After months of leaks and rumors, Netflix has finally implemented its new policies that will end password sharing among paying and non-paying users.
Under the new rules, Netflix will be charging a fee for every extra user that’s using a Netflix account that doesn’t live in the same household. In the United States, the streaming service charges USD7.99 per month for every extra user, while in the Philippines, it costs Php149 per user every month.
Paying that extra cost sure is painful, especially for Premium users who went with this plan to save money in the first place. But did you know that there’s actually a workaround so you can share passwords without having to pay the extra fee? Let’s show you how.
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How does Netflix know if you’re sharing passwords?
Netflix’s new policy states that an account “is meant to be shared by people living together in one household.”
That said, the primary account owner will need to set the primary household. Once done, only those users living in the same household will be considered as main members. Meanwhile, those living outside the household will be considered as “Extra Members” and will have to pay the extra fee.
If you don’t use the account in TVs, there’s no need to set a main household.
How does Netflix know if you’re living in the same household?
Once the Netflix account is accessed on a smart TV, the user can confirm if the TV is the anchor for the household. Once confirmed, the users who connect and use Netflix on the WiFi network same as the TV will be considered as the official members.
According to Netflix, they are using device IDs, IP addresses, and account activity from the devices where the Netflix account is signed in to figure out if the device is using Netflix within the same household. As of writing, the streaming platform doesn’t use location and GPS data to track users, but that may also change soon.
How to share Netflix passwords without the extra member fee
Now that we know how it works, here are some workarounds that will help you share Netflix passwords without paying extra.
Don’t use Netflix on a TV or streaming box/stick
This first workaround is brought to us by a loophole in Netflix’s own policy. As said earlier, you can only set up the main household when you open Netflix on a smart TV, or a streaming box/stick like a Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, Smart Google TV Stick, Mi Box, Apple TV, Roku, etc.
This means that, as long as you don’t open your Netflix on a TV, and you only use it on smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs — then there’s no household WiFi to set.
But if you still want to watch Netflix on the big screen, you can still do so by casting your mobile device on the TV. You can also connect your laptop to the TV using an HDMI cable or a compatible smartphone using a USB hub or adapter. It’s kind of inconvenient, but it’s worth it if you want to save some money.
Log in Netflix account using the household WiFi
If the main user has already set up the household WiFi, there’s still hope — albeit you have to put in the work.
According to the rules, as long as you connect to the household WiFi, you’re pretty much good to go. So, if you’re an outsider, go to the house of the primary owner and connect to the designated household WiFi. This way, Netflix will see you as an actual member of the household, sparing you from the extra fee.
Again, with the understanding that you don’t use the account on TVs, Netflix won’t tag you as an extra member. With this, remember that the only options left to stream in a huge screen is by casting your phone/tablet to the TV or connecting your laptop via HDMI — not a bad compromise in exchange for the potential savings.
Take note that the current policy doesn’t specify how often you need to connect to the WiFi of the registered Netflix account household, but we expect the streaming service to implement a certain timeframe in the future.
These are the ways that you can get around paying the fee for the extra members of your Netflix account. But if you don’t want to go through the hassle, then it might be better to pay for the extra fee. After all, it’s just Php149/month. Just make sure that your plan supports it: only one (1) user for Mobile and Basic plans, two (2) for Standard, and four (4) for Premium.
If you don’t want to share, here’s how you can kick other users from your Netflix account.