‘Cannot connect’ Error on HBO Max? Here’s The Fix!

Are you wondering why you see a ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max?

It is quite frustrating to see annoying error messages while trying to watch your favorite movie or TV show on HBO Max. With tons of award-winning titles on the platform, the only problem you should have with HBO Max is finding the time to watch all of them. 

Unfortunately, like any other streaming service, HBO Max is not exempted from occasional bugs and errors. 

There have been reports from several users who cannot access the platform due to a ‘Can’t Connect’ error message on HBO Max. Usually, this problem occurs while logging in to your account, but it can also show up as you navigate the interface. 

Cant Connect error on HBO Max

Based on what we know, the ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max indicates a problem with your internet connection, or the platform’s servers are currently offline. 

Since this error message can be really annoying, we’ve decided to make a list of the best methods for fixing the ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max. 

Without further delays, let’s jump right in!

1. Check HBO Max Servers. 

Being an online service, HBO Max relies heavily on its servers to deliver content to its users. If you experience random error messages on the platform, it can indicate that HBO Max’s servers are down. 

To confirm this, you can visit third-party sites like Downdetector, where you can view the current situation of HBO Max’s servers and the past issues it encountered. 

HBO Max Server Status

If HBO’s servers are down, the only thing you can do for now is to wait since server-related problems can’t be addressed on your end. 

On the other hand, follow the rest of the methods below if HBO Max’s servers are working fine to fix the problem on your end. 

2. Try Watching Another Show.

You may be seeing the ‘Can’t Connect’ error message on HBO Max when watching a specific movie or TV show. If this is the case, there might be a temporary error with the particular show you are trying to play. 

We suggest going back to the media library and playing random shows to check if the error message would still occur. 

If other shows are working fine, it means that the issue is with the specific title you initially played. Proceed to the final method below to report the matter to HBO Max’s team. 

3. Check If Your Device Is Supported. 

For you to access HBO Max without prompting any errors, you need to use a compatible streaming device. If you are not sure if HBO Max supports your current device, please visit the Help Center and check if your system is included in their list of compatible devices. 

If HBO Max does not support your device, try to check if you own other devices that are compatible with the platform. On the other hand, you can also use any browser to access HBO Max or consider purchasing a supported device if you have the budget. 

4. Re-Login to Your Account. 

Your account data may have gotten corrupted when HBO Max’s servers went down or when a bug or glitch occurred. If this is the case, we suggest signing out of your current session and wait for a few minutes before logging back in to reset your data. 

For mobile devices, you can sign out of your HBO Max account by doing the following steps: 

  1. First, open the HBO Max app from your home screen and access your Profile
  2. Now, tap on the Gear icon to open the Settings tab. 
  3. Lastly, press the Sign Out button at the bottom of the page to close your current session. 
Log Out HBO Max

On browsers, follow the steps below to stop your current session with HBO Max: 

  1. On your browser, access HBO Max’s website.
  2. After that, click on your Profile icon to access your Account Menu
  3. Finally, click the Sign Out button to log out of your account. 
Cant Connect error on HBO Max

After signing out of your session, wait for 2 to 3 minutes before logging back into your HBO Max account to reset your data. 

Try using HBO Max for several minutes to check if the ‘Can’t Connect’ error message would still occur. 

5. Check and Reset Your Internet.

Connection errors on HBO Max may also indicate a problem with your network connection. Your internet may be slow or unstable, which causes the ‘Can’t Connect’ error message on HBO Max. 

To confirm this, perform a speed test using Fast.com to measure your network’s current upload and download bandwidth. 

Speed Test

If the result shows that your network is the problem, restart your router to re-establish the connection with your internet service provider. 

Restart Router

Once done, run another test on your network to check if it is now reaching the correct speed indicated in your monthly plan. Contact your service provider if your network continues to run slow and ask them to fix the issue. 

HBO Max also requires a minimum internet speed of 5 Mbps to use its platform without issues. If your subscription is below the needed bandwidth, consider upgrading your plan to avoid further problems in the future. 

6. Turn Off VPN. 

Virtual private networks can often get in the way with movie streaming applications such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu. VPNs protect your network and allow you to bypass regional restrictions set by your ISP or other platforms. 

However, some VPNs don’t work efficiently and could introduce delays and interruptions to your network, especially if you’ve connected to a slow server. 

If you see a ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max, disable your VPN first before accessing the platform. 

