How to Stream Amazon Prime Video on Discord: A Comprehensive Guide

Discord has become a central hub for communities, allowing friends and like-minded individuals to connect through text, voice, and video. While screen sharing is a fundamental feature, streaming copyrighted content like Amazon Prime Video can be a bit tricky. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to stream Amazon Prime Video on Discord, addressing potential issues and providing detailed, step-by-step instructions.

Why is Streaming Amazon Prime Video on Discord Difficult?

The primary reason it’s challenging to directly stream Amazon Prime Video (and other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.) on Discord is copyright protection, specifically Digital Rights Management (DRM). Amazon employs DRM to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of its content. When you attempt to screen share directly, you might encounter a black screen, distorted video, or an error message. This is DRM in action.

However, there are workarounds that can allow you to share your viewing experience with friends on Discord. These methods involve bypassing or mitigating DRM limitations, often by using specific browsers, settings, or third-party software. It’s essential to understand that circumventing DRM might violate Amazon Prime Video’s terms of service, so proceed with caution and use these methods primarily for personal use with friends.

Methods to Stream Amazon Prime Video on Discord

Here are several methods you can try, ranging from the simplest to the more technically involved:

Method 1: Using a Browser with Hardware Acceleration Disabled

This is often the easiest and most reliable method, as it directly addresses the DRM issue by disabling hardware acceleration within your browser. Hardware acceleration uses your graphics card to render video, which can trigger DRM restrictions during screen sharing. Disabling it forces the browser to use software rendering, which can bypass some DRM measures.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose a Browser: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are generally the best choices for this method. Avoid Safari, as it often has stricter DRM implementations.
2. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome:
   • Open Chrome Settings: Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select “Settings”.
   • Search for Hardware Acceleration: Type “hardware acceleration” in the search bar.
   • Toggle Off: Find the “Use hardware acceleration when available” option and toggle it to the off position.
   • Restart Chrome: Chrome will prompt you to restart the browser for the changes to take effect. Make sure you close all Chrome windows.
3. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Firefox:
   • Open Firefox Settings: Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select “Settings” (or “Options” depending on your OS).
   • Search for Performance: Type “performance” in the search bar.
   • Uncheck the Box: Uncheck the box labeled “Use recommended performance settings”. This will reveal more options.
   • Uncheck Hardware Acceleration: Uncheck the box labeled “Use hardware acceleration when available”.
   • Restart Firefox: Firefox will prompt you to restart the browser for the changes to take effect. Close all Firefox windows.
4. Open Amazon Prime Video: Launch your chosen browser and navigate to the Amazon Prime Video website.
5. Start Playing Your Video: Select the movie or TV show you want to stream and start playing it.
6. Open Discord: Launch Discord and join the server and voice channel where you want to stream.
7. Start Screen Sharing:
   • In your voice channel, look for the “Screen” button (it looks like a computer monitor with an arrow).
   • Select the Chrome or Firefox window where Amazon Prime Video is playing. Make sure you select the *specific window* and not your entire screen, as this can sometimes cause issues.
   • Click “Go Live”.
8. Adjust Audio (If Necessary): If your friends can’t hear the audio, you might need to adjust the audio settings in Discord. Go to Discord Settings (the gear icon next to your username), then “Voice & Video”. Make sure the correct input device (your microphone) and output device (your speakers or headphones) are selected. Sometimes, changing the “Input Mode” from “Voice Activity” to “Push to Talk” or vice-versa can resolve audio issues. Also, ensure that the Chrome or Firefox volume is turned up.

Troubleshooting Hardware Acceleration Issues:

• Black Screen: If you still see a black screen, double-check that hardware acceleration is *completely* disabled in your browser settings and that you have restarted the browser.
• Lag or Stuttering: Disabling hardware acceleration can sometimes increase CPU usage, which might cause lag or stuttering, especially on older computers. Try closing other applications to free up resources. If the problem persists, you might need to explore other methods.
• Sound Issues: Ensure that the correct audio output device is selected in both your computer’s sound settings and Discord’s voice settings.

