If you share your Netflix account with your loved ones, you probably received an email from the service yesterday, informing you that you will now have to pay to share your subscription with other people. Since then, there has been some panic among users, who report different experiences on the platform. We take stock.
This week, Netflix put an end to the wait for users: it is no longer possible to share your password with relatives. Or at least, it is no longer possible to do it for free, since the operation now costs €5.99 per month to the account owner. In an email sent to its subscribers, the SVOD platform explains that “vYour Netflix account is for you and for the people who live with you, i.e. your household. » The tone is set.
Theoretically, all people on an account that does not belong to them therefore no longer have access to it, from the moment its owner has defined his main address as his home. From then on, users connecting to the account from this address and via the same WiFi network will be able to take advantage of the catalog without fear of being blocked. But that’s for theory.
Netflix users in the dark after the end of account sharing
On social networks, the question remains: how does the measurement actually work? Indeed, everyone seems to have a different experience so far. At Phonandroid writing, we were able to experience the end of account sharing from a device using another person’s account. Last night, when trying to connect to this account from a TV, the app demanded proof that it was the real owner.
For this, Netflix recalled that it was necessary to connect from the home configured by the latter. Not being at the same address at the time, so it was impossible to execute. The catalog remained closed to us for the rest of the evening.
But, trying to connect again this morning, surprise: Netflix opened its doors to us. We tested on other devices and got the same result. Whether on TV, PC or smartphone, we no longer have any problem viewing content on the platform. SO, what happened last night?
Related — Netflix Expects Huge Controversy With End to Password Sharing
How does Netflix plan to enforce the end of account sharing?
Above all, it should be kept in mind that what will follow is pure supposition. We’ve reached out to Netflix for more information, but are still awaiting a response from the company. Nonetheless, we can attempt to draw some conclusions from our experience the day before, building on what we already know about Netflix’s surveillance techniques.
Thus, we know that Netflix allows account owners and their loved ones to connect from a location other than their home. This seems obvious, if only when users go on vacation. In exchange, Netflix imposes to connect from its main WiFi network at least once a month. To check that everything is in order, the service intends to check “IP addresses, device identifiers and account activity”, on his terms.
Here is our theory. It may be that while trying to log in last night, Netflix detected that the true owner of the account was also watching content, thanks to the two different IP addresses and device IDs. Noting this activity not in accordance with its new regulations, the platform blocked our connection attempt.
This would explain why we managed to connect this morning on several devices. Having been using this account for some time now, Netflix may not yet have determined what the primary household of the owner and his relatives is. What’s more, the platform leaving a period of one month to connect to the WiFi network of this main address, we may still have a few weeks before us before completely losing access.
What does this mean for users? At the moment, it is still difficult to know exactly what Netflix has in store for us. The email sent to account owners encourages them to set up their main household, but does not specify what happens to users with whom the password is shared. On the other hand, as soon as it detects a new connection, the platform takes care to remind you that “’Only members of your household are authorized to use your account’.
One thing is certain, all of this is still very vague. While Netflix has officially launched hostilities against non-subscribers, it is time for an official communication to clear things up.