Netflix Canada’s new password-sharing policy starts today

Time’s up! The days of using your ex’s Netflix account are now over. Today is the last day for Netflix Canada users who share accounts, to update their primary household information thanks to the new password-sharing policy.

It’s official, if you have yet to ensure your Netflix account is up to date, then you have until the end of the day on February 21st, 2023 to do so. Any other user besides the account holder will have to either pay for an extra member or get a new account.

Previously, the streaming platform had stated that Netflix account holders may need to verify users on devices outside of the household before they can sign in.

It had made it a little more difficult for users to share their accounts, but not impossible. Now, any mention of that on the “Sharing your Netflix account” FAQ page has since been removed.

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Instead, it now says that people who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account, or account holders can buy an extra member. Only those with a Standard or Premium plan can use this option.

But for how much? According to the pricing page, an extra member will be $7.99 on top of your monthly plan.

“An extra member will have their own account and password, but their extra member slot will be paid for by the account owner who invited them to join their Netflix,” reads the description. And they must be in the same country.

(That tweet did not age too well)

For those away from home, Netflix states that for short trips, you will be able to do a regular sign-in on the TV at their hotel/home rental or on their personal devices, no additional verification is necessary.

If you travel more frequently, you will need to sign into your primary location once a month. “For members with second homes or who travel frequently, open the Netflix app on your mobile device(s) while connected to the Wi-Fi network at your primary location once a month and then when you arrive at the second location,” according to Netflix.

In a statement online, the streaming company reiterated that a Netflix account is intended for only one household but depending on member feedback, they may “refine” the new features.

“We’ve always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account with features like profiles and multiple streams. While these have been hugely popular, they’ve also created confusion about when and how you can share Netflix,” states Chengyi Long, Director, Product Innovation.

Long continues to say that they “value our members and recognize that they have many entertainment choices.”

“A Netflix account is intended for one household and members can choose from a range of plans with different features,” Long said.  “As always, we’ll refine these new features based on member feedback so that we continue to improve Netflix in the years ahead.”