Using Netflix through someone else’s subscription?:New login rule now requires a unique email ID for every profile; here what you should do

If you use Netflix through someone else’s subscription, you may soon notice a new requirement before accessing your profile. The streaming platform has introduced a new sign-in rule that asks every profile to have its own unique email address. While the change is meant to make logging in easier and more secure, not everyone is happy about it. Here’s what the update means and who will be affected. Every Netflix profile now needs a unique email address Netflix has started rolling out a new sign-in requirement that asks each profile under a subscription to use a separate email address for logging in. According to a Netflix spokesperson, this is a permanent change that began rolling out on June 15, 2026. Many users recently reported seeing a pop-up message saying: Add an email address to your profile. The prompt appears before they can continue using their profile. Who does this rule apply to? The new requirement mainly affects add-on members, people who use Netflix through someone else’s account but have their own profile. However, the rule does not apply to children’s profiles, according to a report by Ars Technica. Why is Netflix asking for separate email IDs? With every profile linked to its own email address, users can manage their accounts more easily. For example, each user will be able to: Also read: Everyone chased AI, Ford brought humans back: America’s largest automobile manufacturer rehires 350 ‘grey beard’ engineers as AI fails quality checks

Not everyone is happy with the change While Netflix says the update offers more convenience, some users have raised concerns. Many households use multiple Netflix profiles on the same TV or shared devices. For them, adding a separate email address for every profile feels unnecessary and could make account management more complicated. Some users have also questioned why Netflix needs an email address for every profile, raising privacy concerns. Privacy concerns after the update The new requirement has also sparked discussions about user privacy. According to Netflix’s privacy policy, the company may share users’ email addresses with marketing and advertising partners. This has made some subscribers uncomfortable, with users wondering how their information could be used after linking an email to every profile. What should Netflix users do? If you’re an add-on member or use a separate Netflix profile under someone else’s subscription, you may soon be asked to add your own email address to continue signing in.
Although the update is designed to make account access more secure and personalised, users who share devices or are concerned about privacy may find the new rule less convenient.