How to Change Your Prime Video Country: A Step-by-Step Guide
Prime Video offers a vast library of movies and TV shows, but the content available to you can vary greatly depending on your geographical location. Due to licensing agreements, Amazon restricts certain titles to specific regions. If you’re traveling, relocating, or simply want to access content from another country, you’ll need to change your Prime Video country setting. This comprehensive guide provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to do just that.
## Understanding Prime Video Region Locking
Before diving into the how-to, it’s crucial to understand why Prime Video restricts content based on location. The primary reason is licensing. Amazon doesn’t own the rights to broadcast every movie and TV show globally. These rights are typically licensed on a country-by-country basis. Therefore, a show available in the US might not be available in the UK, and vice versa.
This regional locking ensures that Amazon complies with copyright laws and licensing agreements. While frustrating for viewers who want access to a wider range of content, it’s a necessary measure for content providers.
## Methods for Changing Your Prime Video Country
There are several ways to change your Prime Video country, each with its own pros and cons. The best method for you will depend on your specific circumstances and technical capabilities. Here’s a breakdown of the most common approaches:
1. **Updating Your Amazon Account Address:** This is the simplest and most straightforward method, but it requires a valid address in the new country.
2. **Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network):** A VPN can mask your actual IP address and make it appear as though you’re browsing from another country. This allows you to access Prime Video content from that region. This is generally considered the most reliable method when traveling.
3. **Contacting Amazon Customer Support:** In some cases, Amazon customer support may be able to assist you in changing your Prime Video country, especially if you’ve permanently relocated.
4. **Using a Smart DNS Proxy:** Similar to a VPN, a Smart DNS proxy reroutes your internet traffic through servers in another country. However, it only redirects traffic related to streaming services, potentially offering faster speeds than a VPN.
Let’s examine each method in detail.
## Method 1: Updating Your Amazon Account Address
This method is the officially recommended way to change your Prime Video country. However, it requires you to have a legitimate address in the country you want to switch to. This is ideal for people who have recently moved or have a second home in another country.
**Steps:**
1. **Log in to Your Amazon Account:** Go to the Amazon website (www.amazon.com) and log in with your email address and password.
2. **Navigate to Account & Lists:** Hover over the “Account & Lists” option in the top right corner of the page. A dropdown menu will appear.
3. **Select “Your Account”:** From the dropdown menu, click on “Your Account.”
4. **Find “Addresses”:** In the “Your Account” page, locate the “Addresses” section. It’s usually found under the “Ordering and Shopping Preferences” heading.
5. **Add a New Address:** Click on “Add a new address”.
6. **Enter the New Address:** Fill in all the required fields with the address details of your new country. Make sure the address is accurate and complete. This typically includes:
* Full Name
* Street Address
* Apartment, Suite, or Unit Number (if applicable)
* City
* State/Province/Region
* Zip Code/Postal Code
* Country/Region
* Phone Number (Optional, but recommended)
7. **Set as Default Address (Important):** Once you’ve entered the new address, **very importantly**, set it as your default address. Amazon uses your default address to determine your region for various services, including Prime Video.
8. **Update Your Digital Content Country/Region:** After setting your new default address, you might need to explicitly change the country/region setting for your digital content and devices. This is often overlooked but crucial.
* Go back to “Your Account” page.
* Under “Digital content and devices,” find and click on “Content and Devices.” You may need to click on “Manage Your Content and Devices” if the option isn’t immediately visible.
* Click on the “Preferences” tab.
* Under “Country/Region Settings,” click the “Change” button.
* Select your new country from the dropdown menu.
* You’ll be prompted to update your default address again, even if you already did. Confirm the change.
9. **Restart Your Prime Video App or Browser:** After making these changes, completely close and restart your Prime Video app on your device or refresh your browser if you’re watching on a computer. This ensures that the app or browser picks up the new country setting.
10. **Verify the Change:** Browse the Prime Video library to see if the content has changed to reflect the offerings of your new country. If you’re still seeing the same content, you may need to clear your browser’s cache and cookies or uninstall and reinstall the Prime Video app.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Payment Methods:** Make sure your payment methods are also associated with the new country. You might need to add a new payment method linked to a bank account or credit card from the new region.
* **Address Verification:** Amazon may require you to verify your new address. This could involve submitting proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
* **Content Availability:** Even after changing your country, not all content will be available. Licensing agreements still apply, and some titles may be exclusive to certain regions.
