Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder.
It’s no secret that Netflix is cracking down on password sharing. Soon you’ll find yourself paying an additional charge if individuals outside your household access your Netflix account.
While we don’t have details on when the change is rolling out, Netflix has already provided a tool to ease the pain — the profile transfer feature.
Rather than bumping friends and family harshly out of the Netflix password-sharing nest, the profile transfer feature helps them pack their bags.
If you’ve decided that you won’t be charged for that ex-partner or ex-roommate using your account to watch Netflix, they’ll need to create their own account (no more same account).
The profile transfer feature enables them to take their Netflix profile with them, so they don’t leave behind their watchlist, watch history and custom-tailored recommendations.
After endless hours of “Stranger Things” and “Wednesday,” they won’t want to start over with a blank Netflix profile with their new Netflix subscription — they’ve worked for those recommendations.
How to Migrate Netflix Profiles
Transferring Netflix profiles (Netflix users) to new Netflix accounts is easy, and we are here to show you how exactly you can complete the process and end your password-sharing situation.
Detailed Instructions for Migrating a Netflix Profile
To begin, you’ll first need to turn on profile transfers within your account, then follow these detailed instructions.
- Once you have confirmed that profile transfers are enabled within your account, sign into the account containing the profile you wish to transfer. You must access Netflix through the website, not the Netflix app.
- At the “Who’s Watching” screen, click on the profile you wish to transfer.
- In the upper right corner of the Netflix website, click on the small profile icon, then select the “Transfer Profile” link.
- If you have forgotten to enable profile transfers for your profile, you will be prompted to do so now before you can continue.
- Netflix has put a transfer hold time in place to make it more difficult to transfer profiles without permission. As a result, you’ll need to check the email of the primary account owner for a notice from Netflix and click the “Enable Instantly” button — otherwise, wait two days and the feature will be enabled automatically.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the transfer process. You will be asked for the email address and password you would like to use for the new account.
- That’s it! Wish your friend or family member the best experience watching Netflix on their own Netflix account (via the Netflix app or website) and say goodbye to the days of password sharing.
The Price for Password Sharing
Netflix has been looking for a way to increase its bottom line after losing nearly 1.2 million subscribers in the first two quarters of 2022, and additional charges for password sharing or account sharing may be its answer.
While we can’t tell you when Netflix password-sharing fees will go into effect, we estimate they will cost you an additional $3 to $4 per person.
We don’t know how the streaming giant will identify password-sharing situations, but tracking IP addresses and device IDs is one possible way — although both of these situations could cause havoc for Netflix subscribers who travel for business or pleasure or don’t reside in one primary location for an extended period.
Save With an Ad-Supported Plan
Netflix plans compared by video resolution, simultaneous devices streaming, access to entire catalog, and price:
- Basic with Ads: 720p HD, 1, No, $6.99/month
- Basic: 720p HD, 1, Yes, $9.99/month
- Standard: 1080p HD, 2, Yes, $15.49/month
- Premium: 4K UHD, 4, Yes, $19.99/month
If you don’t wish to boot others off your account but want to save money while others are watching Netflix on your dime, you may want to consider the company’s new Basic with Ads subscription tier.
At only $6.99 a month, you can enjoy a 720p HD ad-supported Netflix experience on a single device at a time.