Netflix recently announced that it would be cracking down on password sharing among its users. Now the streaming service has provided details on how it will go about blocking password sharing.
In a new FAQ section on its website (via Ghacks), Netflix says people living in another house “will need to use their own account” in order to access the streaming platform. Devices detected in other locations “may be blocked from watching Netflix.”
Netflix will enforce its password-sharing rules by using IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity to determine if a device logged into your account is connected to your primary location.
To ensure uninterrupted access to Netflix, connect to the Wi-Fi at your primary location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days. This creates a trusted device so you can watch Netflix, even when you’re away from your primary location.
If you are away from your primary location for an extended period of time, your device may be blocked from watching Netflix. You can request a temporary access code to continue watching.
It’s worth noting that this doesn’t affect the number of people who can watch Netflix content simultaneously with the same account.
Netflix has tested the new policy in Latin America and the streamer says it expects “some cancel reaction” in the markets where paid sharing is imposed. However, it also expects an overall increase in revenue as the “borrower households” opt for standalone accounts.
Password sharing has long been a thorn in the side of Netflix, as password sharing directly affects the company’s profits, and the streamer has been exploring various ways to put an end to the practice. An estimated 222 million paying households share passwords with an additional 100 million households that Netflix definitely wants to collect money from.