A guide to the latest features on your platform
What each feature does, how it works, and how to set it up — with links to step-by-step Help Center articles.
About this guide
In H1 2026 we’ve shipped a steady stream of improvements to Vimeo OTT, with the aim of giving you and your audience a best in class streaming experience. This guide brings them together in one place and explains, for each feature: what it is and why it helps, how it works, and how to set it up.
The features are grouped into four areas: improving the viewing experience, expanding your engagement tools, simplifying your day-to-day workflows, and laying the groundwork for richer data and monetization.
Where a feature has a step-by-step Help Center article, you’ll find a Learn more link beneath it. Newer features may not have an article yet — those will be added over time.
1. Improve the viewer experience
World-class viewing to rival the biggest streaming services: personal profiles, child safety, and a cleaner dashboard.
Viewer profiles
Available now
What it is
Lets a single account hold several separate viewing identities. One login and one subscription, but each household member picks their own profile with its own personalized space. Drives engagement and retention, and unlocks child-safe viewing.
How it works
- One account = one login + one subscription. Inside it, each profile is a separate viewing identity; switching profiles is instant and never requires logging out.
- Every account automatically gets a Main profile (named after the account holder). It can’t be deleted or turned into a kid profile, and it manages account, billing, and email.
- Up to 4 profiles per account (Main + 3). Each profile keeps its own Continue Watching/watch progress, My List, viewing history, recommendations, name, avatar, kid setting, and optional PIN.
- Shared at the account level: billing/subscription, login email, and comments (comments are tied to the account, not the profile).
- Profile names are limited to 15 characters and must be unique within the account. Currently web only (apps to follow).
How to use it
- Set up avatars: Manage > Profile Pictures — upload branded avatars or use Vimeo OTT defaults (you can disable the global library so viewers only pick your uploads).
- Turn the feature on: Manage > Site > General → toggle Viewer Profiles on → Save.
- Optionally require email verification when a viewer creates a new profile, to prevent abuse.
For the viewer
- After login, land on the “Who’s watching?” screen and select a profile (enter a PIN if one is set).
- Add a profile with the “+” tile; manage profiles to rename, change avatar, set a PIN, mark as a kid profile, or delete.
Learn more
- About Viewer Profiles on Vimeo
- Setting up Viewer Profiles on Vimeo
- The viewer profile experience on Vimeo
Watch a demo
Child-safe / Kid profiles
Available now
What it is
A child-safe space inside an account that shows only content the seller has marked suitable for children, and hides adult content everywhere — including search. Lets families create a watertight child-safe environment in one action.
How it works
- Builds on Viewer Profiles. A kid profile displays only content marked child-safe and hides adult content in both browsing and search.
- Account settings, payment, and profile management are hidden inside a kid profile. Kid profiles never use a PIN — protection comes from content filtering.
- Content is adults-only by default until marked child-safe (safe by default). Marking a hub, category, or collection child-safe does not automaticall cascade to the content inside it.
- Up to 6 published hubs per experience; each hub can be set to Adults-only, Kids+Adults, or Kids-only.
How to use it
- Enable Child-Safe Content management in site settings (no viewer-facing effect yet — it lets you start marking content).
- Decide which hubs to show, working within the 6-hub limit.
- Mark content child-safe top-down for speed: by Category, then Collection (fastest), then individual Video/live event. A video must be marked “safe for kid profile” to appear.
- Optionally set a dedicated kid-profile avatar. Enabling Child Profiles auto-creates a default “Kids” profile for every account.
For the viewer
- Add or manage a profile → turn on “Is this a kid profile?” → Save.
- Switching a kid profile back to adult requires email verification, so a child can’t remove the restrictions.
Learn more
Watch a demo
PIN-gating profiles
Available now
What it is
Protects an adult profile with a four-digit PIN, so no one can open it without the code — useful for keeping a parent’s profile private on a shared device.
How it works
- Adult profiles only (kid profiles never use a PIN). When a PIN-protected profile is selected, the PIN must be entered before it opens.
- Setting, changing, or resetting a PIN requires identity verification via a code sent to the account email. After the Main profile’s PIN is set, it can be used to authorize changes instead of email verification.
