Disney+ Launches Crackdown on Password Sharing, Aiming to Curb Account Misuse

Disney+ has officially started its crackdown on password sharing, beginning in countries such as the U.S., Canada, Europe, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Much like Netflix's earlier move to tackle account sharing, Disney+ has introduced a paid-sharing program to limit the number of people accessing a single account beyond a household. Users will now need to pay an additional fee to share their Disney+ subscription with someone outside their primary household.

Here's everything you need to know about the new changes and what they mean for subscribers.

Disney+ Follows Netflix’s Lead with Paid Sharing Program

In a move similar to Netflix, Disney+ has implemented a password-sharing crackdown that will require users to pay extra if they want to share their account with anyone living outside their household. This new paid-sharing program is designed to encourage each household to stick to a single subscription, while giving users the option to add an Extra Member for an additional monthly fee.

Disney+ has been transparent about the fact that each subscription is intended for use within a single household, which the company defines as the primary residence where the devices connected to the account are located. If users want to share their subscription with someone outside of this household, they will have to either pay for an extra member or have the individual sign up for their own Disney+ account.

Subscription Rules and Extra Member Costs

Under the new rules, Disney+ subscriptions are meant to be used within a designated household. A household, according to Disney+, is a group of devices connected to your primary personal residence, shared by individuals who live there. This means that anyone outside of the household wanting to use your subscription will have to either purchase their own account or be added as an Extra Member to your existing subscription for an additional cost.

In the U.S., adding an Extra Member will cost $6.99 per month for those on Disney+ Basic, and $9.99 per month for Disney+ Premium. However, there's a limitation—users can only add one Extra Member per account. While this provides an option for sharing Disney+ with someone like a friend or extended family member, it comes with a price.

For users who are not part of the primary household, creating their own Disney+ subscription may be a more attractive alternative. Still, for those who want to share an account, Disney+ has made it possible to transfer a profile to either a new subscription or an Extra Member status, allowing them to keep their personalized settings and watch history intact.

Profile Transfer and Restrictions

To ensure a smooth transition for those affected by the crackdown, Disney+ offers a profile transfer option. Users can transfer eligible profiles to a new subscription or to an Extra Member account without losing their watch history, recommendations, and settings. However, not all profiles are eligible for transfer. Primary profiles (those belonging to the account holder), profiles for minors, and profiles set to Junior Mode cannot be transferred to another account.

This feature aims to help users who want to retain their viewing preferences but move to their own subscription or be added as an Extra Member without starting from scratch. By doing this, Disney+ hopes to maintain user satisfaction even as they tighten restrictions on password sharing.

Watching Disney+ While Away from Home

Despite the new restrictions, Disney+ still allows flexibility for account holders who travel or access their subscriptions on the go. If you’re an account holder or a member of the household, you’ll be able to watch Disney+ on your supported devices while away from home by selecting the option “I’M AWAY FROM HOME.” This feature ensures that users can continue enjoying content even if they are temporarily outside their primary household.

In case you move to a new location, you can also update the household settings by choosing “UPDATE HOUSEHOLD.” Doing so will reset the household location for your Disney+ subscription. These actions will require a one-time passcode sent to the email address associated with the account to confirm the update.

Global Rollout of the Crackdown

After testing these features in select markets over the summer, Disney+ has expanded its password-sharing crackdown to major regions across the globe. The program is now available in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and several countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

This rollout is part of Disney+'s larger strategy to optimize the value of its subscriptions by limiting unauthorized account sharing and ensuring each user pays for their access to the platform. The service will continue to monitor the impact of these changes and adjust its approach as necessary.

Conclusion

Disney+'s new paid-sharing program is a significant move in the streaming industry as it follows in Netflix’s footsteps to limit account sharing outside households. While the crackdown might be met with frustration by users who have been accustomed to sharing their passwords with friends and family, Disney+ offers the option to add an Extra Member for a monthly fee or transfer profiles to a new subscription. For those who travel or have multiple residences, features like “I’M AWAY FROM HOME” and “UPDATE HOUSEHOLD” provide flexibility.

As the program expands globally, users will need to decide whether to keep sharing accounts through the new paid-sharing model or opt for individual subscriptions. With this step, Disney+ aims to strike a balance between restricting unauthorized access and maintaining user satisfaction through added conveniences and options.