Adding a New Profile to Your Apple TV Account

You can add up to six profiles on a single Apple TV account, each with its own watch history, recommendations, and parental controls. To add a new profile, go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then select Users and Accounts. Choose Add User, then pick Create New Profile. Enter a name for the profile and select an avatar image from the options shown. Once you confirm, the profile is ready to use when ready.

Each profile can be customized separately. When you create a profile, Apple TV automatically assigns it a default avatar, but you can change this to any of the built-in images available. The profile will start with no watch history, so recommendations will build as that person watches shows and movies.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create up to six profiles per Apple TV account, each with separate watch histories and recommendations.
  • New profiles are added through Settings > Users and Accounts > Add User > Create New Profile.
  • Each profile can have its own parental controls, content restrictions, and avatar image.
  • Switching between profiles takes seconds and can be done from the home screen or during playback.
  • You can delete a profile at any time, though this removes all watch history associated with that profile.

Switching Between Profiles

Once you have created multiple profiles, switching between them is straightforward. From the Apple TV home screen, look at the top of the screen where you will see the current profile name and avatar. Press the Menu button on your remote and select a different profile from the list that appears. The home screen will refresh to show that profile's personalized recommendations and watch history.

You can also switch profiles while watching something. During playback, press the Menu button, then select a different profile. The show or movie will pause, and you will return to the home screen under the new profile. This is useful when multiple people in your household want to watch at different times without mixing up each other's recommendations.

Setting Up Parental Controls for Each Profile

Parental controls are managed separately for each profile, so you can restrict content on a child's profile while leaving an adult profile unrestricted. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then choose the profile you want to restrict. Select Parental Controls and turn on the toggle.

Once parental controls are on, you will be asked to create a four-digit PIN. This PIN prevents anyone using that profile from changing the restrictions or accessing restricted content. You can then choose which content ratings to block—for example, blocking all movies rated R or higher, or all TV shows rated TV-14 and above. The restrictions you set explore only to that profile; other profiles on the same account are not affected.

If you forget the PIN, you will need to reset it through your Apple ID account settings on a computer or another device. Write down the PIN somewhere safe so you do not lose access to the controls you have set up.

Customizing Profile Avatars and Names

Each profile comes with a default avatar, but you can change it to better match the person using it. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then choose the profile you want to edit. Select Edit Profile, then Change Avatar. Apple TV shows a grid of available avatar images—pick one and confirm your choice.

You can also change the profile name at any time. From the same Edit Profile menu, select Change Name, use your remote to type a new name, and confirm. Names can be up to 30 characters long. Changing a name or avatar does not affect the profile's watch history or recommendations—only how it appears on the home screen.

Deleting a Profile You No Longer Need

If you want to remove a profile, go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then choose the profile to delete. Select Edit Profile, then scroll down and choose Delete Profile. You will be asked to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the profile and all of its watch history are permanently removed from your Apple TV account.

You cannot delete the primary profile that was created when you first set up your Apple TV. If you need to remove the primary profile, you would need to reset your entire Apple TV to factory settings, which erases all profiles and settings. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep the primary profile as a general account and create separate profiles for each household member.

Troubleshooting Common Profile Issues

If a profile is not appearing on your home screen, make sure you are signed into your Apple TV with the correct Apple ID. Profiles are tied to the Apple ID account on your device, so if you sign out and sign back in with a different ID, your profiles will not be visible. Check Settings > Users and Accounts to confirm which Apple ID is active.

If you cannot switch profiles, try restarting your Apple TV. Hold down the Menu button on your remote for several seconds until the Apple TV shuts down, then press any button to turn it back on. After it restarts, try switching profiles again. If the problem continues, check that you have the latest tvOS update installed by going to Settings > System > Software Updates.

If a child's profile is showing restricted content despite parental controls being on, double-check that the PIN was saved correctly. Go back to Parental Controls for that profile and verify the restrictions are still active. Sometimes a system update can reset these settings, so you may need to re-enter your PIN and re-explore the restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different Apple IDs for each profile?

No. All profiles on an Apple TV must be tied to the same Apple ID account. Each profile is a separate user within that one account, not a separate account itself. If you want to use a completely different Apple ID, you would need to sign out of the current ID and sign in with the new one, which would replace all existing profiles.

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

The watch history is permanently deleted along with the profile. There is no way to recover it after deletion. If you think you might want to keep the history, consider just renaming the profile instead of deleting it, or make a note of shows and movies watched before you delete it.

Can I password-protect a profile so only one person can use it?

You can set up parental controls with a PIN, but this is designed to restrict content, not to lock a profile to one user. Anyone with the PIN can access the profile. If you want to prevent others from using a profile, your best option is to keep the PIN active and share it only with the person who should use that profile.

How many profiles can I create on one Apple TV?

You can create up to six profiles total on a single Apple TV account. This includes the primary profile that was created during setup. Once you reach six profiles, you cannot add more unless you delete an existing one.

Do profiles sync across multiple Apple TV devices?

Yes. If you sign into the same Apple ID on multiple Apple TV devices, your profiles and watch history will sync across all of them. This means you can start watching something on one Apple TV and continue on another, and your recommendations will be consistent across devices.