Turn Off VPN

On the other hand, consider switching to a different service if you use VPNs to access HBO Max outside the US. We suggest that you use PureVPN on your device, which works well with streaming services like HBO Max and keeps your network fast and reliable. 

7. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies. 

The ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max can also occur if you haven’t cleared your browser cache and cookies for a long time. Caches and cookies are temporary data used by your browser to load websites faster and enhance their performance. 

However, temporary data accumulates over time and could slow down your browser. 

Follow the steps below to clear your browsing data: 

  1. On your browser, click on More Options and access the Settings
  2. After that, go to Privacy & Security and click on Clear Browsing Data
  3. Now, include ‘Cached Images and Files’ and ‘Cookies and Other Site Data’ in the process and set the Time Range to All Time.
  4. Finally, hit the Clear Data button to start the process. 
Clear Browsing Data

Once done, go back to HBO Max and check if the error message would still occur as you use the platform. 

8. Run Malwarebytes. 

Error messages on any platform could indicate that your device is infected by malware or other viruses. Viruses can consume your system resources and bandwidth, which causes applications like HBO Max to run into error messages. 

To confirm this, download Malwarebytes on your device and use the ‘Full System Scan’ tool. This will search your entire directory for infected files and automatically remove them in the process. 

Malwarebytes is available on all major platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS devices. 

9. Clear HBO Max App Data (Android). 

If you use an Android device to access HBO Max, try clearing its app data to ensure that it does not use any corrupted files. 

Check out the steps below to clear HBO Max’s app data on your Android device: 

  1. First, open the Settings app on your Android device. 
  2. Go to the Apps tab afterward and tap on HBO Max
  3. Lastly, access the Storage tab and tap the Clear Data button.
Clear HBO Max App Data

After clearing HBO Max’s app data, you’ll need to re-login to your HBO Max account. Once done, use the app for several minutes to check if the ‘Can’t Connect’ error would still occur.

 

10. Update HBO Max App. 

HBO Max releases timely updates to ensure that its application is working correctly on all the devices it supports. If you encounter random error messages on HBO Max, try to check if there’s an available update to fix the problem. 

On Android, you can update HBO Max by doing the steps below: 

  1. On your app drawer, tap on the Google Play Store to launch it. 
  2. Now, tap on your Profile and access My Apps & Games
  3. Finally, locate HBO Max and tap the Update button. 
Cant Connect error on HBO Max

For iOS users, follow the guide below to update HBO Max on your device: 

  1. First, tap on the App Store from your home screen to open it. 
  2. After that, go to your Profile and locate the HBO Max app.
  3. Lastly, tap the Update button to install the latest version of HBO Max.
Cant Connect error on HBO Max

If you are using Set-top boxes, Android TVs, and similar devices, please go to the Help Center to learn how you can update HBO Max.

Once you’ve updated HBO Max, try watching several shows to check if the error message would still occur.

11. Reinstall HBO Max. 

If the update did not work, try reinstalling HBO Max on your device. Some installation files may have gotten corrupted when the servers went down or during a failed update. Reinstalling HBO Max would ensure that you have a working copy of the app on your device. 

On Android, see the step-by-step guide below to reinstall HBO Max: 

  1. First, open your application drawer and find the HBO Max app. 
  2. Now, press and hold its app icon until the options menu shows up. 
  3. After that, tap the Uninstall button to delete HBO Max.
  4. Lastly, go to the Google Play Store on your device and reinstall HBO Max
Cant Connect error on HBO Max

For iOS users, check out the guide below to reinstall HBO Max: 

  1. On your home screen, press and hold HBO Max’s app icon to access the selection menu.
  2. After that, tap on Remove App.
  3. Finally, open the App Store on your iOS device and reinstall HBO Max from there. 
Cant Connect error on HBO Max

If you are using Smart TVs, Consoles, or Set-top boxes, please visit the Help Center and look for the specific guidelines for your device to reinstall HBO Max. 

After reinstalling HBO Max, try playing a few shows to check if the error message would still occur.

12. Report the Problem to HBO Max. 

At this point, we suggest that you leave the matter to the experts if none of the methods above worked out for you. 

Your account or device may have a severe issue that needs special attention from HBO Max’s team. Visit HBO Max’s Help Center and get in touch with your customer support to report the problem.

Cant Connect error on HBO Max

Include your account details, the device you are using, and the screenshot of the error on your report to make it easier for HBO’s team to address the problem. 

This ends our guide for fixing the ‘Can’t Connect’ error on HBO Max. If you have questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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