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How to Erase Your Amazon Prime Video History: A Deep Dive

So, you’re looking to cleanse your Amazon Prime Video viewing history. Maybe you’re sharing an account, hiding a guilty pleasure binge, or just streamlining your recommendations. Whatever the reason, you’ve come to the right place. The process isn’t always intuitive, so let’s break it down. You essentially have two main actions available: removing videos from your “Continue Watching” row and deleting watch history items altogether. We’ll cover both, step-by-step. Let’s dive in and reclaim your digital privacy (and your viewing recommendations!).

Removing Videos from Your “Continue Watching” Row

This is the simpler of the two tasks. The “Continue Watching” row displays titles you’ve started but haven’t finished, making it easy to pick up where you left off. If you want to remove something from this row, here’s how:

Navigate to the Prime Video website or app: Open the Amazon Prime Video app on your device or head to the Prime Video website in your browser.
Locate the “Continue Watching” row: Scroll through the homepage until you find the “Continue Watching” section.
Hover over the title (Website) or Long Press (App): On the website, hover your mouse cursor over the title you want to remove. In the app, perform a long press (press and hold) on the title.
Select “Remove from Watch History”: A small menu will appear. Select the option that says “Remove from Watch History.” It may also say “Hide this video.”
Confirm your choice: You might be asked to confirm your selection. Click or tap “Yes” or “Remove” to finalize the action.

That’s it! The title should disappear from your “Continue Watching” row almost immediately. Note that this doesn’t delete the title from your overall watch history; it just removes it from the prominent “Continue Watching” carousel.

Deleting Items from Your Amazon Prime Video Watch History

This is where things get slightly more involved. You’ll need to access a dedicated section of your Amazon account to manage your complete viewing history. Here’s the process:

Go to Your Amazon Account: The easiest way to access this is through a web browser. Navigate to Amazon.com (or your local Amazon domain) and sign in to your account.
Access “Your Account”: Hover over “Account & Lists” in the upper right corner of the page. In the dropdown menu, click on “Your Account”.
Find “Video Purchases & Rentals”: In the “Digital Content and Devices” section, find and click on “Video Purchases & Rentals”. If you do not find “Video Purchases & Rentals” immediately look for a heading like “Digital Content & Devices” or “Manage Your Content and Devices.”
Locate the “Watch History” tab: In the “Video Purchases & Rentals” section, you should see a tab labeled “Watch History“. Click on this tab.
Identify the videos you want to delete: Your watch history will be displayed chronologically. Scroll through the list and find the titles you want to remove.
Click the “Delete” button: Next to each title, you’ll see a “Delete” button. Click this button to remove the title from your watch history.
Confirm the deletion: A confirmation message may appear. Confirm that you want to delete the selected title.

Repeat steps 5-7 for each video you want to remove.

Important Considerations:

Immediate Effect: Changes to your watch history usually take effect almost immediately.
Recommendation Impact: Deleting items from your watch history can affect your Amazon Prime Video recommendations. The algorithm uses your viewing history to suggest movies and TV shows you might enjoy, so removing titles could alter these suggestions.
Shared Accounts: If you’re sharing an Amazon account with others, deleting items from your watch history will affect their recommendations as well. Be mindful of this if you’re on a shared account.
Profile Specificity: If you have multiple profiles set up within your Amazon Prime Video account (a feature Amazon is increasingly emphasizing), make sure you are logged into the correct profile before deleting watch history. Each profile has its own unique watch history.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further clarify how to manage your Amazon Prime Video viewing history:

1. Does deleting a video from my watch history remove it from my purchase history?

No, deleting a video from your watch history only removes it from the list of videos you’ve watched. It does not remove it from your purchase or rental history. These are two separate records. Your purchase and rental history remains as a record of your transactions.

2. How often does Amazon Prime Video update my watch history?

Amazon Prime Video typically updates your watch history in real-time or near real-time. As soon as you start watching a video, it should appear in your watch history.

3. Can I clear my entire Amazon Prime Video watch history at once?

Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t offer a “clear all” button for your watch history. You have to delete items individually. Third-party browser extensions may exist that automate this process, but use them with caution, as they could pose security risks.

4. Will deleting a video from my watch history prevent it from showing up in my recommendations again?

Deleting a video from your watch history reduces the likelihood of it appearing in your recommendations, but it doesn’t guarantee it won’t be suggested again. Amazon’s algorithm considers various factors, including trending titles and popular content.

5. Does deleting my watch history affect my viewing on other Amazon services, like IMDb TV?

Yes, deleting your watch history on Amazon Prime Video may indirectly influence your recommendations on other Amazon services like IMDb TV, as they are often integrated and share data.

6. Can I view my Amazon Prime Video watch history on all devices?

Yes, your Amazon Prime Video watch history is synced across all devices associated with your Amazon account. If you delete a video from your watch history on one device, it will be removed from your watch history on all other devices.

7. Is there a way to pause or disable Amazon Prime Video from tracking my viewing history?

There isn’t a direct way to completely disable Amazon Prime Video from tracking your viewing history. However, using separate profiles for different viewers can help keep viewing data separate and minimize unwanted recommendations.

8. How long does Amazon Prime Video keep my watch history?

Amazon doesn’t publicly specify how long they retain your watch history. It’s safe to assume they keep it for an extended period to improve their recommendation algorithms and personalize your experience.

9. Will deleting videos I’ve downloaded also remove them from my watch history?

No, deleting downloaded videos does not automatically remove them from your watch history. You must manually delete them from your watch history as described above.

10. If I start watching a movie but don’t finish it, will it still appear in my watch history?

Yes, even if you only watch a few minutes of a movie or TV show, it will appear in your Amazon Prime Video watch history. It will also appear in the “Continue Watching” row.

11. Can children see what I have watched if we share the same Amazon Prime Video account?

Potentially, yes. If you share the same profile on Amazon Prime Video, children may be able to see your viewing history. Creating separate profiles for each user (especially children) is crucial for privacy and parental control. Using Amazon Kids+ is also a good option for children.

12. If I delete my Amazon account, will my watch history be deleted as well?

Yes, when you delete your Amazon account, all associated data, including your Amazon Prime Video watch history, will be permanently deleted. However, be aware that deleting your entire Amazon account is a drastic step and will affect all your Amazon services and purchases.

By following these steps and understanding these FAQs, you can effectively manage your Amazon Prime Video viewing history and take control of your streaming experience. Happy viewing!