Are you trying to figure out why you cannot stream on HBO Max?
There is nothing more frustrating than a premium service you paid for with your hard-earned money but refuses to work. Unfortunately, this has been the case for some HBO Max subscribers who have difficulties streaming movies and TV shows on the platform.
Based on the reports on Reddit, users have been experiencing random playback issues on HBO Max, such as black screens, video distortion, and excessive video buffering.
Usually, playback issues are caused by temporary bugs and glitches that occur on the HBO Max app. However, it is also possible that HBO Max’s servers run into an error or your network connection is unstable.
To help you out, we’ve listed the best solutions that you can do if you cannot stream on HBO Max.
Let’s get started!
1. Check HBO Max Servers.
When you encounter streaming or playback issues on HBO Max, the first thing that you should check is its servers. You can do this by going to third-party sites like Downdetector, where you can view the current status of HBO Max.
If the servers are down, we suggest that you just wait for it to go back online since server-related issues can’t be addressed on your end.
However, you can still try the rest of the methods below and see if anything works out for you.
2. Check If Your Device Is Supported.
Another reason why you cannot stream on HBO Max is if you are using an incompatible device. To confirm this, visit the Help Center and refer to their list of compatible devices.
If your current streaming device is not there, it means that HBO Max doesn’t support your system. Try using a web browser to access the platform or consider getting a compatible one if you have the budget for it.
You can also look for other compatible devices on the list and see if you own any of them.
3. Re-Login to Your HBO Max Account.
Temporary bugs and glitches can occur on the HBO Max app and could cause your user data to corrupt. If your data gets corrupted, HBO Max may not function as it should, or the platform may not work at all.
If you cannot stream on HBO Max, try signing out of your account and log back in after a few minutes to reload your data.
On mobile devices, follow the steps below to sign out of your HBO Max account:
- First, open the HBO Max app on your device and access your Profile.
- Now, tap on the Gear icon at the top left corner of your display to access the Settings.
- Lastly, tap the Sign Out button to close your current session.
For browsers, check out the guide below to log out your account:
- On your browser, access the HBO Max website.
- After that, click on your Profile to access the side menu.
- Finally, click on Sign Out to log out of your HBO Max account.
After logging out your HBO Max account, wait for 2 to 3 minutes before signing back in to reset your account data.
Try playing a random show on HBO Max afterwards to check if the problem is solved.
4. Check and Reset Your Internet.
Your network connection could be unstable or slow, which causes HBO Max to fail when you try to play a movie or TV show. To confirm this, run a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its upload and download speed.
If your internet connection is the problem, restart your router to refresh the link with your ISP’s servers.
Once done, perform another speed test on your network to check if it is now reaching the correct speeds indicated on your monthly plan. If not, contact your service provider and ask them to fix their service.
On the other hand, HBO Max also requires a minimum bandwidth of 5 Mbps to play HD shows on its platform. So if your current subscription is below 5 Mbps, consider upgrading your plan to avoid further problems in the future.
5. Turn Off VPN.
VPNs are third-party services that protect your network online. They work by assigning a random IP address to your device to keep your identity private and filter your data to mask sensitive information like bank accounts and credit card numbers.
Unfortunately, some VPNs don’t work that well and could cause instability to your internet connection. If this happens, your device may experience difficulties connecting to HBO Max’s servers, explaining why you cannot stream on the app.
To fix this, disable your VPN first before playing any movie or TV show on HBO Max.
You can also try using other VPNs like PureVPN if you use it to access HBO Max outside the US. Compared to other services, PureVPN works well with on-demand streaming applications like HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and more.
6. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies.
Browsers use temporary data called caches and cookies to load websites like HBO Max faster. This also improves their overall performance, which enhances your user experience.
However, caches and cookies can accumulate over time and become corrupted. If this happens, your browser may encounter problems as well as the websites that you visit.
To fix this, clear your browsing data to eliminate corrupted cookies and caches:
- First, open your preferred browser and click on More Options.
- After that, click on Settings and scroll down to Privacy & Security.
- Now, click on Time Range and select All Time from the drop-down menu.
- Lastly, include caches and cookies in the process, then hit the Clear Data button to start.
After clearing your browsing data, go back to HBO Max and check if the problem is solved.
