How to set your Amazon Prime shows/movies to low definition to save data

[debbie.jean.bro]

When you go to your Amazon library, or if it's your first time watching something on Amazon, at the bottom of your screen you will see a row of icons. The one on the far right is the little gear icon for Settings. Click on that, and you will see a list. In the middle section the list is "Streaming Settings," "Download Settings," and "Autoplay." Set your streaming and download settings to "Good." Set your autoplay to "Off."

It makes a HUGE difference! The "good" setting will use up to 0.6 GB for every hour watched, while the "Better" setting will use up to 1.8 GB, and the "Best" setting will use up to 5.8 GB for every hour watched!

That means if you have 15 GB anytime data per month, and your Amazon is set to "best," you can watch fewer than 3 hours of streaming video before you run out of data. With the "good" setting, you could watch up to 25 hours of video streaming before you run out, assuming the only thing you did on your device was watching streaming video. YMMV depending upon what else you use your device for.

These numbers will be similar for Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc. Monitoring your data use at least daily will help you use it wisely, so it lasts all month.

Turning autoplay off prevents Amazon from automatically starting the next episode of a TV season you have purchased.

:-)

[Liz]

Great advice, Chewagirl!

Thanks so much for sharing with us.

-Liz

[maratsade]

"The "good" setting will use up to 0.6 GB for every hour watched."  Wow. That's twice as much as Netflix, right?  Thanks for the tip, Chewagirl! ETA:  I don't see a gear -- I can only switch between HD and SD.

[BirdDog]

Missed this when Chewagirl first made it. Didn't know they've given users some control over the streaming definition. Had an account with them several years ago but closed it as it used way too much data and there was no control.

From the sounds of maratsades post the control might be hit or miss. Agree even the good setting is still double Netflix low setting.

[maratsade]

I can only change from HD to SD when I'm watching something, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere where I can make a permanent change. I went to the video settings page, and I can change Auto play from on to off, but there's nothing about the streaming quality.   I may be missing something, of course. "At the bottom of your screen you will see a row of icons."  I don't see a row of icons at the bottom of the video library page.  I see a row of links at the top: Your watchlist|Your video library|Setings|Getting started|Help.  "Settings" offers no controls regarding video quality.

[BirdDog]

Hmm, wonder if there is some sort of update or maybe even different playback interfaces between browsers and OS. Strange.

[Amanda]

FYI - Google changed the settings for YouTube quality earlier this year or last year, can't recall exactly. You no longer have the option to make lower video quality a default setting in your Youtube Preferences. However an official rep from YouTube did state that if you only need to set it once on any video, it should remain that way for any other video you watch (on that device at least and/or until cookies/cache are cleared as well).

[BirdDog]

Thanks Amanda. I noticed the setting was gone in preferences and had been searching if they moved it. Sure wish these streaming providers would realize there are LOTS of people who don't have broadband unlimited internet service.

Removing the setting is definitely a step backwards IMO.

[maratsade]

I don't stream enough for this to be worrying, but it is indeed curious! I'll get on the Amazon chat one of these days and ask a rep.

[maratsade]

I wonder how they make these decisions.... Did the setting get in the way of something? Was it eating too much something or other?  Perhaps they have realized everyone, absolutely everyone, has quantum speed broadband and has no need whatsoever for these settings.