Do you pay for your Netflix account through Apple? You may lose service soon

Run, don’t walk, to update your Netflix payment method so you don’t lose access to your account. Especially if you have a basic plan. 

Billing your streaming subscription through Apple’s iTunes or app store will no longer be an option for customers who have been doing so for years, according to a recent updated on the company's website.

If a new payment method is not added by the user’s next billing cycle, they will not be able to continue using Netflix, company spokesperson MoMo Zhou told USA TODAY on Tuesday. 

Back in 2018, Netflix no longer accepted Apple payments from new and rejoining customers but existing customers were grandfathered in, and those are the customers who will now have to make the switch, CNN reported.

Here’s what we know. 

What regions are set to be impacted by Netflix’s recent billing change?

The United States and Canada will be among the countries impacted by the recent billing change, Zhou said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what or how many other countries would be impacted by the change. 

When do I have to update my payment method? 

Netflix subscribers using Apple accounts to pay for their subscriptions should update their payment method, adding a credit or debit card by the next monthly renewal date.

Gift cards can’t be used to restart accounts that have lost access to the streaming service for not adding a payment method, according to Netflix.

To check if you are being billed for your Netflix subscription through Apple, visit the membership and billing section of your account page. Additional guidance can be found on Netflix’s Help Center.

Why did Netflix update its billing policy? 

Zhou declined to answer USA TODAY's question about why the company decided to stop subscribers from using their Apple accounts for payments now. But she did emphasize the importance of users to update their payment method to continue to have access to Netflix. 

Apple has faced years of pushback for taking a 30% cut of all in-app purchases, impacting companies with apps in the App Store, according to CNN.

Apple previously said that they take a 15% cut depending on the situation. The company also prohibited many apps from skirting the 30% cut by accepting payments outside of Apple’s proprietary payment system, CNN reported. 

The company ultimately relaxed its restrictions in 2021 for companies like Netflix and Spotify, allowing the company’s apps to link out to external website to manage or set up their accounts outside of the App Store, according to CNN.