Netflix lets you add a separate household to your account through the account settings menu, and each household gets its own login and viewing history

Netflix's household feature lets multiple people in different homes watch from the same account without mixing up their recommendations or watch lists. When you add a household, that group of people gets their own profile section, separate login credentials, and their own row of "continue watching" shows. Netflix treats each household as independent — if someone in Household A watches a cooking show, it won't show up in Household B's recommendations.

The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your account settings. You don't need to create a new Netflix account or pay extra; you're just organizing the people already using your subscription into separate groups. The main limitation is that Netflix restricts how many households can use one account at the same time, and the number depends on your plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Each household needs its own email address and password, which you set up in the account settings under "Manage access and devices."
  • Netflix's Standard and Premium plans allow multiple households, but Basic plans do not — check your current plan before adding a household.
  • You can add a household from any device where you're signed in, and the new household can start watching when ready on their own devices.
  • Netflix may ask the new household to confirm their location the first time they sign in, which helps prevent account sharing outside your home.

Where to find the household settings

Log into Netflix on a web browser (netflix.com works best for this) and go to your account menu in the top right corner. Click "Account," then look for a section called "Manage access and devices" or "Add member to your household" — the exact wording changes depending on your region and plan type. This is where you'll see how many households your plan supports and how many you've already added.

If you're using the Netflix app on a phone or tablet, you can still add a household, but the web version gives you clearer visibility of all your settings at once. Open the app, tap your profile icon, go to "Account," and look for the household management option. The steps are the same either way.

What information you need to add a household

Netflix will ask for an email address for the new household — this becomes their login email, so it should be something they can remember and access. You'll also create a password together, or you can set one and share it with them. The email doesn't have to be a Gmail or Outlook; any email address works, including work email or a shared family email if that's what makes sense for your situation.

Netflix will also ask for a payment method associated with the new household. This doesn't mean they're paying separately — it's a verification step. You can use the same credit card that's already on your account, or add a different one. Netflix uses this information to confirm that the household is in a different location from your main account, which is part of how they enforce their terms around account sharing.

How many households your plan allows

Netflix's Basic plan does not support multiple households at all — if you have Basic, everyone using your account must be in the same home. Standard and Premium plans each allow two households to use the account at the same time. If you need more than two households, you'll need to upgrade to Premium, which is the highest tier Netflix offers.

The household limit is about simultaneous use, not total number of people. Two households can watch at the same time; a third household trying to log in at that moment will get an error message. Once someone from one of the two active households stops watching, the third household can log in. This is different from the old "add a member" feature, which let you add people to your account without the household separation.

What happens after you add a household

The new household receives an email with a link to confirm their membership. They click the link, set up their password if you haven't already, and then they can sign in from any device — phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. Their first login may trigger a location check, where Netflix asks them to confirm they're in a different home than your main account. This is automatic and takes less than a minute.

Once they're set up, they can create their own profiles within that household, just like you can on your main account. Each person in the new household can have their own profile with separate watch history, recommendations, and settings. They won't see your watch history or your profiles, and you won't see theirs.

Removing or changing a household

If you need to remove a household later, go back to "Manage access and devices" and find the household you want to remove. Click the option to delete or remove that household, and they'll lose access to Netflix on all their devices. They can't sign back in unless you add them again. This is permanent until you re-add them, so make sure before you confirm.

You can also change the email address or password associated with a household if the person using it needs a different login. Go to the same settings menu, find the household, and look for an edit option. The changes take effect when ready, so the household member will need to sign in again with the new credentials on their next use.

Troubleshooting common issues

If Netflix says you've reached your household limit but you haven't added two yet, check whether you have a Basic plan — Basic doesn't support multiple households at all, and you'll need to upgrade. If you have Standard or Premium and still can't add a household, try signing out completely and signing back in, then go to the settings again. Sometimes the interface needs a refresh to show the add option.

If the new household can't sign in after you've added them, ask them to check their email for the confirmation link — it sometimes goes to spam. If they've already confirmed and still can't log in, have them try resetting their password through the Netflix login page. If Netflix asks them to confirm their location and they're in a different home than your main account, they should be able to confirm when ready. If Netflix keeps blocking them, contact Netflix support directly, because it may mean the system detected them in the same location as your main account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a household if I have a Basic plan?

No. Basic plans do not support multiple households. You'll need to upgrade to Standard or Premium to add another household. Standard allows two households; Premium also allows two. You can upgrade in your account settings under "Plan."

Do I have to pay extra to add a household?

No. Adding a household doesn't cost more. You're still paying for the same Netflix plan; you're just organizing who uses it. The new household uses the same subscription you already have.

What's the difference between a household and a profile?

A profile is a person within a household — one account can have multiple profiles. A household is a group of people in a different location. Each household can have multiple profiles, but households are separate from each other and have their own login credentials.

Can someone in the new household watch at the same time as someone in my main household?

Yes, as long as your plan supports it. Standard and Premium both allow two households to watch simultaneously. If a third household tries to watch while both are already in use, they'll get an error message.

What happens if the new household moves to the same address as me?

Netflix may detect that they're in the same location and ask you to merge them back into one household or remove the separate household status. If you're living together now, you should have them use a profile in your main household instead of a separate household.