Amazon Prime not working with a VPN? Here is how to fix it

Amazon Prime Video is a popular streaming service that people use to watch various exclusive shows and movies worldwide. However, like many other services, It is geo-restricted, meaning that you can only access content in certain countries. The only way to bypass streaming geo-restrictions is by using a streaming VPN, but this might not be that easy with Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video shows content based on your billing address, and using a VPN to change your location might lead to access restrictions. Additionally, Amazon uses advanced measures to identify and block VPNs. While many VPN providers claim they work with Amazon Prime Video, not all can bypass geo-restrictions.

I’ve tested over 15 VPN providers to find the best streaming VPNs. More specifically, I tested each provider to find ones that can bypass the Amazon Prime VPN error message and allow a smooth streaming experience from anywhere. Below, you can find the main findings:

Why doesn't Amazon Prime work with a VPN?

Amazon Prime routinely checks and blocks IP addresses that are associated with VPNs to prohibit any geo-restrictions bypassing. Amazon Prime has to comply with licensing agreements, meaning they can only stream specific content within a specific region, which is why users across the globe see different content. Using a VPN is the most reliable way to bypass these geo-restrictions. Still, several factors may cause Amazon Prime not working with a VPN error, such as:

• Geo-restrictions: Due to copyright and licensing agreements, many streaming services, including Amazon Prime, must show different content across different countries. To ensure that users are not accessing content outside of their country, Amazon Prime checks and blocks VPNs.
• IP address tracking: Amazon Prime tracks user’s IP address and it’s the main way to identify users who are using a VPN service. If the IP address you’re using is seen as associated with a VPN, it might be flagged as suspicious.
• Preventing abuse: Apart from the copyright and licensing agreements, Amazon Prime blocks VPNs to avoid any fraudulent activity. Some people go against Amazon Prime’s ToS (Terms of Service) and use VPNs to share their accounts with others across different regions.
• Weak VPN connection: Even though Amazon Prime blocks VPNs, you should be able to bypass geo-restrictions with a robust VPN. If you’re still experiencing issues, it might be that your VPN provider doesn’t use strong encryption or that your IP and DNS addresses are leaking.

Best VPNs that work with Amazon Prime in 2025

Is your current Amazon Prime Video VPN not working? Maybe it’s time to switch to another premium service that can circumvent the platform’s restrictions without causing a headache. My top picks include broad server networks, superb performance throughout, and powerful security measures that mask your location and identity. I tested them with Amazon and they unblocked the service every time.

1. NordVPN ★ ★ ★ ★ ★. The best VPN for Amazon Prime Video that works. Easily bypasses various streaming platform geo-blocks, facilitates excellent connectivity, and has a massive server fleet. Its proprietary SmartPlay feature lets you change your IP address on devices that don’t natively support this software.
2. Surfshark ★ ★ ★ ★ ★. An Amazon Prime VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. The provider offers the largest country coverage (over 100), plenty of extra perks useful for more than streaming, and blazing-fast speeds.
3. Proton VPN ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆. An excellent VPN for Amazon Prime Video with substantial server fleet. Compatible with most streaming peripherals, Proton VPN delivers an optimal performance, which you can manipulate with hefty extras like Smart Protocol or VPN Accelerator.

How to fix Amazon Prime Video not working with a VPN

1. Connect to a different VPN server location
2. Change VPN protocols
3. Activate the kill switch and DNS leak protection
4. Clear the browser cache and data
5. Disable the firewall or antivirus software
6. Flush the DNS
7. Contact your VPN customer support
8. Switch to a VPN that works with Amazon Prime

Many users rely on VPNs to access Amazon Prime Video from regions where certain content isn’t available due to licensing restrictions. Because of this, Amazon actively blocks VPN connections, as stated in its Terms and Conditions. While you can still use a VPN with Prime Video, bypassing these restrictions requires a strong VPN with obfuscated servers.

If you encounter the Amazon Prime VPN error, try restarting the Prime Video app, ensuring both your device and app are up to date, or reinstalling the app. If that doesn’t work, more advanced troubleshooting is needed. Here are eight tested steps to bypass Prime Video's VPN blocks:

Step 1: Connect to a different VPN server location

To ensure that users are not bypassing geo-restrictions, Amazon Prime actively detects and blocks IP addresses associated with VPN services. Usually, VPN providers have many different IP addresses, and some are flagged quicker than others. Most VPN IP addresses are shared amongst many users, which increases the likelihood that Amazon Prime will detect suspicious activity associated with VPN use. If your VPN provider uses blacklisted IP addresses, you won’t be able to stream Amazon Prime with such IP addresses.

VPN providers should update their IP addresses frequently to avoid such issues, but not all providers do that regularly. To successfully access Amazon Prime from anywhere, I recommend using NordVPN, as it regularly updates its servers and IP addresses. With over 1970 US servers in 16 different locations, you’ll be able to bypass the Amazon Prime VPN error message.