Method 2: Using a Different Browser (Brave Browser)

Some users have reported success using the Brave browser, which has built-in ad-blocking and privacy features that may, in some cases, bypass DRM restrictions more effectively than Chrome or Firefox. This method is worth trying if the hardware acceleration method fails.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download and Install Brave Browser: Download the Brave browser from the official Brave website (brave.com) and install it.
2. Open Amazon Prime Video in Brave: Launch Brave and navigate to the Amazon Prime Video website.
3. Start Playing Your Video: Select the movie or TV show you want to stream and start playing it.
4. Open Discord: Launch Discord and join the server and voice channel where you want to stream.
5. Start Screen Sharing:
   • In your voice channel, click the “Screen” button.
   • Select the Brave browser window where Amazon Prime Video is playing.
   • Click “Go Live”.
6. Adjust Audio (If Necessary): Adjust your audio settings in Discord as needed, following the same steps as in Method 1.

Troubleshooting Brave Browser Issues:

• Black Screen: If you still get a black screen, try disabling hardware acceleration in Brave (similar to Chrome and Firefox). Go to `brave://settings/system` in the address bar and toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available”. Restart the browser.
• General Instability: While Brave is generally stable, occasional glitches can occur. Try restarting the browser or reinstalling it if you encounter persistent problems.

Method 3: Using OBS Studio with Browser Source

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a powerful, free, and open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It allows you to capture specific windows or displays and stream them to various platforms, including Discord. This method offers more control and flexibility but requires a bit more technical setup.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download and Install OBS Studio: Download OBS Studio from the official OBS Project website (obsproject.com) and install it.
2. Configure OBS Studio:
   • Launch OBS Studio.
   • Create a New Scene: In the “Scenes” panel (usually in the bottom-left corner), click the “+” button to add a new scene. Give it a descriptive name like “Amazon Prime Stream”.
   • Add a Browser Source: In the “Sources” panel (usually next to the “Scenes” panel), click the “+” button to add a new source. Select “Browser”.
   • Configure the Browser Source: A window will pop up. Give the source a name (e.g., “Amazon Prime Browser”). In the “URL” field, enter the Amazon Prime Video website address (primevideo.com). Adjust the width and height to match your screen resolution (e.g., 1920×1080). Check the “Control audio via OBS” box. Click “OK”.
3. Open Amazon Prime Video in OBS: OBS will now display the Amazon Prime Video website within the Browser Source. Log in to your account and start playing the video you want to stream *within the OBS Browser Source*.
4. Configure Audio Monitoring (Important!):
   • In the OBS Mixer panel (usually in the middle of the OBS window), you should see an audio meter for your Browser Source (the one you named earlier).
   • Click the gear icon (settings) next to the Browser Source audio meter.
   • Select “Advanced Audio Properties”.
   • In the “Audio Monitoring” column for your Browser Source, select “Monitor and Output”. This is crucial; otherwise, Discord will not receive the audio from the Amazon Prime Video stream.
5. Install the Virtual Audio Cable (VB-Cable): This is necessary to route the audio from OBS to Discord.
   • Download VB-Cable from https://vb-audio.com/Cable/ (a donation is appreciated, but not required).
   • Install VB-Cable. You will likely need to restart your computer after installation.
6. Set VB-Cable as the Audio Output in OBS:
   • Go to OBS Settings (File -> Settings).
   • Click on “Audio” in the left-hand menu.
   • In the “Advanced” section, set “Monitoring Device” to “CABLE Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)”.
   • Click “Apply” and then “OK”.
7. Open Discord: Launch Discord and join the server and voice channel where you want to stream.
8. Start Screen Sharing in Discord (Choose OBS):
   • In your voice channel, click the “Screen” button.
   • Select the *OBS Studio window itself* as the application you want to share. This is important; do *not* select the Amazon Prime Video window.
   • Click “Go Live”.
9. Set VB-Cable as the Input Device in Discord:
   • Go to Discord Settings (the gear icon).
   • Click on “Voice & Video”.
   • Under “Input Device”, select “CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable)”.
   • Adjust the input volume as needed.

