally face issues with playback. For instance, the video just won’t play or only streams in poor quality. In some cases, you might also have problems with audio playback.
For these scenarios, you can try several common fixes. First of all, check the network to see if you’re getting proper signal strength. If there’s no problem with connectivity, try rebooting the Roku device and see if that solves the issue. In case of audio playback issues, make sure you check your settings to see if there’s an accidental misconfiguration. You could also try removing and reinstalling the channel to see if it fixes the problem.
In case none of these common troubleshooting steps work, contact Roku support for help.
The final cut
Roku offers a comprehensive solution to seamlessly stream your favorite movies and shows on Amazon Prime Video. The high-end models even come with 4K HDR streaming so you can watch 4K titles in crisp and vivid quality. So make sure you sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime Video to see how it works with your Roku device.