How to Delete a Profile on Netflix
Netflix allows up to five profiles on a single account, which makes it easy for households to keep watch histories, recommendations, and settings separate. But there are plenty of reasons you might want to remove one — a family member moved out, a profile was created by mistake, or you're simply cleaning up the account. Whatever the reason, deleting a Netflix profile is straightforward, though the exact steps vary depending on where you're doing it.
Here's everything you need to know before you hit delete.
What Happens When You Delete a Netflix Profile
Before walking through the steps, it's worth knowing what you're actually removing. When you delete a profile, Netflix permanently erases:
- The profile's viewing history
- Its personalized recommendations
- Any titles saved to My List
- Ratings and preferences associated with that profile
This action cannot be undone. Netflix does not offer a way to recover a deleted profile or restore its history. If the profile belongs to someone who still uses the account, they'll need to start fresh with a new profile.
One thing deleting a profile does not affect: your account subscription, billing, or any other profiles on the account. Only the specific profile and its data are removed.
Who Can Delete a Profile
Not all profiles have equal permissions. The primary account holder (the profile set up when the account was created) can delete any profile. Individual profiles, depending on account settings, may also be able to delete themselves — but they typically cannot delete other profiles unless they have the account PIN or parental controls allow it.
If Kids profiles are in use, those are managed separately under parental controls and may require the account PIN to modify or delete.
How to Delete a Netflix Profile on a Web Browser 🖥️
This is the most reliable method and works across all operating systems (Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux):
- Go to netflix.com and sign in
- Click on the profile icon in the upper-right corner
- Select Manage Profiles
- Click the pencil/edit icon on the profile you want to delete
- Scroll down and select Delete Profile
- Confirm by clicking Delete Profile again on the confirmation screen
The profile is removed immediately.
How to Delete a Netflix Profile on a Mobile Device 📱
The process is similar on both iOS and Android, though the interface may look slightly different depending on your app version:
- Open the Netflix app
- Tap your profile icon or the menu (three lines) in the upper corner
- Tap Manage Profiles
- Tap the pencil/edit icon next to the profile you want to remove
- Tap Delete Profile
- Confirm the deletion
Some older versions of the Netflix app may not surface the delete option directly — if you don't see it, use a browser instead, as the web version consistently exposes all account management options.
How to Delete a Netflix Profile on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices
Smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and game consoles all run versions of the Netflix app — but profile deletion is not available on most TV-based interfaces. These apps are designed for viewing, not account management.
If you're trying to delete a profile from your TV, the practical approach is to use a phone or computer to make the change. Once deleted via browser or mobile app, the change reflects across all devices almost immediately.
Variables That Affect Your Approach
A few factors determine which method works best for your situation:
| Factor | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| Device type | TV apps don't support deletion; browser/mobile does |
| Account role | Primary holder has full access; other profiles may not |
| Parental controls | Kids profiles and PIN-protected accounts require extra steps |
| App version | Older mobile app versions may lack the delete option |
| Profile type | Standard vs. Kids profiles have different management flows |
A Note on Profile Locks and PIN Protection
If Profile Lock is enabled on an account — a feature Netflix introduced that lets each profile set its own PIN — you may be prompted to enter that PIN before editing or deleting a profile. This is separate from parental controls and applies to individual adult profiles that have opted in.
If you've forgotten a profile PIN, it can be reset through the account settings on the Netflix website, typically via email verification tied to the account. 🔐
When Deleting Isn't What You Actually Need
Sometimes what looks like a deletion problem is actually a different issue:
- Switching profiles — If you just want to change which profile is active, you don't need to delete anything
- Renaming or editing a profile — You can update the name, icon, language, and maturity settings without deleting
- Removing someone's access — If you want to stop someone from using your account entirely, that's handled through Manage Access and Devices or by changing your account password, not through profile deletion
- Transferring a profile — Netflix has introduced features in some regions that allow a profile to be transferred to a new account, which is worth exploring before deleting if the viewer wants to keep their history
The right action depends on what outcome you're actually trying to achieve — and those outcomes are different enough that the steps involved vary significantly from one situation to the next.