Netflix is a cornerstone of modern entertainment, offering a vast library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more. One of its greatest features is the ability to share your account with family members and friends. However, understanding how to properly add and manage extra users can be tricky, especially with recent changes to Netflix’s sharing policies. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about adding extra Netflix users, managing profiles, troubleshooting common issues, and optimizing your viewing experience. Before diving in, it’s important to understand Netflix’s stance on account sharing. As of recently, Netflix has cracked down on widespread account sharing outside of households. While the core functionality of having multiple profiles within a single account remains, sharing your account with someone outside your household now typically requires adding them as an ‘Extra Member’ for an additional fee. This guide will cover both scenarios: managing profiles within your household and adding Extra Members when necessary.
### Understanding Netflix Plans and User Limits
Before you start adding users, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of your Netflix plan. Netflix offers different plans that vary in price and the number of devices that can stream simultaneously, as well as the number of profiles you can create.
* **Standard with ads:** This plan allows streaming on two devices at a time and includes ads. It allows for multiple profiles, but you cannot add Extra Members.
* **Standard:** This plan allows streaming on two devices at a time and offers ad-free viewing. It also allows for multiple profiles, and depending on your region, you might be able to add one Extra Member.
* **Premium:** This plan allows streaming on four devices at a time in Ultra HD (4K) where available and offers ad-free viewing. It allows for multiple profiles, and you can typically add up to two Extra Members (depending on your region).
To check your current plan and its limitations, follow these steps:
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser.
2. **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner.
3. **Select ‘Account’.**
4. Under the ‘Plan Details’ section, you’ll see your current plan and the number of screens you can watch on at the same time.
Keep these limitations in mind as you add and manage users to avoid exceeding your plan’s device limit and encountering playback issues.
### Adding Profiles Within Your Household
This is the standard way to manage users within a single household. Creating separate profiles allows each user to have personalized recommendations, watch history, and viewing preferences.
**Steps to Add a New Profile:**
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser, TV, or mobile device.
2. **If you are on a TV:**
* You will usually see a screen asking ‘Who’s Watching Netflix?’ with all the existing profiles.
* Select the ‘Add Profile’ option (often represented by a plus sign ‘+’).
3. **If you are on a web browser or mobile device:**
* **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner (web browser) or bottom right corner (mobile app).
* **Select ‘Manage Profiles’.**
* **Click ‘Add Profile’.**
4. **Enter a name** for the new profile. Choose a name that is easily identifiable for the user.
5. **Optional: Select a profile icon.** Netflix provides a variety of icons to choose from, or you can upload a custom image (on some devices).
6. **Optional: Set a Kids profile.** If the profile is for a child, toggle the ‘Kids?’ option to ‘Yes’. This will restrict the profile to only show content suitable for children.
7. **Click ‘Save Profile’** (or ‘Continue’ on some devices).
The new profile will now appear on the ‘Who’s Watching Netflix?’ screen, allowing the user to select their profile and start watching.
**Customizing and Managing Existing Profiles:**
After creating profiles, you can further customize them to enhance the viewing experience.
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser.
2. **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner.
3. **Select ‘Manage Profiles’.**
4. **Click on the profile** you want to manage.
From here, you can adjust the following settings:
* **Profile Name:** Change the name of the profile.
* **Profile Icon:** Update the profile icon.
* **Language:** Set the preferred language for the profile.
* **Maturity Settings:** Set viewing restrictions based on age. This is particularly useful for Kids profiles.
* You can set maturity levels from ‘Little Kids Only’ to ‘All Maturity Levels’.
* You can also block specific titles to prevent them from being viewed on the profile.
* **Profile Lock:** Add a PIN to prevent unauthorized access to the profile. This is a great way to keep your viewing history and preferences private.
* **Viewing Activity:** View and manage the viewing history of the profile. You can delete specific titles from the history to prevent them from influencing recommendations.
* **Autoplay Controls:** Enable or disable autoplay for previews and next episodes.
* **Appearance:** Change the look and feel of the Netflix interface within that profile (available on some devices).
**Deleting a Profile:**
If a profile is no longer needed, you can easily delete it.
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser.
2. **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner.
3. **Select ‘Manage Profiles’.**
4. **Click on the profile** you want to delete.
5. **Click ‘Delete Profile’.**
6. **Confirm** that you want to delete the profile. Be aware that deleting a profile will permanently remove its viewing history and preferences.
### Adding Extra Members (Outside Your Household)
As mentioned earlier, Netflix has implemented measures to limit account sharing outside of households. If you want to share your account with someone who doesn’t live with you, you’ll typically need to add them as an ‘Extra Member’ for an additional monthly fee.
