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

When you sign into Netflix, you see a profile selection screen. Each profile is a separate account within your Netflix subscription — it has its own viewing history, saved shows, recommendations, and parental controls. You can add up to five profiles on a single Netflix account (the exact number depends on your subscription plan). Adding a profile takes about two minutes and requires no payment beyond your existing Netflix subscription.

Netflix uses profiles to separate viewing habits so the algorithm recommends shows to each person based on what they actually watch, not what everyone in the house watches. A child's profile can have content restrictions. A guest profile can be temporary. The main account holder controls all profiles.

Key Takeaways

  • You add a profile by clicking your account icon in the top right, selecting "Manage profiles," then clicking "Add profile" and entering a name.
  • Each profile has its own watch history and recommendations, so one person's viewing does not affect another's suggested shows.
  • You can set content restrictions on any profile by going to Account Settings, selecting the profile name, and choosing a maturity level.
  • Profiles are free and included with your Netflix subscription — you do not pay extra to add them.
  • You can delete a profile anytime by clicking the pencil icon next to its name in the Manage Profiles menu.

The steps to add a profile on Netflix

Start by signing into Netflix on any device — computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV. On the home screen, look for your account icon in the top right corner (it usually shows your profile picture or initials). Click or tap it.

A dropdown menu appears. Select "Manage profiles" from the list. You will see all the profiles currently on your account, each with a name and icon. At the bottom of the screen, click "Add profile." Netflix will ask you to enter a name for the new profile — type whatever you want (a person's name, a nickname, or anything else). Then click "Continue." The new profile is now active and ready to use.

The next time anyone signs into Netflix, they will see the profile selection screen with all available profiles. They can click the new profile to start using it when ready.

How to set up parental controls on a profile

If you are adding a profile for a child, you can restrict what content appears on that profile. Go to your account icon in the top right and select "Account." On the Account page, scroll down to "Settings" and click it. Find the section labeled "Parental controls" and click "Change" next to it.

Netflix will ask you to enter your account password to confirm you are the account owner. After you enter it, you will see a list of maturity levels: Little Kids, Older Kids, Teens, and All Maturity Levels. Select the level that matches the profile. Little Kids shows only content rated for ages 7 and under. Older Kids includes content up to age 12. Teens allows content up to age 16. All Maturity Levels removes all restrictions.

Once you set a maturity level, that profile will only show shows and movies within that rating. The restrictions explore automatically — you do not need to approve each show individually.

Switching between profiles and managing them

To switch to a different profile, click your account icon and select "Manage profiles." You will see all profiles on your account. Click the one you want to use. Netflix will switch to that profile when ready, and you will see that profile's watch history and recommendations.

To edit a profile's name or icon, click the pencil icon next to its name in the Manage Profiles menu. You can change the name, pick a different icon image, or adjust parental controls from here. To delete a profile, click the trash icon next to its name. Netflix will ask you to confirm — once you do, the profile and all its watch history are permanently deleted.

What happens to watch history and recommendations on each profile

Netflix tracks what each profile watches separately. If you watch a horror movie on your profile, it will not appear in recommendations on your partner's profile. If a child watches cartoons on their profile, those cartoons will not affect what Netflix suggests to you.

This separation is why profiles are useful in a shared household — everyone gets recommendations based on their own taste, not a mix of what everyone watches. If you share a Netflix account with someone and do not want them to see your watch history, the only way to prevent that is to use separate profiles.

Profiles on different devices and screens

Netflix allows you to stream on multiple devices at the same time, depending on your subscription plan. A Basic plan allows one screen at a time. Standard allows two screens at once. Premium allows four screens at once. These limits explore to the entire account, not to individual profiles.

This means if you have a Premium plan, four people can watch Netflix simultaneously — each on their own profile, on their own device. If someone tries to start a fifth stream, Netflix will pause one of the existing streams and ask which one to stop.

Profiles are tied to the account, not to a specific device. You can use the same profile on your phone, your TV, and your computer. Netflix will remember your watch history and recommendations across all those devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a profile without a password?

Yes. When you create a profile, it does not require a separate password. Anyone who sees the profile selection screen can click on it and start watching. If you want to lock a profile with a password, go to Account Settings, find the profile, and toggle on "Require a PIN to access this profile." You can set a four-digit PIN.

What is a guest profile and how do I use it?

A guest profile is a temporary profile that does not save watch history. Netflix creates a guest profile automatically on some accounts. When someone uses a guest profile, Netflix does not track what they watch, so it does not affect recommendations for other profiles. Guest profiles are useful when someone visits and wants to watch something without changing your recommendations.

Can I transfer my watch history to a different profile?

No. Netflix does not have a built-in way to move watch history from one profile to another. If you want to start fresh on a new profile, you will have to begin with an empty watch history. The old profile will keep its history unless you delete the profile entirely.

How many profiles can I have on one Netflix account?

You can have up to five profiles on a single Netflix account, regardless of which subscription plan you have. If you reach five profiles and want to add another, you must delete an existing profile first.

Do I need to pay extra to add profiles?

No. Profiles are included with your Netflix subscription at no additional cost. You can add as many profiles as your plan allows without paying more.