Adding a profile takes less than a minute and requires only a name

To add a profile on Netflix, open the app or website, select your account icon in the top right corner, choose "Manage profiles," click "Add profile," enter a name, and select "Continue." Netflix will assign an avatar automatically, though you can change it if you want. The new profile appears immediately on your home screen and works right away.

Each profile keeps its own watch history, recommendations, and saved shows separately. This means you can have one profile for yourself, another for a partner, and separate ones for children without their viewing affecting your suggestions or watch list.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five profiles per Netflix account, and each one maintains its own separate watch history and recommendations.
  • The process requires only a profile name — you do not need to enter passwords, email addresses, or any other information.
  • Netflix automatically assigns an avatar to each new profile, but you can change it to any of the available options during or after creation.
  • Profiles appear on the home screen immediately after creation and can be deleted or edited at any time from the Manage Profiles menu.

Step-by-step process on a phone or tablet

Open the Netflix app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner (on most phones) or top right (on tablets). Tap "Manage profiles." At the bottom of the screen, you will see an "Add profile" button with a plus sign. Tap it.

Type the name you want for the profile — this can be your name, a nickname, or anything else. Tap "Continue." Netflix shows you a selection of avatars. You can choose one now or skip this step and change it later. Once you confirm, the profile is created and ready to use.

Step-by-step process on a computer or web browser

Go to netflix.com and sign in if you are not already. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Manage profiles." You will see all existing profiles with an "Add profile" option below them. Click "Add profile."

Enter the profile name in the text box and click "Continue." Choose an avatar from the options shown, or click "Edit" next to any avatar to see more choices. Once you have selected one, click "Save" or "Continue," and the profile is created. You can change the avatar later by returning to Manage Profiles and clicking the pencil icon next to the profile name.

Changing the avatar or profile name later

To edit a profile after creation, go to Manage Profiles (the same menu where you added it), find the profile you want to change, and click or tap the pencil icon next to its name. You can update the name, change the avatar, or adjust other settings like language or maturity rating.

If you want to delete a profile entirely, click the trash icon next to its name in the Manage Profiles menu. Netflix will ask you to confirm before removing it. Deleting a profile removes its watch history and saved shows, but does not affect other profiles on the account.

Profile limits and account restrictions

Netflix allows up to five profiles per account. If you have reached that limit, you must delete an existing profile before adding a new one. There is no way to increase the limit beyond five.

If you have set up a child profile, you can restrict its content by maturity rating. When you create or edit a child profile, Netflix asks you to set a maximum rating — for example, PG or TV-14. The profile will not show or play content rated above that level, even if someone tries to access it.

Switching between profiles

On your home screen, you will see all profiles for your account displayed as large tiles or icons. Tap or click any profile to switch to it. Netflix remembers where you left off in each profile's watch history, so switching back to your profile shows you the same shows and movies you were watching before.

If you want to switch profiles without going back to the home screen, tap or click your profile icon and select a different profile from the menu. On some devices, you can also swipe or scroll through profiles directly on the home screen.

What happens when you share your account

Each person using your Netflix account can have their own profile, but Netflix limits simultaneous streams based on your plan. A Basic plan allows one stream at a time, Standard allows two, and Premium allows four. If someone tries to watch while you are already at the limit, Netflix will pause one stream and ask which one to continue.

Profiles do not require separate passwords — anyone with access to your Netflix app or account can switch to any profile. If you want to restrict access to a specific profile, you can set a PIN in the profile settings, which requires a four-digit code to open that profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than five profiles on one Netflix account?

No. Netflix limits each account to five profiles maximum. If you need more, you would need a separate Netflix account. You can delete an unused profile to make room for a new one.

Do I need a separate email or password for each profile?

No. All profiles share the same Netflix account and login. Each profile is just a separate viewing space within that one account. You do not enter any contact information when creating a profile.

Can I password-protect a specific profile?

Yes. Open Manage Profiles, click the pencil icon next to the profile name, and look for the PIN or parental controls option. Set a four-digit PIN, and anyone who wants to open that profile will need to enter it first.

What happens to a profile's watch history if I delete it?

The watch history is deleted along with the profile. Netflix does not save it anywhere else. If you think you might want that profile back later, consider renaming it instead of deleting it.

Can I use the same profile on multiple devices at the same time?

That depends on your plan. Premium allows four simultaneous streams, Standard allows two, and Basic allows one. If you exceed your plan's limit, Netflix pauses the oldest stream and asks which one to keep playing.