Netflix is quietly changing the way shared accounts work, introducing more autonomy for individual profiles. Some users are now being asked to assign a unique email address to each Netflix profile, instead of everyone using the subscription owner’s address.
A Netflix account is currently controlled by a single email address and password, while up to five profiles allow household members to have separate content lists, recommendations and viewing history. When registering, verifying or recovering access, all messages arrive in the inbox of the main account owner.
According to user posts on the Reddit platform, Netflix has started asking for email addresses to be added directly to individual profiles. The message states that this change will enable simpler login, access recovery, personalized recommendations and additional features that will arrive later.
The Netflix profile gets more independence with its own email and login
When an email is linked to a profile, its user can independently receive verification codes and data needed to recover access. This means that he no longer has to depend on the owner of the main account when logging in on a new device or losing access to the profile.
An individual Netflix profile also gets more control over their own settings, while recommendations remain based on their viewing history. However, some users suspect that the change was introduced only for more practical use.
In 2023, Netflix began to limit the sharing of passwords and introduced the Netflix Household concept, according to which the account is intended for people living in the same household. In some markets, users can pay extra for Extra Member places intended for people outside the household.
Meanwhile, the company also introduced Profile Transfer, an option that allows you to transfer your viewing history, recommendations, saved games and content list to a separate account. Because of this, some subscribers believe that separate email addresses could later make it easier for Netflix to recognize individual users and eventually remove them from the joint subscription.
The change is currently being rolled out gradually and is not available to all users. Adding an email address to an individual profile could be practical in larger households, especially when multiple people use the same account on different devices.
However, bearing in mind the previous tightening of account sharing rules, it remains an open question whether this is just a more practical sign-up or a preparation for the next phase of managing Netflix subscriptions, reports Android Central.