What happens when you delete a Netflix profile
Deleting a Netflix profile removes that profile's viewing history, saved shows, and personalized recommendations — but it does not cancel your Netflix subscription. The account itself stays active, and other profiles on the same account keep working. If you delete the last remaining profile, Netflix will prompt you to create a new one before you can use the account again.
A profile is a separate viewing space within one Netflix account. One person might have a profile for themselves, another for their child, and another for shared family viewing. Deleting one profile does not affect the others or the payment method tied to the account.
If you want to stop paying for Netflix entirely, you need to cancel the account itself, which is a different process. This guide covers both: how to remove individual profiles and how to cancel your subscription if that is what you need.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a profile removes only that profile's history and recommendations, not the entire Netflix account or subscription.
- You can delete a profile from Account Settings on any device, and the process takes less than one minute.
- Netflix requires at least one profile to exist on an account at all times, so you cannot delete your last profile without creating a replacement.
- Canceling your Netflix subscription is separate from deleting a profile and stops all charges to your payment method.
How to delete a profile on the Netflix website
Open Netflix in a web browser and sign in to the account that owns the profile you want to delete. Click your account icon in the top right corner — it looks like a circle with your profile picture or initial inside it. From the dropdown menu, select Account.
On the Account page, scroll down to the section labeled Profiles and parental controls. You will see a list of all profiles on this account. Find the profile you want to delete and click the pencil icon next to its name. A menu will appear with options including Delete profile. Click that option, and Netflix will ask you to confirm. Click Delete again, and the profile is removed when ready.
If you are trying to delete the profile you are currently signed into, Netflix will sign you out and return you to the profile selection screen. You will need to sign into a different profile or create a new one to access the account again.
How to delete a profile on a TV, phone, or tablet
The steps are similar on mobile and TV apps, though the exact menu layout varies slightly by device. Open the Netflix app and sign in. Navigate to Account — on most phones and tablets, this is in the menu at the bottom of the screen, usually marked with three horizontal lines or a gear icon. On some TV apps, you may need to scroll to the far right of the home screen to find Account settings.
Look for Profiles and parental controls or straightforward Profiles. Select the profile you want to remove, and look for a delete or remove option. The exact wording and button location depend on your device and app version, but Netflix always includes a confirmation step before the profile is actually deleted. Confirm the deletion, and the profile is gone.
If you cannot find the profile management option on your device, the easiest route is to delete the profile from a web browser instead. The account-level settings are always accessible from Netflix.com, regardless of which device you are using.
What to do if you want to cancel Netflix instead
If you want to stop paying for Netflix altogether, deleting a profile will not do that. You need to cancel the subscription through Account Settings. Sign in to Netflix on a web browser, click your account icon, and select Account. Scroll down to the Membership and billing section and click Cancel membership.
Netflix will show you a cancellation confirmation page and may offer you a discount to stay. If you proceed, your subscription ends at the end of your current billing cycle — you will not be charged again, but you can still watch until that date arrives. If you cancel mid-cycle, Netflix does not refund the unused portion of your payment.
After cancellation, you can sign back into Netflix anytime and restart your subscription. Your profiles and viewing history will still be there if you reactivate within a certain period, though Netflix does not may provide how long it holds that data.
Recovering a deleted profile
Once a profile is deleted, Netflix does not offer a way to restore it through the app or website. The viewing history, saved shows, and recommendations tied to that profile are gone permanently. If you deleted a profile by mistake, your only option is to create a new profile with the same name and rebuild the watch list manually.
If you deleted a child's profile and want to set up parental controls again, you will need to create a new profile and configure the restrictions from scratch. Netflix does not transfer parental control settings from a deleted profile to a new one.
Why you might want to delete a profile
People delete profiles for several reasons. A child may have outgrown their profile and wants to use the main account instead. Someone who shared an account with a roommate or ex-partner might delete that person's profile after they move out. You might delete a profile that was set up for testing or that you straightforward do not use anymore and want to clean up the account.
Deleting a profile does not change your Netflix plan or cost. You pay the same amount whether you have one profile or five. The only way to reduce your Netflix bill is to downgrade to a cheaper plan tier or cancel the subscription entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a profile cancel my Netflix subscription?
No. Deleting a profile only removes that one viewing space and its history. Your Netflix account stays active and you keep paying the same amount. To stop paying, you must cancel the membership separately through Account Settings.
Can I delete the profile I am currently logged into?
Yes, but Netflix will sign you out when ready. You will need to sign into a different profile or create a new one before you can use Netflix again. If you try to delete your only profile, Netflix will require you to create a replacement first.
What happens to shows I saved on a deleted profile?
They are gone. Saved shows, watch history, and personalized recommendations are tied to the profile itself. When you delete the profile, all of that data is removed and cannot be recovered. You would need to manually add shows to your list again on a different profile.
Can I delete someone else's profile on my account?
Yes, if you have access to the account's Account Settings. Only the account owner or someone with the account password can delete profiles. If you share an account with others, let them know before you delete their profile so they do not lose their watch history.
How do I know if a profile was actually deleted?
After you confirm the deletion, the profile disappears from the Profiles list in Account Settings. When you sign out and return to the profile selection screen, that profile will no longer appear as an option. If it still shows up, the deletion did not go through — try again or restart the Netflix app.