**Eligibility and Availability:**
* **Plan Requirement:** Only the Standard and Premium plans are eligible for adding Extra Members. The Standard with ads plan does not support this feature.
* **Regional Availability:** The availability of the Extra Member feature varies by region. Check your Netflix account settings to see if it’s available in your location.
* **Cost:** The cost of adding an Extra Member varies by region and is charged on top of your existing monthly subscription fee.
**Steps to Add an Extra Member:**
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser.
2. **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner.
3. **Select ‘Account’.**
4. Look for the option to **’Buy an Extra Member slot’** or **’Add Extra Member’**. The wording may vary depending on your region.
5. **Follow the on-screen instructions.**
* You will likely be prompted to review the terms and conditions and confirm the additional monthly fee.
* Netflix may ask you to send an invitation to the person you want to add as an Extra Member.
6. **Invite the Extra Member.** The Extra Member will receive an email invitation to set up their own profile and password. They will essentially have a sub-account under your main account.
**Managing Extra Members:**
After adding an Extra Member, you can manage their access and profile through your account settings.
1. **Sign in to your Netflix account** on a web browser.
2. **Click on your profile icon** in the top right corner.
3. **Select ‘Account’.**
4. Look for the ‘Extra Members’ section.
From here, you can:
* **See the Extra Member’s profile information.**
* **Remove the Extra Member.** This will revoke their access to your Netflix account. Be aware that removing an Extra Member may not immediately stop the additional monthly fee. Check your billing cycle and Netflix’s terms and conditions for details.
* **Transfer a Profile:** You can transfer an existing profile to be used as the extra member’s profile when you invite them. This enables them to retain their viewing history and preferences. This helps to ease the transition from a shared account to individual accounts.
**Important Considerations for Extra Members:**
* **Separate Login:** Extra Members have their own login credentials (email address and password) and do not have access to your main account settings.
* **Single Device:** Extra Members can only watch Netflix on one device at a time.
* **Location Restriction:** Extra Members are typically required to watch Netflix in the same country as the main account holder.
### Troubleshooting Common Issues
Adding and managing Netflix users can sometimes present challenges. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:
* **Too Many Streams:** If you exceed the number of simultaneous streams allowed by your plan, you’ll see an error message. To resolve this, either upgrade your plan or wait for someone else to stop watching.
* **Profile Not Showing Up:** If a newly created profile doesn’t appear on the ‘Who’s Watching Netflix?’ screen, try refreshing the page or restarting the Netflix app. Make sure you’ve saved the profile correctly.
* **PIN Not Working:** If you’ve forgotten your profile PIN, you can reset it through your account settings on a web browser. Go to ‘Manage Profiles’, select the profile, and click ‘Change PIN’. You’ll need to enter your account password to reset the PIN.
* **Extra Member Issues:** If an Extra Member is having trouble accessing Netflix, ensure they’ve accepted the invitation and created their own profile. Also, verify that they are watching from the correct country and on a single device.
* **Payment Issues:** If you encounter payment issues related to adding Extra Members, contact Netflix support for assistance. Make sure your payment information is up-to-date.
* **Account Sharing Detection:** Netflix actively detects account sharing outside of households. If you are sharing your account with someone who doesn’t live with you and haven’t added them as an Extra Member, Netflix may prompt them to sign up for their own account or add them as an Extra Member. Ignoring these prompts may eventually lead to account restrictions.
### Optimizing Your Netflix Experience with Multiple Users
Here are some tips for optimizing your Netflix experience when you have multiple users on your account:
* **Encourage Profile Usage:** Make sure everyone uses their own profile to ensure personalized recommendations and avoid conflicts with viewing history.
* **Set Maturity Settings:** Utilize the maturity settings to restrict content for children and prevent them from accessing inappropriate material.
* **Use Profile Locks:** Add PINs to profiles to protect privacy and prevent unauthorized access.
* **Regularly Review Viewing Activity:** Periodically review the viewing activity of each profile to ensure it accurately reflects the user’s preferences and remove any unwanted titles from the history.
* **Communicate:** Communicate with your family members or Extra Members about their viewing habits and preferences to ensure everyone is happy with the Netflix experience.
* **Consider Upgrading Your Plan:** If you frequently encounter issues with simultaneous streams, consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan.
* **Manage Downloaded Content:** If you download content for offline viewing, be mindful of storage space on your devices.
### Conclusion
Adding and managing extra Netflix users effectively requires understanding Netflix’s plans, profile management features, and policies on account sharing. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a personalized and enjoyable viewing experience for everyone on your account, whether they are within your household or added as Extra Members. Remember to stay informed about Netflix’s evolving policies and features to ensure compliance and optimize your subscription. By taking the time to properly manage your Netflix account, you can avoid common issues, enhance user experience, and maximize the value of your subscription.