Instead of the Indian version: Disney+ app in Israel to be replaced
In September, Israel will transition from the Indian app launched here to the global app, which includes the option to connect abroad, smarter content recommendations, and different parental controls. The old app will stop working in the country in October. Login verification will henceforth be done via email only. Will this affect the password sharing phenomenon? Not necessarily.
Israel is transitioning to the global Disney+ app that operates in the USA and Western Europe. Starting today (Thursday), Disney+ will inform its customers about the launch of the global app in Israel on September 9, 2026, replacing the Disney+ app based on the Indian Hotstar X platform, which has been operating in the country since the service's launch. The current Disney+ app will cease to function on October 12, 2026.
Disney stated: "Before the launch and on the launch day itself, additional updates will be sent to customers, including instructions for performing the following actions: download the new app, log in using their existing account details, set up profiles, and start watching. The current app will continue to be available on most devices until its removal in October."
This move is not related to a price increase or a change in content. The price remains 49.90 NIS per month for viewing on up to four devices or 499 NIS per year. All content, including FX series, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight, Marvel, Star Wars, and original Hulu productions, will continue to be available. It is possible that some content previously exclusive to the global app will now be available in Israel.
New Features
Following the change, Israeli subscribers will be able to view Disney+ content while traveling abroad. The global app allows viewing on mobile devices or TVs during vacations using an "I'm away from home" mechanism that issues a temporary verification code via email. However, if the device does not connect to the central home Wi-Fi network periodically, access will be blocked.
The global app also includes:
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Smarter content recommendations tailored to the subscriber's viewing habits.
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An upgraded viewing experience for ESPN sports content.
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A new kids mode called "Junior Mode."
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Improved parental controls and support for 58 languages.
Technical Improvements and Password Sharing
The Disney+ service was officially launched in Israel on June 16, 2022. Users quickly noted differences from the Western version, such as limited support for 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, as well as a less stable Hotstar interface. The transition to the global app will resolve these issues.
Login methods will also change: instead of mobile phone verification, standard email and password login will be used. This will likely make password sharing outside the household more difficult, as the system will identify the "central household" via IP address, home Wi-Fi, and hardware identifiers. If the app detects that a device is not part of the household, it will block access.
However, users may still find ways to bypass these restrictions, such as sharing real-time verification codes or using home VPN servers. Additionally, the system is more lenient toward mobile devices: connecting a smartphone or tablet to the home Wi-Fi network once every 30 days is sufficient to mark the device as belonging to the household.
