Netflix password-sharing used to be normal. Now, however, people need to live in the same location to share an account for free. Otherwise, users outside of the “Netflix Household” need to pay an additional fee.
So, does this mean you can’t use a family member’s account to watch Netflix? Not necessarily. If you change your IP address to the IP address of the account owner, you can get around this policy. And there’s a super easy way to do it.
How to Bypass the Netflix Password Sharing Ban
Netflix password-sharing bans are in place worldwide, meaning users need to be in the same “household” to keep watching Netflix, or pay an additional fee.
But what if you can’t make it back home every month? Here’s how you can circumvent the password sharing ban.
- Subscribe to a VPN with Meshnet capabilities. I recommend NordVPN, because it’s fast, works perfectly, and is easy to set up.
- Download and install the VPN app on a device in the account owner’s household.
- Switch Meshnet on from that device.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Connect to the Meshnet network from your device.
- Log into Netflix. You should now be able to enjoy Netflix regardless of your actual location!
How to Get Around Netflix’s Account Sharing Restriction
Do you keep getting a “This TV isn’t part of your Netflix Household” error? If so, then Netflix is cracking down on password sharing in your country.
Netflix enforces its account-sharing restriction by noting your household’s IP address. It will then block users that don’t connect to that household IP address at least once every 31 days.
The solution to bypass the ban is pretty obvious: connect to your home IP address remotely. I tested this out myself and detailed the steps below.
Note:
Streaming services like Netflix might not appreciate you circumventing its password sharing restrictions. This guide is for informational purposes, and I advise against doing anything that will breach your user agreement with Netflix.
1. Subscribe to a VPN with Meshnet technology
To get around the account-sharing ban that Netflix has put in place, you’ll have to connect all your devices through the same IP address. This is easy, if you use a VPN that offers Meshnet technology.
Meshnet helps connect devices remotely. Besides allowing you to share an IP address, it also enables you to share files seamlessly or appear connected on a LAN for online gaming.
Any VPN that offers Meshnet is a good choice for circumventing Netflix’s account-sharing restrictions. However, in my experience, NordVPN is by far the best choice.
Here’s why I love using NordVPN for Netflix password-sharing and streaming:
- NordVPN offers seamless Meshnet connections: it’s set up in just a few minutes and then works with a simple click.
- There’s little to no buffering when you watch Netflix with NordVPN: it’s super fast.
- NordVPN’s wide server network grants access to countless international Netflix libraries, so you can watch more movies and series.
- Its obfuscated servers hide your VPN use, so streaming sites can’t block you for using a VPN for streaming.
- My colleagues and I all agree: NordVPN is our top choice for streaming.
2. Install the VPN on your devices
Now that you’ve got your NordVPN subscription, it’s time to download and install the VPN app. In order to get Meshnet to work and circumvent the Netflix password-sharing ban, you have to install NordVPN on two devices:
- A device in your household (preferably a Mac or Windows computer) – this will be the Meshnet host
- The device you’ll be using to watch Netflix remotely (like a laptop, phone, or tablet)
The installation is easy: you’ll get a download link right after you sign up. The app is available for many different devices. Here’s an example of what the installation wizard might look like on Windows.
If you’re not home right now, ask someone in your household to install NordVPN on a device there. They can simply use your login details and won’t need to get a new subscription.
Important:
Not all devices are capable of acting as a Meshnet host, so it’s safest to stick with a laptop or desktop. If you use macOS, make sure you install NordVPN from the developer’s site, not the App Store.
3. Turn on Meshnet on your household device
Once you turn on Meshnet on your home device, you can use your household’s IP address as if you were physically there.
Here’s how to turn it on:
- Open the NordVPN app from the device in your household network (or ask someone there to do it for you).
- Open the Meshnet tab. It’s the second one right below the main interface.
- Enable a Meshnet connection on your device by toggling the slider next to “Meshnet.”
- Make a note of the name at the top. In our case, that’s “team-andes.nord.”
4. Connect to the new network from remote devices
You can now connect to your household IP address from anywhere in the world. Here’s a quick guide on how to do that:
- Open NordVPN on the device you want to use to watch Netflix.
- Open the Meshnet tab.
- Turn Meshnet on and scroll down to “Your devices.”
- Click on “Route all traffic” next to the household connection that you wrote down earlier.
That’s it! You are now using your household’s IP address.
You can stop routing your traffic through this network at any point by clicking the “Stop routing traffic” button.
5. Watch Netflix worldwide
Now, you can access and share your Netflix account worldwide without worrying about having to be part of the same household.
You don’t have to use Meshnet every single time you watch Netflix. As long as you log into the Meshnet connection at least once a month, you’ll be able to avoid any Netflix errors. In the meantime, you can even use NordVPN to change your Netflix region and access other Netflix libraries.
Your Meshnet connection can do a lot more than circumvent Netflix password-sharing bans. You can also play games with the host device as if you’re on the same LAN connection, and you can share files with one another.
Note:
The method described above is the fastest way to use Meshnet. If you want to activate it without being connected to the same NordVPN account, you can invite external devices to join your Meshnet from your houshold connection. There are detailed guides from NordVPN on how to do this.
Why is Netflix Restricting Password Sharing?