Step 2: Change VPN protocols

Multiple VPNs guarantee stable connections, but not all of them work well when accessing geo-restricted content, as some of them are easier for Amazon Prime to detect and block. OpenVPN is a stable protocol, but it’s widely used and has traffic patterns that are easier to detect. WireGuard offers stable and fast connections. It’s also relatively new, meaning it’s harder for Amazon Prime to detect. For the best streaming experience, try using NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol. It’s built on WireGuard specifically for NordVPN, which makes it a stable, fast, and hard-to-detect VPN protocol.

Step 3: Activate the kill switch and DNS leak protection

Both kill switch and DNS leak protection are necessary features to protect yourself from exposing your real IP address, which could result in an Amazon Prime access block. DNS leak protection guarantees that your DNS queries are routed through a VPN tunnel at all times, hiding your real ISP’s DNS addresses. To ensure that your DNS addresses are indeed masked and there are no connection leaks, you can visit reliable leak checkers such as ipleak.net or dnsleaktest.com.

Kill Switch is a security feature that will block your internet connection in case your VPN accidentally drops. NordVPN has a robust kill switch, which is very easy to use. Open the NordVPN app, go to Settings in the top-left corner, and find the kill switch option. To enable it, simply toggle the kill switch to On and enjoy total privacy with NordVPN.

Step 4: Clear the browser cache and data

Amazon may track your real location through stored cookies and cached data. If they don’t match your VPN location, access could be restricted. The only way to delete them is by clearing the cache.

You can do so from the browser’s Settings menu. Users can find the cookie cache under Privacy & Security on Chrome and Firefox, under Clear Browsing Data on Edge, and under Manage Website Data on Safari.

Step 5: Disable the firewall or antivirus software

If Amazon Prime Video isn’t working with your VPN, the issue could be caused by your firewall or antivirus software blocking the VPN connection. To troubleshoot, you can temporarily disable the firewall or antivirus software to see if it resolves the issue. Once disabled, try accessing Amazon Prime Video while connected to the VPN. If you’re not getting the proxy error anymore, then it means these programs were at fault.

However, be cautious when doing this, as disabling these protections leaves your device vulnerable to potential threats. Always remember to re-enable them after testing, or configure them to allow VPN traffic by adding exceptions to ensure your device remains secure.

Step 6: Flush the DNS

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) stores DNS entries on your device in an appropriate cache, which can interfere with your VPN connection, including when accessing Amazon Prime Video. To restore the VPN connection, the fastest and most effective solution is to flush your DNS cache.

For Windows:

1. Press the Windows button + R to open the Run terminal. Type in cmd.
2. Once the Command Prompt is open, type in ipconfig/flushdns and press Enter
3. This message should appear Successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache

For macOS:

1. Open Spotlight, type Terminal, and double-click on the application to open it
2. Enter the command sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
3. Type in your password and press Enter. Your DNS cache will be flushed.

Once the cache is flushed, reconnect your VPN, and everything should be working now.

Step 7: Contact your VPN customer support

If you cannot stream Amazon Prime with a VPN, contact your VPN provider’s customer support, which can provide you with optimized streaming servers. Not all servers are suitable for streaming or geo-restriction bypassing. Some servers can even experience issues and be down due to external factors. Optimized streaming services are specifically designed to work with geo-blocks and streaming restrictions, which should grant you access to Amazon Prime seamlessly from anywhere.

Step 8: Switch to a VPN that works with Amazon Prime

If you’re still unable to stream Amazon Prime while connected to a VPN, you might want to switch to a different VPN provider. Not all of them can bypass geo-restrictions, so it’s important to choose a robust streaming VPN. For the best experience, I recommend trying NordVPN, as it offers a wide selection of servers and stable connections. NordVPN is known to successfully bypass geo-restrictions on various streaming services, so you should not experience any issues with Amazon Prime Video.

How does Amazon Prime detects VPN usage?

The most common reason Amazon Prime does not work with a VPN is that it has already blocked the VPN. Amazon Prime uses robust measures to detect and block VPN services to ensure that users are not bypassing geo-restrictions. There are several factors that Amazon Prime checks to determine if you’re using a VPN:

• IP address check: If multiple users are accessing Amazon Prime with the same IP address, it most likely will be flagged or immediately blocked. Similarly, if your account is used from different countries at once, this might indicate that you’re using a VPN service to access Amazon Prime.
• Traffic analysis: Amazon Prime detects VPNs by checking traffic patterns, packet configurations, and IP address inconsistencies. If it identifies any high traffic volume, rapid logins, or any other similar VPN-related factors, Amazon Prime will flag or block the connection.
• Geolocation cross-referencing: Amazon Prime also checks your account’s location by monitoring IP and DNS addresses, as well as GPS data. If your IP address does not match the location, Amazon will most likely treat it as a potential VPN connection and block it.
• IP, DNS, WebRTC leaks: Amazon Prime identifies multiple IP addresses if a VPN exposes DNS or IP data outside of the encrypted tunnel. This might trigger Amazon Prime to suspect a VPN connection, which might lead to a flagged or blocked connection.

