How to Transfer Netflix Profiles After Free Password Exchange Ends
The golden age of streaming is coming to an end: Netflix is officially phasing out free password sharing . The effect won’t be immediate: Netflix doesn’t plan to charge for password sharing until early next year , when account holders start being charged a few extra dollars for profiles of users who don’t live with them, but change is definitely on the horizon. If you’re not paying for your plan and you’re worried about being downloaded from a group, there’s one little silver lining: Netflix allows users to transfer profiles from one account to another so you don’t lose your queue and browsing history. . Here’s what you need to know.
How will paid Netflix password sharing work?
The details of Netflix’s plan are still unclear, but here’s what we know: Starting in 2023, the company will only allow multiple users to access the same account for free if they live in the same home. If a user accesses an account from another location, Netflix will charge the account holder an additional fee. The company has yet to release details, but based on Netflix tests in Latin American countries , an additional charge of $3 to $4 per external user is likely. If it works, sharing passwords can get expensive, especially for families who live apart from each other.
One solution, of course, is to cancel Netflix altogether (if I say this, maybe no one will repeat it in the comments). But there are a lot of people who enjoy past and present Netflix content and would rather bite the bullet and open a new account. If that’s you, there are a few more affordable options available these days that will make the transition a little less painful. While it remains to be seen if this move will help or hurt Netflix, the company has thought of some patches to ease the transition.
Previously, if you opened a new account, you would lose all your old profile settings, including browsing history and recommendations. You now have the option to transfer your profile to another active account, which should make your new account’s usage the same as the old one (minus the new monthly bill). There is a small risk when transferring profiles because Netflix keeps a backup of the profile on the original account, just without saved games. (Note: You cannot transfer profiles of children.)
How to transfer your Netflix profile to a new account
To get started, sign in to your Netflix account and click on your profile in the top right corner. Select Migrate Profiles. Netflix will tell you how profile transfer works. Click “Allow” and Netflix will enable the feature in two days. (I’m not sure what the delay is because you can instantly turn on the transfer using the email that Netflix sends to the account owner.)
Once the feature is working, go back to your profile icon and click “Transfer profiles” again. Again, you’ll see a summary of how this feature works. From here, you can follow the steps, including entering the email address and password you want to use for your new account. Once you’ve gone through the setup, you should be the proud owner of your own paid Netflix subscription with everything that was in your old, free plan. Feels good, doesn’t it? (Not.)