Netflix May Soon Crack Down on Password Sharing

Netflix may be cracking down on those who share passwords between separate households, according to a test found by The Streamable. Some Netflix subscribers have been getting a message about not living with the account holder when attempting to stream content.

Netflix
"If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching," reads the warning message. From there, users are prompted to verify the account with an email or text verification code, or to sign up for a separate Netflix account.

Netflix told The Streamable that the test is "designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so." It's not clear if the warning is popping up based on IP address or another metric.

netflix sharing message streamable
Netflix's terms of service do prohibit subscribers from sharing their passwords with people outside of their households, but many people do so anyway. Back in 2020, Netflix chief product officer Greg Peters told The Wall Street Journal that Netflix monitors password sharing, but at the time, had no plans to announce on the topic.

There are built-in limits to the number of devices that can simultaneously stream content from Netflix. The $8.99 basic plan is limits streaming to a single device, while the $13.99 standard plan allows for streaming on two devices. The $17.99 plan allows for streaming on up to four devices.

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Top Rated Comments

ian87w Avatar
55 months ago
Wait. Netflix advertise those higher tiers capable of multiple simultaneous streams. So who cares about the persons watching? If the service is advertised as capable of simultaneous streams, it's up to the user when and where to stream it, no?
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LFC2020 Avatar
55 months ago
Netflix needs to shut up and lower their prices, cheapest 4K plan is $20 is Aus.
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisBougieLife Avatar
55 months ago
So what if I want to log into my account at my vacation home while I’m there for a week? Are they going to crack down on that and insist I get a second account?
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
55 months ago
Whether they live in your house or not, what difference does it make if you’re within the device limit?
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
carrrrrlos Avatar
55 months ago
Sharing with a child going to college count? Technically still a part of the household for a portion of the year.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeefCake 15 Avatar
55 months ago
Just in time when their content is getting worse!
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)