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

A Netflix profile is a separate account space within your Netflix subscription where one person's viewing history, ratings, and preferences stay separate from everyone else's. When you add a profile, Netflix stops mixing your watch history with your partner's, your kids' with yours, and stops recommending shows based on what someone else watched at 2 a.m.

You can add up to five profiles on a single Netflix account (the exact number depends on your plan — Standard and Premium plans allow five, while Basic allows only one). Each profile has its own login PIN, so you can prevent children from accessing content you've restricted. Adding a profile takes about one minute and requires no payment beyond your existing Netflix subscription.

Key Takeaways

  • Netflix lets you create up to five separate profiles on one subscription, each with its own watch history and recommendations.
  • You add a profile directly from the Netflix home screen by clicking your account icon and selecting "Add profile".
  • Each profile can have a PIN to prevent others from watching restricted content or changing settings.
  • Profiles work on all devices where you log into Netflix — phone, tablet, TV, or web browser.

How to add a profile on your TV or computer

Open Netflix and look for your account icon in the top right corner of the screen (it looks like a circle with your profile picture or initials). Click or tap it. A menu will drop down with several options — select "Add profile" or "Manage profiles" depending on which version of Netflix you see.

Netflix will ask you to name the profile. Type the person's name — "Sarah", "Dad", "Kids" — whatever makes sense for your household. Then choose whether this profile is for a child or an adult. If you choose "Child", Netflix will automatically hide mature content and limit recommendations to family-friendly shows. If you choose "Adult", all content becomes available.

After you name the profile and choose the type, Netflix asks if you want to set a PIN. A PIN is a four-digit code that prevents anyone else from using that profile without entering the code first. This is useful if you have kids and want to prevent them from accessing adult content, or if you want to keep your watch history private from other adults in the house. You can add or change a PIN later, so you do not have to decide right now.

Click "Create" or "Done" (the button name varies by device). The new profile now appears on your Netflix home screen, and you can switch to it by clicking on it.

How to add a profile on your phone or tablet

Open the Netflix app and tap the icon in the bottom right corner (usually labeled "More" or showing three horizontal lines). Scroll down and tap "Manage profiles" or "Add profile". The steps from here are identical to the TV or computer process: name the profile, choose whether it is for a child or adult, optionally set a PIN, and tap "Create".

The new profile will appear on your Netflix home screen the next time you open the app. If it does not appear when ready, close the app completely and reopen it.

Setting up a child profile with content restrictions

When you create a profile and select "Child", Netflix automatically restricts the content to age-appropriate shows and movies. However, you can set more specific restrictions if you want. Go back to your account icon, select "Manage profiles", and click on the child profile you just created.

Look for "Parental controls" or "Maturity rating" — the exact wording depends on your device. Netflix will ask you to enter your account password to confirm you are the account owner. Once you do, you can choose the highest maturity rating that profile can see. The options are usually "Little Kids" (ages 4–7), "Older Kids" (ages 8–12), "Teens" (ages 13+), or "All" (no restrictions).

You can also set a PIN on a child profile so that even if someone knows the profile name, they cannot access it without the code. This PIN is separate from your account password and is only for that specific profile.

Switching between profiles and managing who uses what

To switch profiles, go to your Netflix home screen and click on the profile you want to use. If that profile has a PIN, Netflix will ask you to enter it. Once you enter the PIN, you stay in that profile until you manually switch to a different one.

If you share your Netflix password with people outside your household, each person should have their own profile so their watch history does not interfere with yours. However, Netflix's terms of service state that passwords should not be shared with people who do not live with you. If you want to let someone outside your household watch Netflix, you may eventually need to add them as an account holder rather than just giving them your password.

Editing or deleting a profile

To change a profile's name, maturity rating, or PIN, go to your account icon, select "Manage profiles", and click on the profile you want to edit. You can change the name by typing a new one, adjust the maturity rating, or add or change the PIN. Click "Save" when you are done.

To delete a profile, go to "Manage profiles", click on the profile, and look for a "Delete profile" button (usually at the bottom of the screen). Netflix will ask you to confirm. Deleting a profile removes that person's watch history and recommendations, but it does not affect anyone else's profile or your subscription.

Troubleshooting profiles that do not appear or work

If you add a profile but it does not show up on your home screen, try closing the Netflix app or refreshing your browser, then opening Netflix again. Profiles sometimes take a few seconds to sync across devices.

If you set a PIN and now cannot remember it, go to "Manage profiles" from your main account (not from the locked profile), click on that profile, and look for "Change PIN" or "Reset PIN". You will need to enter your account password to confirm you own the account, then you can set a new PIN.

If a profile is locked and you cannot access it, make sure you are entering the PIN correctly — it is four digits, and Netflix will tell you if you enter it wrong. If you have tried multiple times and still cannot access it, you can delete the profile and create a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Netflix limits you to five profiles per account on Standard and Premium plans, and one profile on Basic. If you need more than five separate viewing spaces, you would need a second Netflix subscription under a different email address.

Do profiles cost extra money?

No. Profiles are included with your Netflix subscription at no additional cost. You pay the same monthly fee whether you have one profile or five.

If I delete a profile, can I get the watch history back?

No. Deleting a profile permanently removes that person's watch history, ratings, and recommendations. If you think you might want to keep the history, rename the profile instead of deleting it.

Can someone use my profile if they know my PIN?

Yes. A PIN only prevents access to that specific profile — it does not prevent someone from using your account if they have your Netflix password. If you want to prevent someone from accessing your account entirely, change your Netflix password.

Do profiles work on all devices?

Yes. Profiles sync across all devices where you log into Netflix — TV, phone, tablet, and web browser. When you add a profile on one device, it appears on all the others within a few seconds.