Sharing streaming passwords remains common among couples, even as streaming services tighten rules around account sharing. In a survey by All About Cookies, 84% of respondents said they had shared a streaming service password with a romantic partner, making it the most commonly shared account type in the study.

The survey questioned 1,000 U.S. adults in September 2026 who had been in at least one romantic relationship. Streaming access was shared more often than phone passcodes (74%), food delivery and shopping accounts (59%), or banking logins (48%). Email, social media and cloud photo accounts were shared less frequently, at 39%, 36% and 33%, respectively.

Couples often share streaming access early: 62% said they had done so within the first six months of dating, including one in four within the first month. By contrast, 62% said they waited more than a year before sharing financial account passwords.

The findings also point to privacy concerns. More than a third of respondents (36%) said they had secretly accessed a partner’s accounts or messages using a password they were not supposed to have. The same proportion said they had discovered something upsetting or concerning by accessing a partner’s or former partner’s account, while 15% said they check a partner’s digital accounts weekly.

Passwords may remain known after a relationship ends: among respondents with an ex, 6% said a former partner definitely knew a password they still used, and 12% thought an ex might know one. Meanwhile, 22% said they had refused a partner’s request to share a password. Although 75% believed couples should share at least some passwords, only 22% thought partners should share every password.

The survey comes as streaming companies have moved from tolerating password sharing toward restricting access between households. Netflix began enforcing household-sharing limits in 2023, Disney+ introduced a broader crackdown in September 2024, and other services have also tightened their account rules. Warner Bros. Discovery said in February 2026 that it planned to expand its password-sharing enforcement globally, requiring users outside an account holder’s household to take action.

For subscribers, the results underline that shared streaming access can outlast the relationship that led to it. Changing passwords after a breakup can prevent former partners from retaining access to an account.

Sources: Cord Cutters News.