How to install the Amazon Instant app on your Nintendo Wii and Wii U
Amazon.com published a press release yesterday that announced the arrival of an app for Amazon Instant Video on Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U console.
Since my previous articles on how to install the Netflix app on the Nintendo Wii and on the Sony PlayStation 3 continue to be popular articles, I presumed that an article on installing the Amazon Instant App might also prove popular with 404TS visitors. While the PS3 has had an Amazon Instant Video app since last April, Nintendo’s consoles finally received the app now.
For a walkthrough on getting the app installed on the Nintendo Wii, follow the instructions after the jump.
Power on your Wii and make sure it can connect to the Internet.
From the Wii menu, select the Wii Shop Channel.
Confirm that you want to load the Wii Shop Channel by clicking the Start button.
When the Wii Shop Channel loads, you want to select the top-right square for Wii Channels – “Channels to enhance your Wii experience”.
Browse the list for Amazon Instant Video. It was right at the top for me, probably because it was new. You can see it is published by Amazon and costs 0 Wii Points. Click the Amazon Instant Video line.
This will take you to a summary page with another screenshot of the Amazon app. Click the Free / 0 Wii Points button.
Choose whether you would like to save it to Wii System Memory or to an SD Card. I chose Wii System Memory. What you choose will determine where the storage is used and where the icon appears on the Wii Menu.
While you confirm, the channel will notify you that: “You can use this software only with the Wii Remote.”
The download will take up 74 Blocks and cost 0 (zero) Wii Points. To confirm proceeding with the software download, select Yes.
While your Wii transitions to start downloading, you will see a summary of the action as it loads the next page.
The download will commence with Mario running across the screen, collecting coins, and hitting the blocks to mark download progress. My dog (in the lower right) was amused by Mario and the sound of collecting coins.
Depending on your Internet speed, after a little while you should receive the Download successful screen. You can hit OK. You will then be taken back to the Wii Shop Channel which you can now exit to get back to the main Wii Menu.
You should now see the Amazon Instant Video Channel on your Wii menu. If you chose to save the software to the SD card, you will need to hit the SD icon in the lower-left to switch to those applications.
You can click on the Amazon Instant Video Channel and on the next screen confirm that you wish to open it by clicking Start. After the app loads, you should land on the Amazon Instant Video Channel Home tab.
Now, the only thing left to do is to tie the app on your Wii to your Amazon account so you can purchase/rent videos or enjoy the free streaming that is apart of the Amazon Prime membership.
Scroll the top bar to the right until Register your device is available. You can do this by clicking the arrow that points to the right or by using the + button on the Wiimote.
Hit the yellow Register your device button to continue. This will take you to a new screen that provides you with a code to enter. Visit www.amazon.com/mytv and sign in to your account and enter the provided code when prompted. You will also receive a PIN code here that can be used to confirm video purchases and rents. Treat this like a password.
When you return to your TV from registering the device on the Internet, you should be greeted by a success screen.
Now, you can visit the Prime Instant Video tab if you are an Amazon Prime member and stream those movies and TV shows at no cost. Regardless if you are a Prime member, you can rent or purchase videos and play them on your TV through your Wii. Controls for the video are at the bottom of the screen.
I hope this helps you get more functionality out of your Nintendo Wii. I believe the steps are very similar on a Nintendo Wii U but I don’t have one with which I can confirm.
For more information about Amazon Instant Video on Wii, visit Amazon.com’s feature page or the full press release that they published yesterday.
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