Netflix announced changes to curb account sharing across households, with Spain among the first to implement the policy. To comply, users will need to set their account’s primary location by linking the device or app to a specific IP address.
In addition, subscribers who spend time at a second home or travel frequently to the same location will be required to open the Netflix app on their mobile device while connected to their primary location’s Wi Fi network once a month. When they visit a secondary location, these steps will be confirmed by Netflix staff sources.
Chengyi Long, the platform’s director of product innovation, explains that the plan is also being piloted in Portugal, New Zealand and Canada after testing in joint Latin American accounts last year. The company blog notes that the approach is designed to balance ease of sharing with clearer usage rules.
With features like profiles and multi screen viewing, Netflix has long supported account sharing among household members. The new policy acknowledges that while sharing inside a single home works well, it can create confusion about when and how it is allowed. Netflix states that the update gives subscribers more control over who can access their account and helps configure each account to reflect the true home location.
The changes aim to give members clearer authority over their accounts. The core intent is to ensure that the account is primarily used by people living in the same home, while still allowing a degree of mobility for travelers and remote workers.
Sub accounts for two people
As before, Standard or Premium plan subscribers in many countries including Canada Spain New Zealand and Portugal will be able to add sub accounts for two people who do not live together. Each sub account will have its own profile personalized recommendations username and password and will incur an additional monthly fee of 5.99 euros per person in Spain. These fees are designed to support higher quality streaming and more targeted recommendations.
Also, those who start using their own paid accounts will be allowed to migrate their profiles keep personalized recommendations viewing history playlists and saved items. Netflix assures that during trips subscribers can continue to watch on their personal devices or log in to another device such as a hotel TV or vacation rental.
The platform notes that more than 100 million households share their accounts. Netflix argues that this sharing reduces the company’s ability to invest in original storytelling and high quality productions for subscribers in all markets. This positioned shift is meant to strengthen clarity around who is allowed to access each account and how to support ongoing investment in content for North American viewers and beyond. According to the company, these changes are part of a broader effort to ensure a sustainable model that prioritizes individuals who reside in the same home and respect licensing and distribution norms. Citations: Netflix official communications and regional press coverage.