* **Delay:** The change might not be immediate. It can take a few hours, or sometimes up to 24 hours, for the new country setting to take effect.
## Method 2: Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN is a powerful tool that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a location of your choice. This masks your actual IP address and makes it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location. VPNs are especially useful for travelers or those who want to access content from countries where they don’t have a physical address.
**Steps:**
1. **Choose a Reputable VPN Provider:** Select a VPN provider with servers in the country you want to access Prime Video from. It’s crucial to choose a reputable provider with fast speeds and a strong privacy policy. Avoid free VPNs, as they often have slow speeds, limited server locations, and may compromise your data security. Popular and reliable VPN providers include:
* NordVPN
* ExpressVPN
* Surfshark
* CyberGhost
* Private Internet Access (PIA)
2. **Sign Up and Download the VPN App:** Create an account with your chosen VPN provider and download their app for your device (computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV). Most providers offer apps for various platforms.
3. **Install and Launch the VPN App:** Install the VPN app on your device and launch it.
4. **Connect to a Server in Your Desired Country:** Open the VPN app and select a server located in the country whose Prime Video content you want to access. For example, if you want to watch US Prime Video content, connect to a server in the United States.
5. **Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies (Important):** Before opening Prime Video, clear your browser’s cache and cookies. This removes any location data that your browser might be storing and ensures that Prime Video accurately detects your VPN’s location. If you’re using the Prime Video app, clear the app’s cache in your device settings.
6. **Open Prime Video:** Launch the Prime Video app or go to the Prime Video website in your browser.
7. **Browse and Watch Content:** Start browsing the Prime Video library. You should now see the content available in the country you connected to via the VPN.
**Important Considerations:**
* **VPN Detection:** Amazon actively tries to detect and block VPNs. Therefore, it’s important to choose a VPN provider that is known to work reliably with Prime Video and regularly updates its servers to avoid detection. If you encounter issues, try connecting to a different server within the same country.
* **VPN Speed:** VPNs can sometimes slow down your internet connection due to the encryption and routing of traffic. Choose a VPN provider with fast server speeds to minimize buffering and lag.
* **Legality:** Using a VPN to access content from another country is generally not illegal, but it may violate Amazon’s terms of service. Be aware of the potential risks involved.
* **Smart TVs and Streaming Devices:** Setting up a VPN on a smart TV or streaming device can be more complex. Some devices have native VPN support, while others may require you to configure the VPN on your router. Consult your VPN provider’s documentation for specific instructions.
* **Location Services:** Disable location services on your device while using a VPN to prevent Prime Video from detecting your actual location.
## Method 3: Contacting Amazon Customer Support
This method is less common but can be helpful in certain situations, such as when you’ve permanently relocated and are having trouble changing your country settings through the standard methods.
**Steps:**
1. **Go to the Amazon Help Page:** Navigate to the Amazon Help page on the Amazon website (www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html).
2. **Find the “Contact Us” Option:** Look for a “Contact Us” link or button. This is usually located at the bottom of the page.
3. **Choose Your Issue:** Select the relevant category for your issue. This might be something like “Prime Video” or “Account Settings.”
4. **Describe Your Problem:** Clearly explain that you want to change your Prime Video country because you have moved to a new country and are unable to do so through your account settings. Be prepared to provide proof of your new address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
5. **Choose a Contact Method:** Amazon typically offers multiple contact methods, such as phone, email, or chat. Choose the method that you prefer.
6. **Communicate with Customer Support:** Explain your situation to the customer support representative and follow their instructions. They may ask you for additional information or guide you through the necessary steps to change your Prime Video country.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Proof of Address:** Be prepared to provide proof of your new address. Amazon will likely require this to verify your relocation.
* **Patience:** The process of changing your country through customer support may take some time. Be patient and follow the representative’s instructions carefully.
* **Limited Success:** While Amazon customer support can sometimes assist with changing your country, there’s no guarantee that they will be able to do so. The success of this method depends on your specific circumstances and Amazon’s policies.
## Method 4: Using a Smart DNS Proxy
A Smart DNS proxy is similar to a VPN in that it allows you to access content from other countries. However, it works differently. Instead of encrypting all of your internet traffic, a Smart DNS proxy only reroutes the traffic related to specific streaming services, like Prime Video. This can result in faster speeds compared to a VPN, as there’s less overhead involved.