Troubleshooting OBS Studio Issues:

• Black Screen in OBS: Ensure that the Browser Source is correctly configured and that the Amazon Prime Video website is loaded within it. Check that your OBS settings are correctly configured for your display resolution.
• No Audio in Discord: Double-check that you have configured audio monitoring correctly in OBS (“Monitor and Output” for the Browser Source). Verify that VB-Cable is installed correctly and set as both the monitoring device in OBS and the input device in Discord. Ensure that the Browser Source in OBS is set to “Control audio via OBS”.
• Lag or Performance Issues: OBS Studio can be resource-intensive. Lower the video resolution and frame rate in OBS settings to improve performance. Close other applications to free up system resources.
• OBS Crashing: Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause instability.
• Audio Distortion: Adjust the audio levels in both OBS and Discord to prevent clipping or distortion.

Method 4: Using a Capture Card (Hardware Solution – More Complex and Expensive)

A capture card is a hardware device that allows you to capture video and audio from an external source. While this method is more expensive and complex to set up, it provides the most reliable and highest-quality streaming experience. This method is generally used for streaming from devices like game consoles, but it can also be used to stream from a computer that is connected to a second monitor.

Step-by-Step Instructions (General Overview):

1. Purchase a Capture Card: Popular capture card brands include Elgato, AVerMedia, and Razer. Choose a capture card that supports your desired resolution and frame rate.
2. Connect Your Devices:
   • Connect one of the display outputs (HDMI usually) of your computer (where Amazon Prime Video is playing) to the input of the capture card.
   • Connect the output of the capture card to a monitor or display. This allows you to view the content on a separate screen.
   • Connect the capture card to your streaming computer via USB.
3. Install Capture Card Software: Install the drivers and software provided by the capture card manufacturer on your streaming computer.
4. Add the Capture Card as a Source in OBS Studio (or Similar Software):
   • Open OBS Studio (or XSplit, Streamlabs OBS, etc.).
   • Add a new “Video Capture Device” source.
   • Select your capture card from the list of available devices.
   • Configure the resolution and frame rate settings to match your source.
5. Configure Audio: Configure the audio input in OBS Studio to use the audio from the capture card. This may involve selecting the capture card as the audio input device or using audio monitoring.
6. Stream to Discord: Share the OBS Studio window on Discord as described in Method 3.

Troubleshooting Capture Card Issues:

• No Video Signal: Ensure that all cables are properly connected and that the capture card is correctly recognized by your computer. Check that the input and output resolutions of your devices are compatible.
• Audio Problems: Double-check the audio input settings in OBS Studio and ensure that the capture card is properly configured as an audio source.
• Lag or Latency: Capture cards can introduce some latency. Choose a capture card with low latency specifications.
• Driver Issues: Keep your capture card drivers updated to ensure optimal performance and compatibility.

Important Considerations and Legal Disclaimers

• Copyright and Terms of Service: Be aware that streaming copyrighted content without permission may violate copyright laws and the terms of service of Amazon Prime Video. This guide is intended for personal use and sharing with friends within a private setting. Avoid broadcasting to large, public audiences.
• Bandwidth: Streaming video consumes a significant amount of bandwidth. Ensure that you have a stable and sufficient internet connection for both streaming and viewing.
• System Requirements: Some of these methods, especially using OBS Studio or a capture card, require a relatively powerful computer with sufficient processing power and memory.
• Ethical Considerations: Only stream content that you have the right to share. Respect the rights of copyright holders.

Conclusion

Streaming Amazon Prime Video on Discord requires some technical know-how and may involve workarounds to bypass DRM restrictions. The methods described above offer varying levels of complexity and reliability. Start with the simplest method (disabling hardware acceleration) and progress to more advanced methods if necessary. Always be mindful of copyright laws and the terms of service of Amazon Prime Video, and use these methods responsibly for personal enjoyment with friends.

Remember to test each method thoroughly before attempting to stream to ensure that both video and audio are working correctly. Good luck, and happy streaming!