Sharing Netflix accounts: household, additional paying subscriber, SMS code… what are the new rules?

After months of announcements, Netflix formalized this May 23 future restrictions on account sharing. The streaming platform has unveiled the new rules that will govern its service from June 2023.

“Netflix Hearth”additional subscriber, code sent by SMS… We explain the new rules in force concerning the sharing of accounts at Netflix.

This article will be updated regularly with the latest information available.

“Netflix Hearth”

The great novelty of these restrictions is the notion of “Netflix Hearth”, which now governs account sharing. As the platform says in a message sent to its users: “Your Netflix account is for you and for the people who live with you, i.e. your household”.

Specifically, Netflix will ask you to choose a “main focus” on your TV, defined by the internet network (wifi / Ethernet) to which it is connected, generally that of the house.

If you don’t set up a household, Netflix will automatically set one up for you based on IP address, device IDs, and account activity.

Monthly login required

From this Netflix household, two scenarios arise:

• If you’ve watched Netflix over home wifi or ethernet at least once in the last 31 days, you won’t be prompted for verification. Nothing will change in your habits.
• If the device used has not been on the Netflix of the household in the month: a verification will be requested.

For example, this verification will not be requested if you regularly return to your parents, owners of your Netflix, or if you often see your friend who lends you his access.

The problem will arise if you use for example a VPN – therefore with another IP address –, or if you leave for a trip or vacation of more than a month.

Double authentication

In the event that the device needs to be verified, Netflix sends a four-digit code (valid for 15 minutes) by email or SMS to the main account subscriber. Once entered, this will allow access, for a limited time, in the manner of double authentication.

Note that the duration granted by this code was initially seven days. But Netflix has since removed the information from its site, and it may be longer.

Three options offered

In the event that you cannot enter the required code, Netflix will then display an error message and offer you three options:

• Subscribe to your own subscription
• “Request an exception”, to confirm that you are the primary subscriber. The criteria for accepting the request are not yet known.

• Add an additional subscriber outside of the primary household for €5.99/month.

Gray areas and special cases

If no ban or account deletion is planned, many gray areas persist, and Netflix has yet to clarify the specific cases.

What about joint custody? Or second homes?

The day after the announcement of these new restrictions, Netflix made it clear that several arrangements would exist, in particular for the case of alternating custody or second homes.

According to the streaming platform, if the application detects two networks used regularly, these will be associated with the same household even if they do not share the same IP address.

For example, a child in joint custody will thus be able to move between the different parental residences without being considered as an additional subscriber.

The secondary address track

In Latin America, where the restrictions have already been in place for several months, Netflix also allows its users to associate secondary addresses with their accounts (for an additional $2.99), depending on their subscription level:

• Basic subscription: an additional address
• Standard subscription: two additional addresses
• Premium subscription: three additional addresses

For the moment, there is no indication that this system will be applied in France.

Netflix estimates that widespread account sharing affects more than 100 million households. The stated purpose of these restrictions is thus to wage war on squatters and co-subscription sites (such as Spliiit, Diivii, Sharesub), and to recover some money from these “non-paying” households. To be continued.