- The same flow doubles as the Forgot PIN path — verify by email and set a new PIN, so viewers are never locked out.
- The Main profile can also require a PIN before any new profile is created.
For the viewer
- Open profile → Settings → Profile Lock (“Require a PIN to access your profile”) → confirm identity via emailed code → choose and confirm a 4-digit PIN → Save.
- Forgot PIN: on the PIN screen choose “Forgot PIN?” → enter the emailed code → reset under Settings > Profile Lock.
Learn more
Consistent viewer settings (volume & captions persist)
Available now
What it is
The platform remembers and maintains a viewer’s preferred settings, such as volume and captions, so they can move seamlessly between videos without repeatedly re-adjusting.
How it works
- Viewer preferences carry over from one video to the next within a session and across visits, rather than resetting each time a new video starts.
- Applies automatically with no seller configuration required.
Auto-cleanup of the ‘Continue Watching’ row
Available now
What it is
Automatically removes abandoned titles from a viewer’s Continue Watching row after a period you choose, keeping the dashboard clean and focused on content viewers are actively watching.
How it works
- Titles are auto-removed after a number of days you choose, counted from when the viewer last opened them.
- Completed videos are also dropped from the row. The cleanup window is set per site.
How to use it
- Manage > Site > Content tab → Continue Watching section → choose Never remove (default), or 15 / 30 / 60 / 90 days → Save.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Automatically mark videos as Watched
Available now
What it is
Signposts content a viewer has already seen with a “Watched” checkmark, so they don’t accidentally reopen videos — and fitness and education viewers get visible progress that motivates them to keep going.
How it works
- Once a video is completed, it’s flagged as watched and shown with a checkmark indicator across the catalog, including in search results.
- Watched state is tracked per profile, so each viewer sees their own progress.
Prioritize collections in default search
Available now
What it is
Search results now group collections (series, programs, playlists) above standalone videos — matching how viewers actually search (by show name).
How it works
- Collections appear first, with standalone videos in a separate section below.
How to use it
- Go to Manage > Site > Content scroll down until search appears. Toggle “default search results to Collections tab”
2. Expand sellers’ engagement tools
On-platform tools to drive interaction, boost retention, and grow community — recommendations, notifications, and a major comments upgrade.
Content recommendation system (Recommendation rows)
Available now
What it is
Personalized recommendation rows that automatically surface the right content for each viewer based on their viewing habits — driving engagement, watch time, and fuller use of the catalog with no manual curation.
How it works
- A recommendation row (a recommendation-powered category) fills itself with personalized content per viewer/profile, generated from each viewer’s watch history and behavior.
- Recommends only content the viewer has never watched, and refreshes periodically. New see a sensible default of popular content.
- Each profile on a shared account gets its own recommendations.
- Available on Enterprise accounts.
- Decide what content to exclude from recommendations categories to provide polluting them with non-relevant content, e.g. trailers
How to use it
- Admin > Content > Categories → create a new category → choose the “Recommendation System powered” type → name it (this becomes the row title) → Save.
- Open the Content tab to configure eligible Content types (Video, Movie, Playlist, Series — at least one required) and any Excluded content.
Learn more
Watch a demo
‘Coming soon’ placeholder thumbnails
Available now
What it is
Builds anticipation by showing scheduled (future-dated) content as placeholder tiles with a release-date overlay, right in the catalog — no need to tease new releases only through social or email.
How it works
- When a video is scheduled for a future release date, a placeholder tile appears automatically with a custom thumbnail, a release-date overlay (e.g. “Coming May 12”), and the title.
- Tiles aren’t playable but are clickable, opening a dedicated Coming Soon screen with a blurred thumbnail, the release date, and a “Notify me when it’s available” button.
- The overlay and screen are removed automatically when the content goes live.
How to use it
- Enable it: Manage > Site > Content tab → Coming soon section → toggle on → Save.
- Schedule a video: Content > Videos → select a video → Distribution > Publish → set a future Schedule release date/time → Save.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Customize the Up Next overlay
Available now
What it is
Lets sellers control when the “Up Next” autoplay overlay appears (for example during end credits, not only at the very end) to support binge-watching and longer viewing sessions.