7. Disable Your Browser Extensions.
Extensions or add ons could also be the reason why you cannot stream on HBO Max. Some browser extensions may not be compatible with HBO Max and could interrupt the platform’s normal flow.
To check if your browser extensions are the problem, disable them first before using HBO Max:
- First, open your web browser and access its Settings.
- After that, click on Extensions to manage your browser extensions.
- Lastly, disable all your browser extensions and add ons.
Restart your web browser afterwards and check if the HBO Max website is working correctly on your device.
8. Run Malwarebytes.
Malware and other viruses could also be the reason behind this issue on HBO Max. Viruses consume your system resources and network bandwidth, making it difficult for other applications to function normally.
To fix this, download Malwarebytes on your device and use the ‘Full System Scan’ feature to scan your entire storage for infected files. Malwarebytes will automatically repair infected files on your system or remove them if they are no longer fixable.
9. Clear HBO Max App Data (Android).
For Android users, try clearing HBO Max’s app data if you cannot stream on the app. Some of its data may have gotten corrupted due to unexpected circumstances and causes movies and other shows not to play.
To fix this, see the step-by-step guide below to clear HBO Max’s app data:
- On your device, open the Settings app from the app drawer and access the Apps tab.
- After that, tap on HBO Max and open its Storage page.
- Finally, tap the Clear Data button to delete HBO Max’s app data.
After clearing HBO Max’s app data, go back to your account to check if the problem is solved.
10. Update HBO Max App.
Like other applications, HBO Max needs timely updates to patch any errors on the platform and ensure that it is optimized for all the devices it supports. If you cannot stream on HBO Max, try to update the app on your device.
On Android, follow the guide below to update HBO Max on your system:
- On your app drawer, tap on Google Play Store to launch the app.
- After that, open your Profile and tap on My Apps & Games to view the applications with available updates.
- Finally, locate HBO Max from the list and press the Update button beside it.
For iOS users, see the steps below to update HBO Max:
- First, access your home screen and tap on the App Store.
- Now, tap on your Profile and find HBO Max from the list.
- Lastly, tap the Update button to install the latest version of HBO Max to your device.
If you are using other devices, please visit the Help Center to learn how you can update HBO Max.
Try using HBO Max again after the update to check if the problem is solved.
11. Update Your Device.
Your device may have an underlying issue related to video streaming and video playback, explaining why you cannot stream on HBO Max. To fix this, try updating your device’s software to patch any errors.
On Android, you can update its OS by doing the following:
- On your device, access the app drawer and open the Settings.
- Now, scroll down to the bottom and tap on About or About Phone.
- Finally, access the Software Update tab and tap on Download and Install.
For iOS users, see the step-by-step guide below to update your device:
- First, open Settings on your device and go to the General tab.
- After that, tap on Software Updates.
- Lastly, tap on Download and Install to update your device’s software.
If you are using a different system, visit the Help Center to find out how you can update your device.
After updating your device, go back to HBO Max and check if the problem is solved.
12. Reinstall HBO Max.
If updating your device or HBO Max did not work, try reinstalling the app on your streaming device. The HBO Max on your device may not be installed correctly, or some of its installation files got corrupted beyond repair.
On Android, follow the steps below to reinstall HBO Max:
- Open your Android device and locate the HBO Max in the app drawer.
- Now, press its app icon to access the options menu.
- After that, tap on Uninstall to delete HBO Max.
- Finally, open Google Play Store on your device and reinstall HBO Max from there.
For iOS users, check out the guide below to reinstall HBO Max:
- First, access your home screen and find the HBO Max app.
- After that, tap and hold its app icon until the selection screen shows up.
- Next, tap on the Remove App button to uninstall HBO Max.
- Lastly, go to the App Store on your device and reinstall the app from there.
Visit the Help Center if you are using smart TVs or set-top boxes to learn how you can reinstall HBO Max on your streaming device.
Once done, re-login to your HBO Max account and check if the problem is solved.
13. Report the Problem to HBO Max.
If HBO Max is still not working, we suggest that you visit the Help Center and get in touch with HBO Max’s customer support. Your account may have an issue that needs to be addressed on their end.
When asking for assistance, provide all the necessary details on your report, including the model of your device, account details, and the shows you are trying to watch.
This wraps up our guide on what you should do if you cannot stream on HBO Max. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
