Netflix anti-password sharing plan revealed

2 Feb 2023

digitalspy.com

Netflix has revealed its plans to combat password sharing between users, meaning all accounts will soon need a primary viewing location.

The information can currently be viewed via the help centre for Netflix Costa Rica and outlines the plans to stop sharing between households, which could mean changes for how you watch the likes of Stranger Things and Love Is Blind.

The guidance states that all Netflix accounts will need its primary location set, and that will be linked to a home Wi-Fi network and the devices connected to it. Account users will be able to set up a primary location via the 'Get Help' section of their account settings.

To ensure that all devices stay connected to the primary location, users are advised to watch something through the Netflix app or website every 31 days.

Netflix

Related: Netflix teases live-action One Piece release

A statement from Netflix in their recent earnings review last month, shared with Digital Spy, further confirms the new measures: "Later in Q1, we expect to start rolling out paid sharing more broadly. Today's widespread account sharing (100M+ households) undermines our long term ability to invest in and improve Netflix, as well as build our business.

"While our terms of use limit use of Netflix to a household, we recognize this is a change for members who share their account more broadly. So we've worked hard to build additional new features that improve the Netflix experience, including the ability for members to review which devices are using their account and to transfer a profile to a new account.

"As we roll out paid sharing, members in many countries will also have the option to pay extra if they want to share Netflix with people they don't live with. As is the case today, all members will be able to watch while traveling, whether on a TV or mobile device."

The new measures will mean that accounts cannot be shared with people who don't live at the primary location, with the streaming site seemingly blocking devices which log in at different locations.

Related: Netflix reveals Cobra Kai future after season 5

For users who are travelling, they can request a temporary access code in order to continue using Netflix while away from their primary location. Users can also sign up to the site's 'extra member' scheme in order to allow users who don't live at their primary residence to use their account.

While the streaming site is yet to confirm the date of when it will be rolling out the new measures across the UK and worldwide, Netflix has touched on the topic of restricting password sharing on multiple occasions.

The streaming platform has been trialling the measures across Latin America and also confirmed last month that it expects to see an initial decline in subscribers.

"This will not be a universally popular move," Netflix CEO Greg Peters said, adding that they expect to see cancellations when the plans are rolled out.