You can add up to four family members to your Prime account at no extra cost
Amazon Prime lets you add family members to your account so they can use Prime benefits without paying separately. You can add up to four people total — so if you're the account holder, that's you plus four others. Each person gets their own login and sees their own recommendations, watch history, and purchase history. They share the same Prime shipping, video streaming, music, and photo storage benefits you do.
The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your Amazon account settings. You'll need each family member's email address or phone number, and they'll need to accept an invitation before they can start using Prime.
Key Takeaways
- You can add up to four family members to one Prime account, and they all get full access to Prime shipping, video, music, and photo storage.
- Each family member needs their own Amazon account and must accept an invitation from you before they're added.
- Family members can be removed at any time, and you can manage who has access from your account settings.
- If a family member already has their own Prime membership, they'll need to cancel it first before joining your household account.
- Amazon requires that family members live at the same address as the account holder, though this is not actively verified.
How to send a family member invitation
Start by going to your Amazon account and selecting "Account & Lists" in the top right corner. Click "Your Account," then look for "Family Library" or "Household" in the left menu — the exact name depends on your region. Select "Add an adult" or "Add a child" depending on who you're inviting.
Enter their email address or phone number and send the invitation. Amazon will email or text them a link to accept. They'll need to sign in with their own Amazon account or create one if they don't have one yet. Once they accept, they're added to your household and can start using Prime when ready.
The whole process is when ready on your end, but the other person won't have access until they accept the invitation. If they don't see the invitation within a few minutes, ask them to check their spam folder or the phone number they use for Amazon texts.
What family members can and cannot do
Family members can use Prime shipping on orders, stream Prime Video, listen to Prime Music, and access your shared photo storage in Amazon Photos. They see their own recommendations based on what they watch and buy, so their activity doesn't clutter your account.
Family members cannot change your account password, add or remove other household members, or access your payment methods. They also can't see your order history or purchase history — only their own. If you're the account holder, you control who's in the household and can remove anyone at any time.
If a family member has their own separate Prime membership, they'll need to cancel it before joining your household. Amazon doesn't let one person hold two Prime memberships at the same time.
Adding children to your household
Amazon lets you add children as a separate type of family member. When you add a child, you set up a child account that has parental controls built in. Children can use Prime benefits, but you control what they can watch and buy.
To add a child, go to Family Library and select "Add a child." You'll create a child account with their name and birthdate. The child doesn't need their own email address — you manage the account from your settings. You can set content restrictions, spending limits, and screen time limits from your account dashboard.
A child account is different from adding a regular family member. Regular family members are adults with their own full Amazon accounts. Child accounts are managed by you and have restrictions you set.
Removing a family member
You can remove anyone from your household at any time. Go to Family Library in your account settings, find the person's name, and select "Remove from household." They'll lose access to Prime benefits when ready, though any orders they've already placed will still be delivered.
Removing someone doesn't delete their Amazon account — it just disconnects them from your Prime membership. They can still use Amazon to shop, but they won't have Prime shipping or access to Prime Video unless they get their own Prime membership.
If a family member removes themselves, you'll see a notification in your account. You can add them back later if you want.
What happens if someone moves out
Amazon's terms say family members should live at the same address as the account holder. If someone moves, you should remove them from your household. In practice, Amazon doesn't verify addresses, but removing them is the right thing to do and keeps your account in line with Amazon's rules.
If you remove them, they can sign up for their own Prime membership or ask someone else to add them to a different household account. There's no penalty for removing family members — you can do it as often as you need to.
Troubleshooting common problems
If someone doesn't receive an invitation, check that you entered their email address or phone number correctly. Ask them to check their spam folder and the phone number they have on file with Amazon — sometimes the invitation goes to a different number than the one you used.
If someone accepted the invitation but can't see Prime benefits, have them sign out of Amazon completely and sign back in. Sometimes the account needs to refresh before the benefits show up. If that doesn't work, remove them from the household and add them again.
If you're trying to add someone but get an error message, make sure they have an active Amazon account. They can't be added to your household without one. Also check that you haven't already reached the four-person limit — if you have, you'll need to remove someone before adding anyone new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add someone who doesn't live with me to my Prime household?
Amazon's terms require household members to live at the same address. The company doesn't actively check addresses, but the policy is there. If someone moves out, you should remove them and have them get their own Prime membership or join a different household.
What if someone already has their own Prime membership?
They'll need to cancel their separate Prime membership first. Amazon won't let one person hold two Prime memberships at the same time. Once they cancel, they can accept your household invitation and use Prime through your account instead.
Can a family member change the password on my account?
No. Family members can't change your password, add or remove other people, or access your payment methods. They can only use the Prime benefits and manage their own activity and recommendations.
Do family members need their own email address?
Adult family members need their own Amazon account, which requires an email address. Child accounts don't need a separate email — you manage them from your account. If an adult doesn't have an Amazon account yet, they can create one for free before you add them to your household.
What if I want to remove someone but keep them as an Amazon friend?
Removing someone from your household doesn't affect your Amazon friendship or any other connection. They'll just lose access to Prime benefits. You can still message them and see their wishlists if you're connected that way.