Learn how to create separate viewing profiles for your child and other family members in the Apple TV app on your iPhone and iPad.
The TV app on Apple TV (i.e., Apple’s streaming hardware box) added the profile feature last year with the tvOS 26 update.
Now, with the latest iOS and iPadOS 27 update, the same feature also makes its way to smaller screens. Other streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video have had user profiles for years, and it’s nice that Apple has finally caught up.
You can create profiles in the TV app to keep other people who use your device from accessing your watch history, watchlist, and recommendations. It also prevents someone else, like your child, from affecting your recommendations and Continue Playing. All you need to do before handing over your iPhone or iPad to them is log in to another TV profile.
Apple TV lets you create up to 5 additional profiles, for a total of 6, including your main manager profile. And profiles you create on one iOS device also sync to your other iPhones and iPads running iOS 27.
Furthermore, just like Netflix and Prime Video, you can set up a simple 4-digit lock on these profiles to prevent unauthorized access.
Note: The TV app on Mac running macOS 27.2 and tv.apple.com in a web browser don’t support profiles.
Create viewer profiles in the Apple TV app
1) Update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 27.2 or iPadOS 27.2 or later (currently these builds are in beta).
2) Open the TV app.
3) Tap your profile icon at the top on iPhone, followed by Create TV Profile. If you’re on iPad, tap the tab bar icon to open the left sidebar. Then, tap your name, followed by Create TV Profile.
- Add a name for this profile.
- Select one of the suggested profile icons (you can’t add your own photo or customize the stock option).
- If this profile is for a kid, turn on the switch next to Child to automatically limit them to child-friendly content. Or, tap TV Shows and Movies and set a rating level as you see fit.
5) Then, tap Customize to select the preferred auto-play setting, allow or block connected third-party apps like Prime Video from sharing data with Apple TV, or set up a profile password by turning on “Require 4-Digit Code” and entering the desired passcode twice.
6) Once you have customized everything, tap Done to create the profile and log in to it. You’ll also receive an email from Apple informing you about this profile creation.
Log in to the profile
When you open the TV app (force-quit and reopen to try now), you’ll automatically see a full-screen profile picker saying “Who’s Watching?” Select a profile, then enter the 4-digit passcode (if set) to jump in.
Tapping “Don’t Show This Again” will log in to the main profile, and you won’t see this selector screen again. But you can log into your main profile, then tap your profile icon and select another profile.
Note that once you tap “Don’t Show This Again,” there is no way to bring back this profile selector screen unless you delete and redownload the TV app from the App Store.
Manage profile settings
Only the manager (i.e., you – the person who created other profiles) can manage all settings for child and other profiles. That said, the profile owner can customize their name and profile icon, change auto-play (play next episode and play a recommendation), and adjust connected apps settings. They can also clear their play history.
Set a profile password on the main account
The main profile is secured behind device Face ID, Touch ID, and device passcode. There is no way to set up a custom passcode for this profile unless you go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Reset Face ID and then turn off the device passcode, making the whole system have no security. After you do this, you can set up a passcode for your main Apple TV app profile:
- Open the TV app.
- Log in to your main account.
- Tap your profile icon and select Account Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Access.
- The “Set Up 4-Digit Code” option will be tappable now. Use it to set up a passcode for this profile.
Delete profile
Only the manager can delete the profiles they created. And the manager profile cannot be deleted.
1) Open the TV app and enter the manager profile.
2) Tap the profile icon, followed by Account Settings.
3) Tap Manage TV Profiles.
4) Select a profile.
5) Tap Delete Profile and confirm.
On the profile manager screen, you’ll also see an option to upgrade this profile to an Apple Account, which gives that person additional privileges, like making purchases on their own. Tap it, sign in with your (the manager’s) Apple Account, and then the person whose profile it is will complete the remaining steps.
Also, check out: How to auto-download TV shows in the Apple TV app on iOS 27
