YouTube Enforces Premium Family Plan Rules with Strict Location Checks

YouTube has begun enforcing stricter rules on its Premium Family subscriptions, adopting measures similar to Netflix and Disney+ by targeting accounts used across multiple households.

According to reports, YouTube is now warning users who are not living in the same household as the family plan manager. These users receive alerts and have “14 days before premium access is suspended.” While their accounts remain part of the family group, features like ad-free viewing and background play are paused. Regular YouTube access still continues, but only with ads. To restore full benefits, users must contact Google support and confirm they live at the same address as the plan manager.

The change highlights a rule that has long existed in YouTube’s terms of service: all members of a Premium Family plan must reside in the same home. Previously, enforcement was minimal, but the platform now conducts periodic location checks every 30 days, with flagged accounts facing restrictions.

This mirrors actions by streaming competitors. Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown initially drew backlash but later increased subscriptions, while Disney+ also tightened its household policies. YouTube’s stricter approach suggests it is closing loopholes that allowed cost-sharing with friends or relatives outside the household.

Users whose accounts are flagged are advised to update their Google account address, regularly log in via the household Wi-Fi, avoid VPN use, and act quickly if warned by contacting Google support. The new enforcement makes clear that the Premium Family Plan is intended strictly for members under one roof.