Few things are as synonymous with entertainment as streaming, and few platforms are known for streaming as much as Netflix. A powerhouse and a pioneer in the streaming arena, Netflix has implemented some new measures to crack down on password sharing in an effort to increase their profits. It’s left a lot of people wondering about how to use multiple accounts on Netflix and how to best manage their Netflix household. We’re breaking down the dos and don’ts of multiple Netflix accounts in this post.

Tips for Making the Most of Multiple Accounts on Netflix

No matter how many people are using Netflix in your household (or in another, as an extra member), you want to make the most of your viewing time. Here are a couple Netflix hacks to help you enjoy your streaming even more.

• Make sure you choose the plan that’s best for your viewing. It’s a good idea to periodically visit the Netflix website and ensure that your plan is best for the ways that you use Netflix. You can save some dollars if you don't need the extra members or you can even pick the old-school DVD mail model!
• Spend time personalizing for better profiles. Netflix’s personal recommendation technology is quite innovative and one of the most advanced in the industry. Make sure to set up unique profiles for each household member and then log into that one for viewing. Use the “like”, “love”, and “dislike” features to quickly curate better viewing options.
• Manage the “continue watching” list. Netflix is known for binge-watching, and this feature is made for it. When you watch a show or movie but turn it off without finishing, it's added to your Continue Watching list. This list makes it easy to start again when you do return, but isn’t helpful if you know you won’t watch again. Take the time to delete those items.
• Download shows and movies to watch offline. Though this option isn’t available for all titles, it’s worth trying for your favorites to make sure you can access them from anywhere (in any household).
• Use the hidden codes. The fact is there are so many options on Netflix, we don’t even see most of them. You can make your search more effective by using codes that Netflix has set up. For example, cerebral Scandinavian movies are code 995. You can find a full list here.
• Set the best video quality. First, make sure you have a strong internet connection. Then, keep your battery life high and turn off reduced power mode. Finally, check that you haven't turned off HD video in Netflix's settings.
• Keep your account secure. This might not seem very important, but to use Netflix, you have to give the company a decent amount of personal information — things like your name, your email, and even payment details. Because of this, you really don't want anyone getting into your account. That can become easier if you don’t log out when finished with a device outside of your household - say, on a weekend in an Airbnb.

Netflix is incredibly easy to use and navigate, but they are taking more measures to ensure that paying users are the ones to get the most from their service - and who could blame them for that? Follow these tips to add others to your account and manage your Netflix household, and make sure to follow our blog for more tech updates.

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Are Multiple Netflix Accounts Allowed?

Once upon a time, Netflix was really hands-off about password sharing and multiple Netflix accounts under one subscription - but technically you were never “allowed” to do it. Now, however, there are new measures that make that harder to pull off in the long run. For example, if your friend has to put in a verification code but can’t reach you to check your email or phone and pass along the code, then they can’t get access. Netflix has also discussed a 31-day limit on streaming away from “home”, and if they move ahead with that it will make it even harder to share your account.

How Does Netflix Verify a Device?

Netflix has put some new measures into place over the past several months to better track which users are associated with which IP addresses to limit password sharing. Once they detect that you are streaming outside of your normal household device - such as in a hotel room - you’ll be prompted to verify your device.

• First, Netflix will send a link to the email address or phone number associated with the primary account owner.
• When you open the link, it will display a four-digit verification code.
• You’ll have 15 minutes to enter the code on the device that requested it.
• Once you’ve entered the code correctly, you’ll have full access to your account.
• If the code expires before you enter it, you can simply request a new one from the device you’re using.

We don’t know how often Netflix will ask you to go through these steps when streaming outside of your household device, but these steps will allow you to stream from other locations at least temporarily. Some media reports have stated that Netflix users watching from multiple locations would have to ensure that any device used to stream titles from a location other than the primary household would have to log in from the primary household and watch something there at least once every 31 days. This means that, although you might be able to get a friend set up on your Netflix account by being present for entering the verification code, it will only be temporary and you’ll eventually have to complete these steps again - which, ultimately, turns into a hassle for the account owner. Chances are that’s just what Netflix was banking on.

What Does Netflix Consider an “Extra Member”?

Where does that leave people wondering how to use multiple accounts on Netflix?

You can still add someone else to your Netflix account. If you want to add a person who is outside of your “Netflix household”, you can do so by paying the “extra member fee".

It’s worth noting that not every Netflix subscription plan allows you to add an extra member. The option is only available for Netflix accounts that are under Standard or Premium plans. On a Standard plan, you can add only one extra member for an additional cost of $7.99 each per month. A Premium user can add up to two extra members for the cost of $7.99 each month, per member. These charges are paid by the main account owner. So, this would be an option in some of our examples above, such as a parent adding a college-attending child to their account and paying for it as part of their normal Netflix monthly bill. Obviously, you can apply this to other situations, like creating an “extra member” under your account for a friend - but then you are essentially paying for their streaming service each month. Many people are not eager to do that.

You can find some simple instructions for adding extra members here.

How to Use Multiple Accounts on Netflix

As mentioned, you can use multiple profiles under one account in each household. This means up to 5 individuals living in the same household can hold a password and create a Netflix profile with personalized and customized suggestions for viewing. However, without adding an “extra member”, there isn’t a great way to hold more profiles. In fact, with subscriptions being based on a household, there is no longer a simple way to share passwords for other households, like in the past.

Basically, what you would need to do is make sure you have a plan that allows for adding an extra member. The process for doing that is simple:

1. Buy an extra member slot on Netflix.com.
2. Invite your extra member using the instructions provided.
3. Have your extra member set up their own account and use it to enjoy Netflix.

How Netflix Profiles & Accounts Currently Work

As with most things that people pay for, Netflix subscribers quickly began to look for ways to make the most of their investment. This included sharing the password associated with their account and leveraging a single Netflix account for multiple households. It wasn’t uncommon for groups of friends or family members living apart to use the same Netflix password. The internet was full of funny stories about people using their ex’s Netflix password well beyond a breakup. Eventually, Netflix decided to crack down.

As of right now, Netflix restricts the subscription service to one household. It does this by understanding how many devices are logged into the service at once. You can create profiles for members in your household, allowing them to have their own personalized Netflix experience. Your account can have up to five individual profiles, and you can set a maturity rating level on each one. Each profile will have its own recommendations based on that profile's ratings and tastes.

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If you have more than one Netflix-compatible device, you can switch devices at any time. Your membership plan determines the number of screens you can watch at the same time, but it does not restrict the number of devices you can associate with your account. If you want to watch on a new or different device, sign in to Netflix on that device. You can find more information about Netflix compatible devices, or an article about downloading the Netflix app for help setting up a new device on their support website. You can also learn about the Netflix integration with Shift for more guidance.

Is Netflix account sharing actually legal? The answer is yes, technically. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to create multiple profiles for people living in the same house. That being said, there are specific terms of use that subscribers should adhere to. Your account is for “personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.” So, this is where things get a little sticky for many people. Members of your household can be understood as family members or roommates who currently live at the same address as you and presumably use the same internet connection. But what if you want to add a profile for your son who is away at college, or your daughter who is at your lake house for the summer?

Before, though it technically violated the terms of service, Netflix didn’t really have a problem with this and made things pretty easy. They have changed their policies to crack down on the sharing that was previously common. In summary, you can still use your account while traveling or while moving between addresses. Netflix will track whether you’re streaming from your primary household (i.e. connected from the IP address linked with your account) or somewhere else. If you’re streaming elsewhere, Netflix might ask you to verify the device using your account.