**Steps:**
1. **Choose a Smart DNS Proxy Provider:** Select a reputable Smart DNS proxy provider that supports Prime Video in the country you want to access. Some popular providers include:
* Smart DNS Proxy
* Unlocator
* Getflix
2. **Sign Up and Get Your DNS Server Addresses:** Create an account with your chosen provider and obtain the DNS server addresses that you need to configure your device or router.
3. **Configure Your Device or Router:** The configuration process varies depending on your device. You’ll typically need to change your device’s DNS settings to use the DNS server addresses provided by your Smart DNS proxy provider. Many providers offer detailed setup guides for various devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and routers.
* **On a Computer:** Go to your network settings and change the DNS server addresses for your internet connection. The exact steps vary depending on your operating system (Windows or macOS).
* **On a Smart TV or Streaming Device:** The process is similar to configuring DNS settings on a computer. Refer to your device’s manual for instructions on how to change DNS settings.
* **On a Router:** Configuring the Smart DNS proxy on your router will affect all devices connected to your network. This is a convenient option if you want to access Prime Video content from multiple devices. However, the configuration process can be more complex and varies depending on your router model. Refer to your router’s manual for instructions.
4. **Register Your IP Address:** Most Smart DNS proxy providers require you to register your IP address on their website. This allows them to identify your device and ensure that the service works correctly. Log in to your Smart DNS proxy account and follow the instructions for registering your IP address. You may need to update your IP address if it changes (e.g., if you have a dynamic IP address).
5. **Restart Your Device or Router:** After configuring the DNS settings and registering your IP address, restart your device or router to apply the changes.
6. **Open Prime Video:** Launch the Prime Video app or go to the Prime Video website in your browser.
7. **Browse and Watch Content:** Start browsing the Prime Video library. You should now see the content available in the country associated with the Smart DNS proxy server you’re using.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Limited Encryption:** Unlike a VPN, a Smart DNS proxy doesn’t encrypt your internet traffic. This means that your data is less secure. However, Smart DNS proxies are typically faster than VPNs because they don’t have the overhead of encryption.
* **Device Compatibility:** Make sure your device is compatible with the Smart DNS proxy service. Some devices may not allow you to change DNS settings.
* **IP Address Changes:** If you have a dynamic IP address, you’ll need to update your IP address registration with your Smart DNS proxy provider whenever your IP address changes. Some providers offer dynamic IP updater tools to automate this process.
* **Blocking:** Amazon may try to block Smart DNS proxy services. Choose a provider that actively works to circumvent these blocks.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even after following these steps, you might encounter issues changing your Prime Video country. Here are some common problems and how to troubleshoot them:
* **Still Seeing the Old Content:**
* **Clear Cache and Cookies:** Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, or clear the Prime Video app’s cache in your device settings.
* **Restart Your Device:** Restart your computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV.
* **Verify Your IP Address:** If you’re using a VPN or Smart DNS proxy, make sure your IP address is correctly registered with the provider.
* **Try a Different Server:** If you’re using a VPN, try connecting to a different server in the same country.
* **Wait:** Sometimes it takes a few hours for the changes to take effect.
* **VPN Not Working:**
* **Choose a Reputable VPN:** Ensure you’re using a VPN known to work reliably with Prime Video.
* **Update Your VPN App:** Make sure you’re using the latest version of the VPN app.
* **Contact VPN Support:** Contact your VPN provider’s support team for assistance.
* **Check for IP Leaks:** Use an online IP leak test to ensure that your VPN is not leaking your actual IP address.
* **Smart DNS Proxy Not Working:**
* **Verify DNS Settings:** Double-check that you’ve entered the DNS server addresses correctly.
* **Register Your IP Address:** Make sure your IP address is registered with the Smart DNS proxy provider.
* **Restart Your Router:** Restart your router to ensure the DNS settings are applied correctly.
* **Check for Service Outages:** Check the Smart DNS proxy provider’s website for any reported service outages.
* **Payment Issues:**
* **Update Payment Methods:** Ensure your payment methods are associated with the new country.
* **Contact Amazon Support:** Contact Amazon customer support for assistance with payment issues.
## Conclusion
Changing your Prime Video country can be a bit tricky, but by following these detailed steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to access the content you want. Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs and be aware of the potential risks and limitations involved. Whether you’re using your Amazon account settings, a VPN, Smart DNS proxy, or seeking assistance from customer support, a bit of patience and persistence will help you unlock the full potential of Prime Video.
Ultimately, accessing the content you desire is achievable with the right approach. Happy streaming!
