Disney+ Israel Switches to Global App Version Starting September 2026

Starting September 9, 2026, Disney+ in Israel will transition from the current Hotstar X-based app to the global Disney+ app used in the US and Western Europe. The existing app, which has operated since Disney+ launched in Israel on June 16, 2022, will cease functioning on October 12, 2026. Disney announced that subscribers will receive instructions before and on the launch day to download the new app, log in with their existing accounts, set up profiles, and resume viewing. The current app will remain available on most devices until its removal in October.

This change will not affect subscription prices or content availability. Monthly fees will stay at 49.90 shekels, or 499 shekels annually, with access for up to four devices. All current content, including FX series, 20th Century Studios, Marvel, Star Wars, Hulu originals, and other Disney and Hulu content, will continue to be available. The global app may also introduce additional content to Israeli viewers. Subscribers will gain the ability to watch Disney+ content abroad, although availability may vary by location. The app supports mobile and TV viewing during travel through a "I'm Away From Home" feature requiring periodic reconnection to the home Wi-Fi network.

The global app offers enhanced features such as smarter content recommendations, improved ESPN sports viewing, a new "Tiny Zone" kids mode, better parental controls, and support for 58 languages. It also allows users to disable automatic episode skipping, a feature currently enabled in the Israeli app.

At launch, Israeli users were disappointed that the local Disney+ app was based on Hotstar X technology rather than the global platform, resulting in lower video quality (mostly HD only), limited Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support, and a less stable interface. The Hotstar-based app also had slower performance and bugs in profile management and content suggestions compared to the global app.

A significant change involves login methods: the global app uses standard email and password authentication, unlike the current phone number verification system. This shift may restrict password sharing outside the household, as the global app employs technology to detect the primary home network via IP and Wi-Fi, blocking access from other locations without additional payment. While this enforcement resembles Netflix's approach, some sharing workarounds remain possible, such as sharing one-time verification codes or using VPNs. Mobile devices are treated more leniently, allowing continued sharing through periodic home network reconnections.

Overall, the switch aims to unify the Israeli Disney+ experience with the global platform, improving app stability, features, and international viewing capabilities while tightening account sharing controls.