After looking into the issue and trying to replicate the problem on our own devices, we’ve identified several potential culprits that may be responsible when attempting to use HBO Max: Now that you are informed of every potential cause that might render HBO Max unusable, here’s a list of troubleshooting guides and solutions other users have successfully employed to restore playback on HBO Max:
1. Check for a Server Issue
More than a year has passed since the initial launch of HBO Max, and platform users are growing increasingly impatient with the platform’s lack of stability improvements. If you are currently experiencing streaming issues with HBO Max and have already attempted troubleshooting on various devices, it’s possible that WarnerMedia is facing yet another widespread issue resulting from a technical problem. This situation has arisen numerous times since the platform’s launch, often requiring anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to fix. To confirm whether a server issue is the source of the problem, you can check Down Detector or Is It Down Right Now to see if other HBO Max users nearby are reporting similar problems. Additionally, take a moment to visit the official Twitter account of HBO Max for any official notices regarding a server issue. If you find no indication of a server issue with HBO Max, proceed to the next solution below to address the problem locally.
2. Cast HBO Max from an Android or iOS device (if applicable)
If this streaming issue occurs exclusively when attempting to use the service natively on an Android TV or Apple TV, it’s likely due to a glitch affecting the streaming platform on these devices. This has been a recurring issue since the platform was launched. Should you encounter this glitch, you can side-step the TV app and stream from another device instead. Several users affected by this same issue have resolved their streaming problems with HBO Max by casting content to their smart TVs from an iOS or Android device. Depending on your casting method of choice, follow the steps in one of the subsequent sub-guides to cast HBO Max content from your Android or iOS device via Chromecast or AirPlay.
Cast HBO Max via Chromecast
Cast HBO Max via AirPlay
3. Enable HBO Max Video Playback in Brave Browser (if applicable)
If you’re encountering streaming issues on Brave browser, it’s likely due to a video playback issue unique to this browser. Some users have found that the browser’s method for handling adaptive video playback quality interferes with HBO Max. However, there’s a simple solution: create and adjust a dedicated shortcut that enables VideoPlaybackQuality by default.
4. Use a Different Browser (if applicable)
If you’re using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer when trying to stream content from HBO Max, you are likely to encounter issues due to their inability to support the necessary Flash sub-protocol. As of this article’s last update, there’s no resolution, and the best option is to switch to a third-party browser that supports HBO Max playback.
Google ChromeMozilla FirefoxBrave (configure as noted above for HBO Max)Opera