VPNs that don't work with Amazon Prime

Some VPNs are less equal than others. This is a reality because many services prioritize security, while others are perfect for streaming. Also, not all providers can afford to expand their server fleets and capabilities enough to work with Amazon Prime Video. And, ultimately, researching the best VPNs for this job can be time-consuming.

To speed up the whole research journey for you, I also determined providers that fail to work with the Amazon Prime platform:

• PIA. This VPN for Amazon Prime Video is slower than average and tends to be inconsistent. During my tests, PIA managed to unblock the streaming hub only a few times out of several dozen, and even then, the video quality suffered buffers and a drop in resolution.
• TunnelBear. A good VPN but not for streaming, especially on a harsh platform like Amazon Prime. Streaming quality is nothing to write home about in case you even manage to unblock the hub. I noted a tendency for Amazon to block IP addresses after several uses.
• IPVanish. Overall, this provider isn't too shabby at all, though it doesn't feature among the best streaming VPNs. As such, my tests show inconsistency in IPVanish's ability to unblock the platform, especially struggling with remaining undetected.
• VyprVPN. The service has a smaller server fleet, which is why I saw many failed attempts to unblock Amazon Prime. It doesn't work well with the platform, and the absence of dedicated IPs narrows the chance of success. Besides, the performance is typically too laggy.

Conclusion

Amazon Prime Video is a widely used streaming platform, but it’s geo-restricted due to content licensing agreements. To bypass these geo-restrictions, many users rely on VPN services. However, not all can bypass geo-restrictions, and you might have issues accessing Amazon Prime with a VPN. This happens because Amazon Prime uses robust measures to detect and block VPN services, such as checking your IP address, account’s location, and other factors.

I’ve tested around 15 VPNs to find the best Amazon Prime VPN, and NordVPN proved to be the number one choice. NordVPN offers a wide selection of streaming-optimized servers, guaranteeing access to geo-restricted content on Amazon Prime. Additionally, it has all the necessary security features, such as a Ka ill switch and obfuscated servers, to ensure that Amazon Prime cannot detect a VPN. You’ll be able to stream Amazon Prime Video without issues on various devices with NordVPN from anywhere.

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FAQ

Why is Prime blocking VPN?

Amazon Prime is blocking VPN providers due to content licensing agreements. Content providers limit the regions where certain content can be showed, that is why Amazon Prime imposed geo-restrictions. A VPN can change your IP address and people use it to bypass such streaming geo-restrictions. Due to this, Amazon Prime blocks VPNs to prevent copyright violations.

Does Amazon Prime block all VPNs, or can I still bypass restrictions?

Yes, Amazon Prime tends to block all VPNs, but you can still bypass restrictions with robust streaming VPN providers. While Amazon Prime uses sophisticated VPN detection methods, some VPN providers like NordVPN or Surfshark are still able to bypass Amazon’s geo-restrictions. These VPN providers regularly update their IP addresses, making it harder for Amazon Prime to detect and flag them.

Why is my VPN not connecting to Prime Video?

The most common reason why a VPN is not connecting to Prime Video is because you haven’t updated your Amazon Prime region. Simply changing your IP address to one from a different country will not work with Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime detects your location using both your IP address and your Amazon account region, which must match the country of your IP address.

How do I stop Amazon from blocking VPN?

To stop Amazon from blocking VPN, connect to obfuscated VPN servers. Obfuscated servers hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, which makes it harder for Amazon Prime to detect it. Additionally, try connecting to different servers as it is possible that the IP address you connected to is already flagged by Amazon.

How do I change my VPN settings to work with Amazon Prime Video?

To make your VPN work with Amazon Prime Video, use Obfuscation. Obfuscation will hide the fact that you’re using a VPN, which makes it harder for Amazon to detect it. Additionally, it’s always recommended to clear your browser’s cache, switch between servers, and update the VPN app regularly.

What is the best server location to access Amazon Prime with a VPN?

The best server location to access Amazon Prime with a VPN depends on the content you’re interested in watching. If you want to watch US content, connect to a VPN server in the US. If you want to access content available in a different country, connect to a server in that location. For the best experience, connect to a VPN server closer to your actual location, as this can increase your speed.

Why does Amazon Prime Video work on my phone with a VPN but not on my smart TV?

Amazon Prime might work on your phone with a VPN but not on your smart TV because of network settings, VPN compatibility, or device configurations. Some smart TVs are not compatible with VPN services, which makes it impossible to unblock geo-restricted content. If your smart TV supports VPNs, it’s important to ensure that the VPN is successfully connected to your smart TV by checking for IP and DNS address leaks. Additionally, use obfuscation to ensure your VPN connection is private on your smart TV.

Why does Amazon Prime Video say "VPN detected" even when I'm not using one?

Amazon Prime Video might say “VPN detected” even if you’re not using one, if your IP or DNS addresses appear suspicious. To solve this, clear your browser’s cache or try using a different network. Additionally, be sure not to share your account with others, as activity from different countries under the same account might be treated as using a VPN service.