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Set device limits and help viewers manage devices

Set how many devices each plan allows, understand what happens when a viewer goes over, and show viewers how to sign a device out.

Updated 2 min read4 parts
On this page

Set device limits when you create a plan, and come back here when a subscriber says their video stopped playing. A device limit discourages password sharing without locking anyone out: going over never blocks a sign-in, it pauses paid playback until the viewer signs a device out themselves.

What counts as a device

SituationCounts toward the limit?
A signed-in web browserYes, while its sign-in is active. A browser idle long enough to be signed out stops counting.
A signed-in phone, tablet or TV appYes, until it signs out or is signed out.
Signing in again on the same app installNo extra device. The new sign-in replaces the old one.
A staff accountNever limited.
A viewer with no paid planNo limit applies.
A viewer holding several plansThe most generous limit among their active plans applies.

Set the limit on a plan

  1. 1
    Open your plans

    Go to Studio → Management → Subscription Plans.

  2. 2
    Open the plan

    Create a plan or open an existing one to edit it.

  3. 3
    Set Device limit

    Enter the number of devices a subscriber can use at once in Device limit. The lowest effective limit is 1.

  4. 4
    Save

    Save the plan. Subscribers see the limit on their plan card in their account.

The Studio
Studio → Management → Subscription Plans, the plan form with the Device limit field filled in.

What a viewer sees when they go over

  • Sign-in always succeeds. Nobody is turned away at the sign-in screen.
  • Paid content pauses on all of their devices until they sign one out.
  • On a watch page they see Too many devices with a Manage devices button.
  • Their device list shows each browser, phone and TV, marks This device, and gives each one a Log out button.
  • As soon as they are back within the limit, playback unlocks.

Walk a viewer through signing a device out

  1. 1
    Open the account page

    The viewer signs in on your website and opens their account.

  2. 2
    Find Devices

    The Devices section, “Where you’re logged in”, shows how many devices are in use out of the plan’s limit. Browsers are named by browser and operating system; apps and TVs by device name.

  3. 3
    Pick the device to remove

    Choose the one they no longer use, using its last-active time as a guide.

  4. 4
    Log it out

    Click Log out and confirm Log out this device?. That device is signed out immediately and must sign in again to watch.

The Studio
The viewer’s account page, the Devices section showing three of three devices with a Log out button on each.
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