How to Return an Amazon Rental on Your Computer
You can return an Amazon rental through your account on a web browser, and Amazon will refund your rental fee if you return it before the rental period ends. The return process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account—you do not mail anything back. Once you submit the return, the refund appears in your original payment method within three to five business days.
The key limitation: you can only return a rental if the rental period has not expired. If your rental time has run out, Amazon treats the transaction as complete and will not refund it. You also cannot return a rental if you have already watched it past a certain point on some titles, though this varies by the studio that licensed the film.
Key Takeaways
- Return a rental by going to Your Account, selecting Your Video Library, finding the rental, and clicking the return option—the refund processes within three to five business days.
- You can only return a rental before the rental period expires; after that date, the purchase is final and non-refundable.
- Some studios restrict returns if you have watched a significant portion of the film, so check the rental details before the period ends.
- The refund goes back to the payment method you used to rent the title, not as Amazon credit.
Step-by-Step Return Process
Start by signing into your Amazon account on a web browser and go to the Account menu in the top right corner. Click Your Account, then select Your Video Library from the dropdown. This page shows all the movies and TV shows you own or have rented.
Find the rental you want to return in the list. Look for rentals under the section labeled Rentals or Rented Videos—these are separated from titles you own outright. Click on the rental title to open its details page. You will see the rental expiration date and a button or link that says Return Rental or Return This Video. Click that button.
A confirmation window will appear asking you to confirm the return. Read the message to verify you are returning the correct title and that you understand the refund will go to your original payment method. Click Confirm Return or Yes, Return This Rental. The rental is now returned, and your refund has been processed.
When You Can and Cannot Return a Rental
Amazon allows returns only during the active rental period. The rental period begins when you first start watching the title and lasts for a set number of days—typically 24 to 48 hours depending on the studio. Once that window closes, the rental expires and becomes non-refundable. Check the expiration date on the rental details page before you attempt a return.
Some studios also place restrictions on returns based on how much of the film you have watched. If you have watched past a certain threshold—often 50 percent of the runtime—the studio may block the return option even if time remains on the rental. This is a studio policy, not an Amazon choice, and it varies by title. If the return button does not appear on the rental details page, the title has likely hit this viewing limit.
Rentals purchased as gifts follow the same rules: the rental period starts when the recipient first plays the video, and returns must happen before that period ends. If a gift rental expires unwatched, it cannot be returned.
How Long the Refund Takes
After you confirm the return, Amazon processes the refund within one to two business days. The money then takes an additional two to three business days to appear in your original payment method—the card or account you used to rent the title. In total, expect the refund to show up within three to five business days from the date you submitted the return.
The refund does not appear as Amazon credit or a gift card balance. It goes directly back to your bank account, debit card, or credit card. If you used a gift card to rent the title, the refund amount returns to your Amazon account as a gift card balance instead.
Troubleshooting: Return Button Not Showing
If you cannot find the return option on a rental, check these common reasons. First, verify that the rental period has not expired by looking at the expiration date on the rental details page. If the date has passed, the return window is closed. Second, check whether you have watched too much of the film—if the viewing threshold has been reached, the return button will not appear.
Third, confirm that you are looking at a rental and not a purchase. Titles you own outright do not have a return option. Rentals are clearly labeled as such on your Video Library page. If you are certain the rental is still active and you have not exceeded the viewing limit, try signing out of your account, waiting a few minutes, and signing back in. Sometimes the page needs to refresh to show the return button.
If the return button still does not appear and the rental period is active, contact Amazon Customer Service through your Account menu. They can manually process the return if a technical issue is preventing it from showing up on your end.
What Happens After You Return a Rental
Once the return is confirmed, the rental is removed from your Video Library when ready. You will no longer be able to watch it, even if time remained on the rental period. The title will not appear in your library or in your watch history going forward.
If you want to watch the same film again later, you will need to rent it a second time and pay the full rental fee again. There is no discount for re-renting a title you have already returned. Keep this in mind if you think you might want to rewatch something—returning it to get a refund means losing access permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return a rental after I have finished watching it?
Yes, as long as the rental period has not expired. The return window is based on time elapsed, not on whether you have watched the entire film. If your rental expires in two days and you finished watching it in one day, you still have one day to return it for a refund.
What if I rented a movie on my phone but want to return it from my computer?
You can return it from any device. The rental is tied to your Amazon account, not to a specific device. Sign into your account on your computer, go to Your Video Library, and return the rental the same way you would if you had rented it on that computer.
Do I get a refund if I return a rental after the period expires?
No. Once the rental period ends, the transaction is final. Amazon does not refund expired rentals under any circumstances. Always check the expiration date before the important date passes.
Will the refund go back to my credit card or to my Amazon account?
The refund goes back to the payment method you used to rent the title. If you paid with a credit or debit card, the refund appears on that card. If you used an Amazon gift card balance, the refund returns to your gift card balance in your account.
Can I return a rental I bought as a gift for someone else?
No. Once you send a rental as a gift, the recipient owns the return rights. Only the person who received the gift can return it, and only during the active rental period on their end. The rental period starts when they first watch it.