Creating a New Profile on Apple TV

To add a profile to Apple TV, go to Settings on your home screen, then select Users and Accounts, and choose Add User. You'll be asked whether the new person has an Apple ID or needs to create one. If they already have an Apple ID, enter the email address and password. If not, you can set up a new Apple ID right there, or skip this step and create a profile without one. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Each profile on your Apple TV is separate. That means each person gets their own watch history, recommendations, and saved shows. If someone in your household watches a lot of action movies and you prefer documentaries, their viewing won't clutter your recommendations. Kids can have their own profiles too, which you can set up with parental controls if needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Add a profile by going to Settings, then Users and Accounts, then Add User on your Apple TV home screen.
  • Each profile can have its own Apple ID, or you can create a profile without signing in to an account.
  • Profiles keep watch history and recommendations separate, so each person sees only what they've watched.
  • You can set up parental controls on any profile to restrict content by rating or require a PIN to watch certain shows.
  • Switching between profiles takes one click from the home screen — just select the profile icon in the top corner.

Setting Up an Apple ID for the New Profile

When you choose Add User, the first option is Sign in with Apple ID. This is the fastest route if the person already has an Apple ID — the same account they use for iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Type in their email address and password, and Apple TV will pull in their preferences and any shows they've saved on other devices.

If the person doesn't have an Apple ID yet, select Create Apple ID instead. You'll need to provide a birth date, first and last name, and either an existing email address or a new one. Apple will send a verification code to that email, so make sure it's an address the person can access. Once verified, the profile is ready to use.

If you want to skip the Apple ID step entirely — for example, for a guest or a young child — select Continue without Apple ID. The profile will still work, but it won't sync with other devices and won't have access to purchases or saved content from an Apple account.

Naming Your Profile and Choosing an Avatar

After signing in (or skipping sign-in), you'll be asked to name the profile. Use the person's actual name or a nickname — whatever makes it straightforward to recognize on the home screen. Type the name using the on-screen keyboard, which works by highlighting letters with your remote.

Next, you'll pick an avatar — a small picture that appears next to the profile name. Apple TV offers a set of built-in avatars: colored circles, initials, or straightforward icons. Select one that matches the person or just pick a color you like. This avatar is what shows up in the top corner of the home screen when that person is using Apple TV, and it's how you switch between profiles.

Switching Between Profiles

Once you've added multiple profiles, switching is straightforward. Look at the top-left corner of your Apple TV home screen — you'll see the current profile's avatar and name. Press that area with your remote, and a list of all profiles on the device will appear. Highlight the profile you want and press select. The home screen will refresh with that person's watch history and recommendations.

Switching profiles does not log anyone out or require a password — it's just a quick way to change whose recommendations you see. If you want to require a PIN to switch to a particular profile (for example, to protect a child's account), you can set that up in parental controls.

Setting Up Parental Controls on a Profile

If you're creating a profile for a child, you can restrict what content they can watch. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then choose the child's profile. Select Parental Controls and turn them on.

You'll see options to restrict content by rating — for example, you can allow only shows rated TV-Y or TV-Y7, which blocks anything older kids or adults might watch. You can also require a PIN to watch content above a certain rating, so a child can't bypass the restriction without asking. Set a four-digit PIN that only you know. If you forget it, you'll need to reset the entire profile, so write it down somewhere safe.

Parental controls also let you require a PIN just to switch to that profile, which prevents a child from accessing it without permission. This is useful if you want the profile to exist but be off-limits during certain times.

Removing or Editing a Profile

If you need to delete a profile later, go to Settings, then Users and Accounts, select the profile you want to remove, and choose Delete User. Apple TV will ask you to confirm — once you do, that profile and all its watch history are gone. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you're deleting the right one.

To edit a profile instead of deleting it — for example, to change the name or avatar — go to Settings, Users and Accounts, select the profile, and choose Edit. You can update the name, pick a different avatar, or adjust parental control settings. Changes take effect when ready.

Troubleshooting Profile Problems

If a profile won't switch or the home screen doesn't update, try unplugging your Apple TV for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. This clears the device's memory and usually fixes minor glitches. If that doesn't work, go to Settings, System, and select Restart — this is a full restart and takes about a minute.

If you're trying to sign in with an Apple ID and keep getting an error, double-check that the email address and password are correct. Make sure the person's Apple ID isn't locked or suspended — they can check this on appleid.apple.com from any web browser. If the account is locked, they'll need to unlock it there before trying again on Apple TV.

If a child's profile is locked by parental controls and you've forgotten the PIN, the only way to regain access is to delete the profile and create a new one. There is no "forgot PIN" recovery option, so keep your PIN written down in a safe place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple people watch Apple TV at the same time on different profiles?

No. Apple TV is a single device connected to one television, so only one profile can be active at a time. If two people want to watch different things, one will need to wait or use a different device. However, each person's watch history and recommendations stay separate, so switching profiles is quick.

Do I need an Apple ID to create a profile?

No. You can create a profile without signing in to an Apple ID by selecting Continue without Apple ID. The profile will work normally, but it won't sync with other Apple devices and won't have access to purchased content or saved shows from an Apple account.

What happens to a profile's watch history if I delete it?

All watch history, saved shows, and recommendations for that profile are permanently deleted. This cannot be undone. If you think you might want that information back later, consider just turning off that profile instead of deleting it — go to Settings, Users and Accounts, select the profile, and choose Disable User.

Can I use the same Apple ID on multiple profiles?

No. Each profile must have its own Apple ID or no Apple ID at all. If you try to sign in with the same Apple ID on two profiles, Apple TV will show an error. If you need to share an account, use a single profile instead of creating multiple ones.

How do I change a profile's Apple ID?

You cannot change the Apple ID on an existing profile. You would need to delete the profile and create a new one with the different Apple ID. Before you delete, make note of any shows you've saved, since those won't transfer to the new profile.