Although Amazon Prime Video's illegal copy Protection HDCP cannot be matched in a straightforward fashion, with certain items, it is possible to record Amazon content at a higher quality than copying DVDs, which is also more convenient.
However, you will see a black screen when recording or taking a screenshot on mobile phones or laptops. This article will explain why and how to screen record Prime Video on iPhone, Android, and laptops without a black screen.
Since you're here, you may also be interested in information about other streaming services. For example, the method to record on Hulu, and to screen record Netflix shows.
Does Amazon Allow You to Record Prime Video?
If you want to record shows on Prime Video, the first question is: Does Amazon allow you to record Prime Video? You might have already noticed that your screen will turn black suddenly when recording it. Don't worry, your device isn't broken. It's because of DRM.
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. It's a special encryption tech that protects digital content, such as VOD, online music, etc. DRM is applied by more and more streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+, and even OnlyFans.
The black screen is meant to prevent the online content on Prime Video from malicious usage or copying for commercial purposes. However, it has also brought a lot of trouble to Prime Video subscribers.
Now I will make a detailed review of 3 verified methods, and guide you to record Amazon Prime Video successfully without black screen. Different methods are suitable for different needs. Please select the most useful one for yourself.
How to Record Amazon Prime Video? Methods Review
There are 3 methods to record Prime Video successfully: a professional downloader or recorder, or OBS Studio. Read on to see the detailed steps.
Professional Downloader: BBFly
The first tool is a professional video downloader, such as BBFly Amazon Prime Downloader. This kind of tool is able to bypass DRM on various streaming platforms and download the shows into MP4/MKV format directly.
To record Amazon Prime Video, you need to prepare the 3 items in advance:
- Windows PC or Mac(+ Internet connection)
- An active Amazon Prime Video account
- Dedicated video downloader, such as BBFly
Now let's have a look at what you can get from BBFly. First, the highest quality that BBFly supports is Full HD 1080p, and the highest download speed is up to 10X faster at about 7MB/s. It means that you don't have to sacrifice video quality for better download performance.
The downloaded Prime Video shows will be saved in MP4/MKV format automatically, and thus, you don't need to worry about expiration or other DRM-related problems.
BBFly is also very easy to use. You just need to follow 4 steps: install BBFly, visit Prime Video, play shows and set download options:
1. Download and install BBFly on your Windows PC or Mac. It's recommended to click the download button above, or get the installation package from the official site BBFly Amazon Prime Downloader.
2. Find Amazon Prime Video from the VIP Services.
3. Login to your Prime Video account to access the Prime Video library. Browse and play the shows you want to download.
4. When you play the video, BBFly will automatically analyze the URL for offline viewing. And a download settings window will pop up. Select the video, audio, subtitles language, etc.
The main economic benefit is that you can cut the budget by downloading all titles you like on Prime Video and cancel the subscription for the next months.
For example, if there are videos that you want to watch on Amazon Prime Video, you can pay only for one month to record and permanently store all the videos you want to watch, and then you can watch them without paying a single penny thereafter, saving you a lot of money.
Note: Once you record Prime Video shows, you don't have to worry about the expiration date, and most importantly, you will be able to watch the same title anytime and anywhere without having to rent it again, which is quite a win-win situation.
Open-Source App: OBS Studio
Apart from the professional video downloader, you can also rely on OBS Studio to record Amazon Prime Video. It is an open-source program that can work on Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD. It supports screencast and live-stream on RTMP-supporting platforms.
OBS is written in C++, and is totally free to use. Because of its powerful functions, more and more people are using it to do live streaming or just record videos. Based on a discussion on Reddit, OBS is also useful for screen recording Prime Video.
However, before using this tool, you need to pay attention to the following points to make sure that the Prime Video DRM can be successfully bypassed during the record process：
- Record the right one if you're using dual monitors.
- Choose Firefox browser to record, instead of Chrome or Edge.
- Turn off hardware acceleration before recording.
Now, follow these steps below to use OBS Studio and record Amazon Prime Video. (It may need certain computer skills to operate OBS)
1. Download and install OBS Studio on your device. You can find it on the official site obsproject.com, GitHub, Microsoft Store, and Steam.
2. Set up your scene. Launch OBS and click the "+" button to add a new scene and name it.
3. Add your source. Click the "+" button in the "Sources". Select one recording source, such as an entire screen, a specific window, or a webcam. If you're playing Prime Video shows through a Firefox browser, please select "Window Capture".
4. Check audio settings, such as the input and output. Set recording settings via File > Settings > Output. Choose your preferred recording path, format, and quality.
5. Start Recording. Click the "Start Recording" button on the bottom right of the main OBS window.
6. Stop Recording. Click the "Stop Recording" button, and the recorded content will be saved in the folder you selected before.
Note: OBS doesn't have an edit function. If you want to process the video you record, you could use Lossless Cut or similar tools.
Professional Recorder: PlayOn
The last method you could use is a professional third-party recorder, such as PlayOn Home. This kind of program can make your PC a powerful DVR by directly recording from Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms.
Similar to BBFly, most recorders are easy to use. Take PlayOn Home as an example: you only need to click the platform you want to record from, and select the title you want to record. Everything will be done in the background.
PlayOn supports 20 streaming channels, including Amazon Prime Video. It can record high-quality videos up to 1080p and remove ads from the recorded shows. However, there are also some drawbacks:
| Feature/Tool | Video Downloader (BBFly) | Video Recorder (PlayOn) |
| Video Quality | Full HD 1080p | Full HD 1080p |
| Supported Sites | 150+ | 20 |
| Speed | 10X faster | 1X original speed |
| EAC3 5.1 Audio | ✔️ | ❌ |
| H264/H265 Codec | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Automatic Recording | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Subs Saving | ✔️ | ❌ |
So if you want to record on Prime Video more conveniently and enjoy more functions, a video downloader might be the best choice.
FAQs
Q1. How to play recorded Prime Video shows on PC?
A1. I recommend VLC Media Player, a powerful video player that can handle videos using various codec methods. Once you launch VLC Media Player, all you have to do is click and drag the video data you want to play into the player. This will automatically play the video for you.
Q2. How to play recorded Prime Video shows on phones or tablets?
A2. If you use BBFly or OBS Studio to record Amazon Prime Video, the recorded content will be saved in MP4/MKV format, so that it can be put on your iPhone or iPad for viewing. Just move the recordings to an external storage device such as an SD card, and transfer them to your mobile devices.
Q3. Is it legal to record Prime Video?
A3. It's totally acceptable to record Prime Video shows for personal entertainment. However, you should remember that you're responsible for what you've recorded. You should never share them with others or use them for commercial purposes.
Conclusion
Can you record on Prime? Not impossible via the official app. But you can still use a third-party tool to record Amazon Prime Video for offline viewing. This article recommends 3 different tools: BBFly video downloader, OBS Studio, and PlayOn Home.
The 3 programs have their own pros and cons. You can also follow the guide above to see how to record Amazon Prime Video without black screen with the help of these tools. Hope you can catch the screen of your favorite Amazon titles successfully.
And since you're here, you may also want to learn about how to download Disney Plus videos to watch them on the go.