How it works
- The overlay shows the next video’s thumbnail, episode number, and title, with an automatic countdown; viewers can dismiss it anytime.
- Configurable at three levels with cascading precedence: site-wide default → collection override → per-video override (per-video wins).
- Timing can be set from 5 to 300 seconds before the end of the video. If nothing is set, the overlay appears at the default position. Supported on web, mobile, and TV apps.
How to use it
- Site default: Manage > Site > Content tab > Up Next section → set seconds before end → Save.
- Collection: Content > Collections → select → Up Next Offset → Save.
- Per video: Content > Videos → select → Up Next offset → Save.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Notification Center (scheduling panel)
Available now
What it is
A central hub (new Notifications section under Engagement) to create, schedule, target, and track push notifications — instead of manual, real-time-only sends with no visibility into delivery or opens.
How it works
- Schedule notifications in advance and link them to a specific category, collection, or video.
- Customize the thumbnail, subject, and body, and view all scheduled and sent notifications in one place.
How to use it
- Open the Notifications section under Engagement → create a notification → set its content and link → choose to send now or schedule for later.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Notification targeting
Available now
What it is
Send targeted notifications to specific groups instead of blasting everyone, so sellers can reach the right subscribers without fatiguing the rest of the audience.
How it works
- Target audience segments such as trial vs. subscribed, billing period, country, or platform.
- Built into the Notification Center, so targeting and scheduling work together.
Watch a demo
Live event notifications
Available now
What it is
Maximize attendance at scheduled live events by sending reminder alerts to your audience ahead of the event.
How it works
- Reminder notifications tied to a scheduled live event prompt subscribers to tune in.
- Works alongside the Notification Center, so you can plan event reminders in advance.
Seniority badges
Available now
What it is
The first step in gamifying Vimeo OTT: subscribers automatically earn loyalty badges based on how long they’ve subscribed, displayed publicly as a status signal.
How it works
- Subscribers automatically receive a badge reflecting their subscription tenure — no viewer action required.
- Badge tiers are defined by minimum/maximum subscription days, and update dynamically as seniority increases.
- Displayed in the viewer profile and alongside community activity such as comments, visible to other users.
How to use it
- Go to engagement > Badges
- Click on Create badge and insert a Name and Description (which will be visible by your viewers). Upload an icon and setup a display rule
Watch a demo
Pinned comments
Available now
What it is
Sellers can pin any comment or reply to the top of a video’s comment section so it stays visible — ideal for announcements, key questions, or recognizing community members.
How it works
- Pinned comments stay anchored at the top of the thread regardless of when they were posted.
- Only sellers can pin or unpin; viewers can still react and reply. A pin icon and label mark the pinned comment. Web.
How to use it
- Open any video’s comment section → click the pin icon next to the comment you want to pin.
Sellers can react to / like comments (Seller Likes)
Available now
What it is
Sellers (site admins) can like or react to viewer comments directly — a lightweight “the creator hearted this” signal that makes viewers feel seen and rewards quality contributions.
How it works
- A distinct seller indicator sets a seller’s like apart from a viewer like, and the seller’s profile image appears next to it.
- Liked comments are prioritized and surface higher in the thread.
- Available on web; set a custom profile image (via Gravatar) so your like shows a personalized avatar.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Viewers can react to comments with emojis
Available now
What it is
Viewers (and sellers) can react to any comment or reply with a set of emoji reactions — a familiar, lightweight way to join the conversation without cluttering threads with low-value replies.
How it works
- Tap a comment to choose from a reaction set (like, love, laugh, clap, fire, pray, surprise).
- Reaction counts are displayed under each comment to show community sentiment; tap the same reaction again to remove it.
- Seller reactions are visible to viewers, signaling acknowledgment.
Watch a demo
Comments prioritized by number of likes
Available now
What it is
Comments with the highest engagement rise to the top, so viewers are more likely to see and join the discussions that interest them.
How it works
- Comment threads can be sorted by likes, surfacing the most-liked comments first.
- Works together with seller likes, which also boost a comment’s position.
Automatic comment moderation
Available now
What it is
Sellers define a banned word or phrase list once, and the platform automatically blocks matching comments at submission — saving hours of manual policing and protecting the community.