Netflix has been testing means to restrict sharing accounts for a while now. The reason is pretty simple: if five people are using Netflix but only the account holder is paying for it, the streaming company only makes one-fifth of the money it could be making. By limiting account sharing, Netflix can secure more revenue.
The company deployed this change in policy in select regions in 2023 and subsequently chose to extend it to other countries. Paying subscribers received an email detailing the change, as seen below.
How does Netflix know when I share my account?
Whenever you open the Netflix site or app, Netflix receives a ton of information about you, like:
- Your account activity
- Device IDs
- Your browser fingerprint
- Your IP address
They use this information to piece together where you are and whether or not you’re in the household of the primary account holder.
In more detail, it likely works like this: The first time you connect a smart TV to your account, that TV’s network is designated as the “household” network. All devices will need to connect to said network at least once every 31 days.
Many users have noticed that Netflix password-sharing restrictions mostly happen when they watch Netflix on smart TVs. When you don’t log in from a smart TV, the chances of suffering from the ban appear to be much smaller. However, it’s unclear whether this will work in the long term.
Which countries are affected by the Netflix password-sharing restrictions?
Over 100 countries are affected by the Netflix password-sharing crackdown. Confirmed restricted regions include the US, Canada, the UK, Latin America, Australia, and most countries in Europe.
Netflix subscribers all across the globe have expressed discontent over Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown, especially given its older attempts at securing a higher market share by encouraging password-sharing.
However, Netflix seems unfazed by the backlash.
Who is negatively impacted by the password-sharing ban?
A lot of Netflix users are negatively impacted by this policy. There are a lot of family members that share an account but don’t live in the same physical household. Think of divorced parents, families with caretakers in different locations, and students living away from home, many of whom have lost access to their favorite entertainment platform since the policy change.
Granted, Netflix has offered an alternative in the form of paying extra for users outside of the household, but this still means that costs for a divided household go up.
How to Add an Extra Profile to Your Netflix Account
Adding people outside your household to your account costs an extra $7.99 per month (prices vary based on your location). The number of people you can add depends on your subscription tier.
Here’s a quick guide to paid sharing of Netflix login credentials:
- Open Netflix. I recommend doing so in a browser for managing profiles, as that’s easiest, but you can do it on all devices.
- Open your “Manage Profiles” menu. On most devices, this menu will be available when you click on your icon in the top-right corner.
- Click on “Add Profile.”
- Fill in the name and all other required details.
- Click on “Done.”
That’s it! The new profile is available in your Netflix account.
How to add a new user to Netflix accounts
If you also want to add a new user (i.e., someone who can log into your account without connecting to your household’s Wi-Fi address), you’ll need to:
- Open your account settings.
- Scroll down to “Extra Members.”
- Click on “Buy an extra member slot.”
The new member can then use a profile created by the account owner or create a new account for themselves.
How to remove a profile from Netflix accounts
If you want to remove some of the profiles in your Netflix account, here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Open Netflix. As before, I recommend opening Netflix in a browser for managing profiles.
- Open the “Manage Profiles” menu.
- Click on the profile you want to delete.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Delete Profile.”
- Confirm your selection.
That’s it! The profile should be deleted now. But this doesn’t mean the person can’t access your account anymore. If you want to log someone out, the easiest way is to change your Netflix password and then log out all other devices.
Final Thoughts: Share Netflix Beyond Your Household
Netflix has been cracking down on password sharing. Users all across the world have to stop by the account owner’s house if they want to hold on to their profiles.
Fortunately, there’s another way to keep sharing your Netflix subscription. With a Meshnet-capable VPN, users can connect to a household network without being there physically.
According to my tests, NordVPN was the best choice for this purpose. Aside from Meshnet, it has thousands of servers to choose from, fast and reliable connection speeds, and streaming-focused features like obfuscated servers. You can use NordVPN to unblock the Netflix US library and plenty more.
Try NordVPN today with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our other Netflix guides:
- Save Money on Your Netflix Subscription: Get Netflix Cheaper
- The Best Netflix VPNs: Our Top 5 (Tried and Tested!)
- How to Delete Your Netflix History
- Bypass the Disney Plus Password Sharing Ban (2025): An Easy Guide
Netflix’s policy is complex and far-reaching. If you’re not sure about how it works, and what you can do to bypass the restriction, here is a helpful FAQ section.
Yes, you can use any VPN to get around Netflix password sharing. You just need to connect to the same VPN server as your household. But if you don’t want to restrict yourself to one server, you can use a Meshnet-capable VPN like NordVPN. This will allow you and any device in your household to share the same IP address.
Netflix can detect password sharing by tracking the IP address of your network. If your account’s owner connects to Netflix through one IP address, and you connect through another, they’ll be able to tell you’re sharing an account. A good VPN for Netflix can help bypass this issue.
To bypass the Netflix primary location error, you will need to connect to the same network as your household. With a VPN like NordVPN, you can do this remotely.
Not anymore. Netflix started to crack down on password sharing between homes. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Users have gotten creative about circumventing the Netflix password sharing restriction.
Yes, you can share your Netflix password with anyone that lives in the same house as you do. If you want to share your password with people from a different household, you’ll either need to pay for an extra user, or have them connect to your household network every month.
