Time is running out for anyone using someone else’s Netflix account to watch hit shows like Stranger Things and The Crown as the streaming giant has promised to stop password sharing within weeks.
The company has now updated its help page for US users with details on what to expect when it comes to account sharing violations, and a recent trial in Latin America shows how Netflix plans to enforce the rules.
One of the main techniques that Netflix will use – according to a new FAQ on password sharing for American users – is device verification.
When a device tries to sign in to an account outside the associated household, or if the account is frequently used outside the home, the main account holder will be emailed a four-digit code to authenticate the sign-in attempt.
Netflix says that primary account holders, and those who live with them, should not be asked to verify if they travel outside the home, but if they are away from home for an extended period of time, they will occasionally need to sign in for verification. code.
“People who don’t live in your home should use their own account to watch Netflix,” the company said in a new help page.
How does Netflix know if you share your password?
Netflix’s help pages for Peru, Costa Rica and Chile—where it has been testing new rules on password sharing—have also been updated, showing more details about the process.
The company will use information like IP address, device ID and account activity to monitor whether people who do not live with the main account holder use login credentials. It promises not to collect location data through the device’s GPS system.
Users in the trial country have been instructed to set up a primary location, described as “the main place you watch Netflix” and “associated with your home Wi-Fi network and connected devices.”
The Netflix app in these locations has been updated with additional settings that allow users to set their preferred location, which includes verification via text or email.
“To ensure that your device is associated with the main location, connect to Wi-Fi at the main location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days,” Netflix instructions.
Those in Peru, Costa Rica and Chile who still want to help others with access to Netflix, now have the option to add extra members to their accounts instead of just sharing their login details.
This offer allows account owners to purchase extra membership slots for their account for less than the price of a basic Netflix plan, which can be used to encourage people outside their home to use the platform.
Extra members have their own account and password, but membership is paid for by the person inviting them to join. They can only watch Netflix on one device at a time.
Although there is a new anti-password sharing system in three Latin American trial countries, few of the users involved told the technology publication. Rest of the World that there are no consequences for ignoring these rules.
How to break password sharing for Netflix?
With the streaming war heating up in recent years as major players like Disney and Apple entered the arena, Netflix’s subscriber numbers have come under pressure.
In a letter to shareholders last month, the company said sharing passwords “undermines our long-term ability to invest in and grow Netflix,” and pledged to end the practice within 10 weeks.
In addition to the clampdown on password sharing, the company announced last year that it would introduce an ad-supported subscription plan for $7 a month, betting the budget offering will help grow.
It’s no mistake – in late January, Netflix released its first quarterly earnings report that showed subscription numbers from commercially supported levels, with the number exceeding Wall Street’s expectations.
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