Astro introduces multi-user profiles, just like Netflix

A big reason why I think Netflix is so user-friendly is due to its multi-user profiles, which are able to separate the watch history and recommendations of each user in one account. Now, Astro has finally caught on.

“Astro now allows up to 5 distinct profiles under a single household, allowing for personalised content recommendations based on each user’s unique taste, preferences and viewing habits,” wrote Astro in its press release.

Previously, Astro users would have to share recommendations and viewing history with the rest of the family members, or members of the household. So, if you had already watched half of a season of a show, someone else in the household could remove that history by watching the season from the beginning. And that could ruin your viewing experience, especially if you’ve forgotten where you last left off.

Now, up to five individuals can now have their own Continue Watching list, create personal Watchlists, mark their Favourite Channels, and even pick an avatar of their liking of characters from shows like House of the Dragon, The Masked Singer Malaysia, Hua Hee Sekolah and more. Additionally, you’re able to make the Kids Profiles, where it would be easier for children to explore their favourite programmes like Didi & Friends, Upin & Ipin and Cocomelon within a dedicated environment.

Other features Astro is introducing include Thumbnail Viewing, similar to what Netflix has as well. The feature lets viewers find On-Demand playback locations easier by previewing through scenes via thumbnails over the progress bar.

Astro has also enhanced its Seach feature—where searches are refreshed instantly upon each keyword entry in the search bar. Users would be able to browse through the results immediately without moving to a new screen, and they can even use voice search on Astro Go.

Lastly, customers can launch directly into a particular Netflix show after clicking on their corresponding posters at the Home Screen, without needing to load Netflix first. According to Astro, all these features have already started to roll out to customers in phases and will be available to all customers soon.

The features only work if you’re a user of Astro’s Ulti or Ultra Box—or if you’re using Astro Go. You can look through more information on Astro’s new features here.