Technically, it is easily possible to share your Netflix account with family members or even friends. But this is no longer generally allowed.
Netflix: Account sharing is only allowed in the same household
If you share your Netflix account with people in the same household – such as family members or participants in a shared apartment – this is expressly permitted. The situation is different if you give friends or other people outside your own household access to your account.
- This is explicitly stated in the Terms of Service: “4.2. The Netflix Service and any Content […] may not be shared with persons who do not live in the same household, unless permitted by your subscription. “
- The Netflix Help Center also leaves no doubt about this. It says: “A Netflix account is intended for sharing within a household. People who are not part of your household must register for their own account to use Netflix. “
- In plain English, this means that if you share your Netflix account with people outside your household, you are violating the service’s terms of service.
- You do not have to fear a closure of your user account or even claims for damages, at least not yet – even though such measures would theoretically be possible.
Netflix account sharing – users must expect this
Netflix has announced that it will take tougher action against account sharing in future. However, there will be no draconian penalties – instead, caught users will be advised of alternatives. In addition, technical hurdles will make account sharing more difficult.
- Netflix is planning an additional option that will allow customers to create paid sub-accounts for other people who do not necessarily have to live in the same household. Point 4.2 of the terms of use already refers to this function.
- Such sub-accounts can already be opened in some countries, but this is not yet possible in Germany. It is not yet known when this will happen in Germany and what sharing fees will then be due. However, a worldwide introduction in 2023 is very likely.
- Netflix, however, does not plan to automatically charge the fees for sub-accounts in the case of detected multiple use. Nor are corresponding accounts to be blocked.
- Instead, Netflix would only be allowed to notify owners of shared accounts of the violation of the terms of use by email and request them to create paid sub-accounts.
- In future, anyone who uses someone else’s account free of charge will have to expect regular identity or security queries – otherwise playback will be blocked. For example, Netflix plans to require mobile device users to connect to their home Wi-Fi network once a month in order to stream on the go.
- How Netflix intends to establish unauthorised multiple use beyond doubt is not entirely clear, however. It is likely that, in addition to the IP address and device IDs, the activities within the user accounts are also examined. In addition, Netflix has been working for a while on software that recognises shared accounts.
Netflix account sharing: Note the type of subscription
When sharing your Netflix account, however, be sure to have a subscription model that is suitable for it.
- Only a limited number of simultaneously active streams are available to you. This means that once this number is reached through use by other people, you yourself can no longer use the streaming offer at the same time.
- If you use the basic Netflix subscription, you can only watch a stream on one device. With the standard subscription, this is possible on two devices, and with the premium subscription on four devices at the same time.
Be careful about sharing your login details
In the terms of use, Netflix writes that you should not share your password with anyone else, but it does not explicitly forbid this. The corresponding section is rather to be understood as a security notice:
- “To maintain control of the account and prevent access by unauthorised persons, you should have control over the devices used to access the service and should not disclose the password or account details for the selected payment method to third parties. “
- You should therefore only make your password available to trustworthy persons. Alternatively, you can also set up your Netflix account on your friends’ or family members’ devices once. You will then not need to identify yourself again when using the service in the future, so you do not need to share your password.
