Adding a new user to Apple TV on your iPhone

To add a user to the Apple TV app on your iPhone, open the app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, select Users & Profiles, then tap the plus sign to create a new profile. You can choose a name, pick an avatar, and decide whether to link it to an Apple ID or keep it as a guest profile. The new user can then sign in on any device where the Apple TV app is installed.

Each profile keeps its own watch history, recommendations, and saved shows separate from others on the same account. This means family members can watch without affecting each other's suggestions or progress through a series.

Key Takeaways

  • You reach the Users & Profiles menu by tapping your profile icon in the top right of the Apple TV app, then selecting Users & Profiles from the menu.
  • New profiles can be linked to an Apple ID or created as guest profiles without sign-in, depending on your preference.
  • Each profile maintains its own watch history and recommendations, so family members' viewing does not mix together.
  • A user added on your iPhone can sign in on other devices using the same Apple account, and their profile will sync across all of them.

Step-by-step process for creating a profile

Start by opening the Apple TV app on your iPhone and locating your profile icon—it appears as a circle in the top right corner of the screen. Tap it once to open a dropdown menu with several options.

From that menu, select Users & Profiles. You will see a list of existing profiles on your account, along with a plus sign button near the top. Tap the plus sign to begin creating a new profile.

The app will prompt you to enter a name for the profile. Type the name of the person who will use it, then tap Continue. Next, you will choose an avatar—a small picture that represents the profile. Tap one of the available avatars or take a photo if you prefer a custom image.

Choosing between Apple ID and guest profiles

After selecting an avatar, you will see an option to link the profile to an Apple ID. If you tap Link Apple ID, the person will need to sign in with their own Apple account. This option is useful if the person has their own Apple ID and you want their profile to sync across multiple devices.

If you tap Skip instead, the profile becomes a guest account. Guest profiles do not require a password or Apple ID to use. Anyone with access to your iPhone can tap the profile and start watching when ready. Guest profiles are simpler for children or temporary users, but they will not sync to other devices.

Once you have made your choice, tap Continue and then Done. The new profile is now ready to use.

How profiles work across multiple devices

If you linked the new profile to an Apple ID, that person can sign into the Apple TV app on any other iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device using the same Apple ID. Their watch history, saved shows, and recommendations will appear on all those devices automatically.

Guest profiles, by contrast, exist only on the device where they were created. If you create a guest profile on your iPhone, it will not appear on your iPad or Apple TV. You would need to create a separate guest profile on each device if you want the same person to have access everywhere.

To switch between profiles on your iPhone, tap your profile icon again and select the name of the profile you want to use. The app will reload with that profile's watch history and recommendations.

Managing and removing profiles

To change a profile's name or avatar after it has been created, go back to Users & Profiles, tap the profile you want to edit, and select Edit Profile. You can update the name and avatar, but you cannot change whether it is linked to an Apple ID or set as a guest after creation.

To remove a profile entirely, open Users & Profiles, tap the profile, and select Delete Profile. Deleting a profile will erase its watch history and saved shows. If the profile is linked to an Apple ID, the person can create a new profile with that same ID later and their history will reappear.

Troubleshooting common issues

If the plus sign does not appear in Users & Profiles, make sure you are signed into the Apple TV app with an Apple ID that owns the account. Guest profiles and linked profiles cannot create new profiles—only the account owner can add users.

If a linked profile is not syncing across devices, check that the person is signed into the same Apple ID on all devices and that iCloud is turned on in Settings. Sometimes signing out and back into the Apple TV app will force a sync.

If you cannot find Users & Profiles in the menu, update the Apple TV app to the latest version from the App Store. Older versions may not have this feature or may display it differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I password-protect a profile so only certain people can use it?

The Apple TV app does not offer password protection for individual profiles on iPhone. If you want to restrict access, you can use Screen Time in your iPhone settings to limit which apps a child can open, but this applies to the entire device, not just one profile.

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

Deleting a profile removes all of its watch history and saved shows permanently. If the profile was linked to an Apple ID, creating a new profile with that same ID will not restore the old history.

Can someone use a profile I created for them on a different Apple TV device?

Yes, if the profile is linked to an Apple ID. They can sign into that Apple ID on any device with the Apple TV app, and their profile will appear with all their watch history and saved shows. Guest profiles only work on the device where they were created.

Do all family members need their own Apple ID to have separate profiles?

No. You can create guest profiles for family members who do not have an Apple ID. Guest profiles work on your device but will not sync elsewhere. If you want a profile to sync across multiple devices, it must be linked to an Apple ID.