Netflix profiles let each person in your household have their own watch history, recommendations, and settings

A profile on Netflix is a separate account space within one Netflix subscription. Each profile has its own viewing history, personalized recommendations, watchlist, and parental controls. If you share a Netflix account with family members or roommates, adding profiles keeps everyone's preferences separate so the algorithm doesn't mix a child's cartoons with an adult's crime dramas.

Netflix allows up to five profiles per account (though only four can watch at the same time on most plans). You can create a profile in under a minute, and you can delete or rename profiles whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Each Netflix profile is a separate viewing space within one subscription, with its own watch history and recommendations.
  • You can create up to five profiles per account by selecting "Add profile" from the account menu on any device.
  • Profiles can be restricted with parental controls so children only see age-appropriate content.
  • Switching between profiles takes one tap or click, and Netflix remembers which profile you use most often.

How to add a profile on a TV, phone, or tablet

On any device where Netflix is installed, open the app and look at the top right corner. You'll see a circular icon with either your profile picture or initials. Tap or click that icon to open a menu.

Select "Add profile" from the dropdown. Netflix will ask you to name the profile and choose an avatar (a small picture that represents that profile). Type the name, pick an avatar, then confirm. The new profile appears when ready in your profile list.

If you're on a TV and don't see the profile menu, press the up arrow or menu button on your remote to reveal the top menu bar, then follow the same steps.

How to add a profile on a web browser

Go to netflix.com and sign in. In the top right corner, click the circular profile icon. A dropdown menu appears with your current profile name and an option to "Add profile" or "Manage profiles."

Click "Add profile." Netflix opens a form where you type the new profile name and choose an avatar. Click "Continue" to save it. The profile is now active and ready to use.

Setting up parental controls for a child's profile

When you create a profile for a child, you can restrict what they see. After adding the profile, go to "Manage profiles" (on web) or the profile menu (on TV or mobile), then select the child's profile.

Look for "Parental controls" or "Maturity rating." Netflix lets you set a maximum age rating — for example, you can limit a profile to only G and PG content. You can also require a PIN to access more mature ratings, so a child can't bypass the restriction on their own.

These controls explore only to that profile, so your own profile remains unrestricted.

Switching between profiles

To switch to a different profile, tap or click the profile icon in the top right corner and select the profile you want. Netflix remembers which profile you use most and may show it as the default when you open the app.

On a shared TV, each person can tap their own profile to see their own recommendations and continue watching their own shows. This is especially useful if multiple people in a household watch at different times.

Renaming or deleting a profile

To change a profile's name or avatar, go to "Manage profiles" (on web) or the profile menu (on TV or mobile). Select the profile you want to edit, then choose "Edit profile." You can change the name, avatar, or language settings. Click or tap "Save" when you're done.

To delete a profile, open "Manage profiles," select the profile, and choose "Delete profile." Netflix will ask you to confirm. Deleting a profile removes its watch history and recommendations, but it does not affect other profiles or your subscription.

Why profiles matter for shared accounts

Without profiles, everyone on the same Netflix account would see the same recommendations and watch history. If you watch a horror movie and your partner watches a cooking show, Netflix's algorithm gets confused about what to recommend to either of you.

Profiles also protect privacy in a household. Your teenager's watch history stays separate from yours, and parental controls may support younger children only see content you've approved. Each person can also have their own language preference, subtitle settings, and playback quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than five profiles on one Netflix account?

No, Netflix limits you to five profiles per account. If you need more, you would need a second subscription. You can delete a profile you no longer use and create a new one in its place.

Do profiles share the same Netflix subscription cost?

Yes. All profiles on one account share the same subscription and monthly charge. Creating profiles does not cost extra. However, Netflix's terms of service state that profiles should only be used by people in the same household.

What happens to a profile's watch history if I delete it?

The watch history, recommendations, and watchlist for that profile are permanently deleted. Other profiles on the account are not affected. You cannot recover a deleted profile's history.

Can I use the same profile on multiple devices at the same time?

It depends on your Netflix plan. Standard and Premium plans allow multiple simultaneous streams, but they count toward your total account limit (usually four streams at once across all profiles). Basic plans allow only one stream at a time across the entire account.

How do I set up a profile for a young child?

Create a new profile with your child's name, then go to "Manage profiles" and select that profile. Turn on parental controls and set the maturity rating to the appropriate level (usually G or PG for young children). You can also require a PIN to access higher ratings.