To listen to Amazon Music offline, you need to download songs within the Amazon Music app while you have an internet connection, then play them later without Wi-Fi or cellular data. The key is that your subscription tier determines how those downloads work: Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Music allow in-app downloads, while purchased MP3s from Amazon are DRM-free files you can play anywhere. If you primarily listen to Amazon music on PC, the desktop app also supports offline downloads for the same subscription tiers.
What you need to listen to Amazon Music offline
Offline listening requires an active subscription to either Amazon Music Unlimited or Amazon Prime Music. The free tier of Amazon Music does not support offline playback at all. There is also a critical distinction between the two types of music you can get from Amazon. Songs downloaded through the Amazon Music app from a Prime or Unlimited subscription are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM), which means they only play inside the Amazon Music app on the device where you downloaded them. You cannot export those files or play them in another music player. However, if you purchase individual MP3 tracks or albums from Amazon, those files have no DRM, so you can download them as standard MP3s and play them on any compatible device, outside the Amazon Music app entirely, which is exactly what you need if you want to transfer music from Amazon music to MP3 player.
How to download songs on iPhone or Android
Downloading music for offline playback is a simple, repeatable process on both iOS and Android devices. The steps are identical regardless of which operating system you use.
- Open the Amazon Music app on your phone or tablet and sign in to your Amazon account.
- Browse or search for the song, album, or playlist you want to save for offline listening.
- Tap the three-dot menu (labeled “More Options”) next to the track, album, or playlist.
- Select “Download” from the menu that appears.
The download begins immediately. You will see a download indicator next to the item, and once it finishes, that content is stored on your device. Repeat these steps for any other songs or albums you want available offline. If you want to download music from Amazon Music in bulk, you can apply the same three-dot menu to an entire playlist or album rather than individual tracks.
Where to find and play your offline music
After you download content, the Amazon Music app organizes it in dedicated sections so you can find it quickly. Open the app and go to “Your Library” at the bottom of the screen. Alternatively, you can tap “Offline Playlists” to see only the playlists you have downloaded for offline use. When you open one of these sections, every song listed is available for playback without any internet connection.
Playback behavior in offline mode is straightforward. When your phone has no Wi-Fi or cellular signal, the Amazon Music app automatically plays only the downloaded content. You can still use play, pause, skip, shuffle, and repeat controls exactly as you would while streaming. The app will not attempt to stream anything, so you will never hit a buffer or an error due to a missing connection. If you reconnect to the internet, the app resumes normal streaming behavior, but your offline downloads remain intact until you remove them.
Managing your offline downloads
You have full control over your offline library, and there is no fixed song cap. Amazon Music Unlimited and HD/Ultra HD subscribers can download as many songs as their device storage allows. The only limit is the available space on your phone or tablet. To manage that space, you can create multiple offline playlists. For example, you might have one playlist for your commute, another for workouts, and a third for travel. Each playlist downloads separately, and you can add or remove songs from any of them whenever you are online.
This deletes the offline copy from your device but does not remove the item from your Amazon Music library or your subscription. You can re-download it later as long as you have an active subscription and sufficient storage. Changes you make to a playlist, adding or removing songs, only take effect for offline playback after you are connected to the internet and the app syncs the update.
Frequently asked questions
Can I listen to Amazon Music offline without a subscription?
No. Offline playback is available only to Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Music subscribers. The free, ad-supported tier of Amazon Music does not include the ability to download songs for offline listening.
Why can't I download some songs?
Licensing restrictions from music labels can prevent certain tracks or albums from being available for offline playback, even if they are streamable online. If you see a song without a download option in the three-dot menu, that specific title is not licensed for offline use in the Amazon Music catalog.
Can I use offline mode on multiple devices?
Yes. You can listen to Amazon Music offline on as many devices as you want, as long as you are signed in to the same Amazon Music account on each one. However, each device requires its own separate downloads. Downloading a song on your phone does not automatically make it available on your tablet; you must download it to each device individually.
How much storage space do I need for offline music?
The storage requirement depends entirely on the number of songs and the audio quality you choose. Higher-quality audio files take up more space than standard-quality files. The Amazon Music app shows an estimate of storage used for each download, and you can check your device's storage settings to see how much space remains. There is no fixed limit from Amazon; your device's capacity is the only constraint.
