Add and manage profiles in the Apple TV app
You can easily create profiles in the Apple TV app so that each family or household member gets their own watchlist, watch history, and personalized recommendations in the Apple TV app. There are two types of profiles in the Apple TV app: profiles for users with an Apple Account, and managed profiles for users in your household who don’t have an Apple Account. Managed profiles are created by Apple Account profiles and assigned to family or household members.
When you have a profile with an Apple Account you can also do the following:
Create up to five managed profiles. Each managed profile has a unique name, image, and optional child setting (Kid profile). As the managing profile, you can set recommended or custom content restrictions for any of these profiles. Additionally, Kid profiles present only age-appropriate content and search results based on the content restrictions set up by you.
See your managed profiles when you sign into the Apple TV app on another smart TV, Apple TV 4K, gaming console, streaming device, or cable or satellite service.
After you set up multiple profiles, you can quickly switch between them.
Note: On cable or satellite services, only one Apple Account profile can be signed in to the Apple TV app at a time.
Create a profile using your Apple Account
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, or gaming console.Open the sidebar, then do either of the following:
Select the profile at the top of the sidebar, then select Add Profile.
Select Settings, select Profiles, then select Add New Profile.
Follow the onscreen instructions to do either of the following:
Sign in using an internet-enabled mobile device that supports QR scanning: Use your camera to scan the QR code that appears onscreen, then follow the instructions on your device to sign in to the new profile’s Apple Account.
Sign in manually: Select “Sign in manually,” then follow the onscreen instructions to sign in to the new profile’s Apple Account.
Add a managed profile
If you already created your own profile using an Apple Account, you can create up to five additional profiles to manage with your account. As the managing profile, you have access to each managed profile’s data, such as playback and searches, and can modify, delete, or upgrade any profile to a full Apple Account.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, cable, or satellite service.Open the sidebar, then do either of the following:
Select the profile at the top of the sidebar, then select Add Profile.
Select Settings, select Profiles, then select Add New Profile.
Select Create Profile, then enter a name and choose an image for the profile.
On the Finish Profile screen, do any of the following:
Change the profile name or image: Select Name or Image, then make your changes.
Set up a Kid profile: Select Kid, then choose to accept selected restrictions that appear, or select Customize to choose age-appropriate categories for TV shows and movies and whether to allow purchases and rentals.
Choose the managing profile (appears if there are multiple profiles connected to Apple Accounts): Select Managed By, then choose which Apple Account will manage this profile.
When you’re finished, select Done.
Set up or modify content restrictions
You can set up or modify content restrictions for any profiles that appear in Apple TV app settings.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, cable, or satellite service.Open the sidebar, then select Settings.
Select Profiles, select [profile name], then select Restrictions.
If prompted, follow the onscreen instructions to confirm your account information by scanning a QR code with the camera on your phone or tablet, or opening a link in a web browser.
Do any of the following:
Filter content for movies: Select Movies, then choose a ratings option.
Filter content for TV shows: Select TV Shows, then choose a ratings option.
Allow purchases and rentals: Select Purchases and Rentals to choose an option.
Set up profile access
You can set up profile access that requires a 4-digit passcode whenever you switch profiles in the Apple TV app. This keeps others from accessing your watch history, recommendations, and watchlist.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, cable, or satellite service.Open the sidebar, then select Settings.
Select Profiles, select [profile name], then select Require 4-Digit Code.
If prompted, follow the onscreen instructions to confirm your account information by scanning a QR code with the camera on your phone or tablet, or opening a link in a web browser.
Enter a 4-digit passcode, then reenter it to confirm.
To change the passcode after it has been created, select Change 4-Digit Code. To disable profile access, click Require 4-Digit Code.
Upgrade a managed profile to an Apple Account
If you have an Apple Account profile, you can upgrade a managed profile for an adult to an Apple Account.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, cable, or satellite service.Open the sidebar, then select Settings.
Select Profiles, select a managed profile, then select Upgrade to Apple Account.
Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in to your Apple Account and upgrade the profile to an Apple Account.
Delete a managed profile
To delete a managed profile, the managing profile needs to confirm the deletion using their Apple Account password on a mobile device signed in to their Apple Account.
The deleted profile will also no longer appear in the Apple TV app on an Apple TV 4K, smart TV, streaming device, or gaming console where the managing profile is signed in. Their watch history and other profile data will also be deleted.
Go to the Apple TV app
on your smart TV, streaming device, gaming console, cable, or satellite service.Open the sidebar, then select Settings.
Select Profiles, select [profile name], then select Delete Profile.
Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in to your Apple Account or confirm on another device.
To change settings for a profile that you manage, see Adjust settings for profiles in the Apple TV app.