Dreary details of breaking up, part 37: disentangling Netflix

August 1, 2015 8:11 PM

Among the various banal details involved in the actual household-dividing of a breakup, it no longer seems quite appropriate to share my ex's Netflix account. I had my own profile within the account; her profile is the primary. How do I translate my profile into an independent account?

Searching on ways to export and back up Netflix profiles turned up an awful lot of old stuff (predating several interface redesigns), and a few posts flatly stating that it can't be done. Is this really an unsolved problem? Households (whether familial, romantic, or just housemates) dissolve with some regularity. Is there no way to deal with this kind of change on the Netflix front? I'd settle for a queue-export tool, although it'd be best if I could export-and-import (or simply transfer) both my queue and my current position on TV shows. I don't need ratings backup or transfer.

posted by jackbishop to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Netflix shut off its public API in late 2014, which eliminated the opportunity for a third-party to develop a profile export/transfer tool. With Netflix's UI change, it seems like their coders have been working non-stop to translate the new UI across all its various platforms (Roku, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, AppleTV, eetc) and all the various browsers, so they probably haven't had the time to prioritize new features like profile transfers. Unless someone suggests something better, I think you might have to settle for copying/taking screenshots of the queue in list mode and transferring them manually, losing your position on each show. Sorry for your breakup.
posted by bluecore at 8:37 PM on August 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

I don't know about exporting profiles, but if your ex is willing, here is a suggestion. Open your own account. Anything new you wish to see, use the new account. Keep your profile on your ex's account and as your queued shows come up, watch them. It is a slow transition to a new account, but it keeps your shows and place on line.
posted by AugustWest at 9:59 PM on August 1, 2015

If you open your browser console, you might use this little bit of JavaScript to generate an HTML version of "My List" and save yourself a little time:

var list = $$('.mdpLink');
for (var item in list) { 
    if (list[item].href) { 
        console.log("<a href='" + list[item].href + "'>" + list[item].text + "</a><br>");
    }
}

Copy/paste the result into a file called whatever.html, sign into Netflix as yourself, open up whatever.html, etc., etc.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 10:02 PM on August 1, 2015 [4 favorites]

Create your new account. In a browser, log into ex's account. Open a private/incognito/etc session and log into your own account. Right-click on each item in the list and choose "Open in Private Tab" and then "Add" in that new tab.
posted by XMLicious at 10:21 PM on August 1, 2015 [6 favorites]