How it works
- Comments containing any banned term are rejected at submission and never appear publicly. Applies site-wide across every video, with no per-video setup.
- Matching is case-insensitive and works on whole words and phrases. New entries take effect immediately.
- The person whose comment is blocked still sees it as posted (it’s hidden only from others), so they’re less likely to try to work around the filter. Works alongside existing flagging and blocking tools.
How to use it
- Manage > Site > General → Banned words section → upload a CSV file (one word or phrase per line) → Save.
Learn more
Watch a demo
Automatic thumbnail badges / overlays
Available now
What it is
Automatically (and manually) overlay status labels — “New,” “Leaving Soon,” “Top 10,” and more — on content thumbnails across web and branded apps, with no manual updates or external tools.
How it works
- Automatic badges are date-based and appear/disappear on their own: New (videos published within a window you set), New Episode (series with a recent episode), and Leaving Soon (videos scheduled for removal within a window).
- Manual badges are assigned by the seller: Top 10, Exclusive, Original.
- Up to 2 badges per thumbnail at once.
- Fully styleable: position, font weight/family, and default/alternative/custom colors, with a live preview.
How to use it
- Global look & thresholds: Content > Thumbnail Badges → set position, fonts, colors, and the “New” / “Leaving Soon” day windows.
- Enable badges and per-badge styling in Badge Settings.
- Assign manual badges: Content > Videos (or Collections) → edit → Thumbnail Badges section under General → select → Save.
Learn more
3. Simplify seller workflows
Remove friction in day-to-day operations so teams can focus on growth instead of admin.
Search for promo codes
Available now
What it is
Find any promo code by typing it directly into a search bar, instead of scrolling through pages of codes looking for the right one.
How it works
- A search bar on the promo code list lets sellers find a code by name instantly.
Video rating by viewers (thumbs up/down)
Available now
What it is
Viewers react to videos with an effortless thumbs up / thumbs down, giving sellers high-quality, real-time feedback straight from their audience.
How it works
- Two rating values: like (thumbs up) and not-for-me (thumbs down). Selecting the same rating again removes it.
Watch a demo
Updated cookie consent banner
Available now
What it is
We have updated the built-in cookie consent banner on July 29, 2026.
How it works
- The updated banner will be enabled automatically and will present different consent options based on the viewer's location. In some regions (such as the EU and UK), non-essential cookies and trackers stay off until the viewer consents. In others (such as the US), viewers can manage their privacy preferences or opt out of non-essential cookies and trackers.
- This update requires no technical setup on your part. You should evaluate whether this configuration meets your needs and any legal obligations applicable to your services. If you want to adjust your analytics configuration, contact your Account Manager or Support.
4. Lay the groundwork for data & monetization
Initial improvements to facilitate a major upgrade in H2.
Expanding listed genres
Available now
What it is
New genres make it easier for viewers to discover sellers’ content. Genres are applied at the video-metadata level, so listed content is far easier to find.
How it works
- New genre options were added, including Spiritual, Faith, Religion, Hunting, Fishing, Orchestra, Classical music, Pets, Animal behavior, and Racing.
- Sellers apply a genre to a video as metadata; it then powers discovery and filtering.
Single promo code for monthly & yearly (incl. Forever codes)
Available now
What it is
Simplifies campaign setup: a single promo code works across both monthly and yearly subscriptions, so a discount is never accidentally limited to one billing cycle. Sellers can also set a code to never expire.
How it works
- One promo code applies to both monthly and yearly plans, avoiding the confusion of a code that only works for one.
- Forever codes: when creating or editing a code, choose “Forever” as the duration so it never expires — ideal for always-on partner discounts and evergreen campaigns. Existing codes can be switched to Forever anytime, and stay active until manually deactivated or deleted.
How to use it
- Create or edit a promo code → set the discount → for an evergreen code, select “Forever” in the duration dropdown → Save.
Watch a demo
Promo codes on gift subscriptions
Available now
What it is
Promo codes can now be applied to gifted subscriptions, so promotions work across every purchase type and sellers can run targeted gifting campaigns during peak periods.
How it works
- When purchasing a gift subscription, a valid promo code can be applied just like a regular subscription purchase.
