Is your HBO Max not working on iPhone? Let me share with you how we fixed this issue in a few simple steps.
If you’re experiencing this problem on your iPhone and don’t know what to do, you only need no more than 10 minutes to fix it.
Don’t worry. Let’s get to it!
To fix your HBO Max not working on your iPhone, you want to offload the app and reopen it. You also want to ensure that you’re getting decent internet speeds. Resetting your network settings can help in getting your connections in order.
Why Won’t HBO Max Work on My iPhone
There are several causes why the HBO Max will stop working on your iPhone.
The most common culprit is that the HBO servers are down or you suffer from connectivity issues.
You want to make sure that the servers are up and running so you can move on to the next steps.
1. HBO Max Servers Down
It doesn’t happen often, but the app on your iPhone can stop working when the servers are down.
2. Connectivity Issues
Since HBO Max is a streaming platform, and it needs to be getting decent internet speeds.
If your phone doesn’t have access to high-speed internet, it can cause the app to stop working.
3. Not Available in Your Area
Not all countries can access HBO Max. If you’re not in the regions where it’s available, the app can stop working on your phone.
4. Outdated App
You want the latest version of the app on your phone at all times. Using an older version can cause bugs and glitches that can cause it to stop working.
These are some things you need to consider when dealing with issues with the HBO Max app.
Now that you have a better idea, we can move on to the various solutions you can try.
Easy Steps to Fix HBO Max Not Working on iPhone
We can now move on to the troubleshooting steps you can work on to get the HBO Max up and running on your iPhone.
One of the first things you need to do is check if you’re dealing with connectivity issues.
Check your internet speeds to make sure it’s not slow or down.
If there’s no problem with your internet, you want to restart your phone and perform a power cycle on your internet equipment.
Solution #1: Offload the HBO Max App on Your iPhone
After confirming that it’s not an issue with HBO’s servers, one of the steps you can take to resolve this issue is to offload the app.
It’s a feature on Apple devices that’s somewhere between removing and keeping the app.
Offloading the HBO Max app removes the app from your phone, but it keeps important data such as your login information and other settings.
You can think of it as a reinstall, but it is much quicker since you don’t need to go through the app store to make the app available again.
Here’s how to manually offload the HBO Max app on your iPhone:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Go to General.
- Select iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down the list of apps and tap on HBO Max.
- Tap Offload App to confirm.
Note: To reopen an offloaded app, simply tap on its icon on your phone’s Home Screen.
Solution #2: Force the HBO Max and Other App to Close
If an offload does not work out and get your HBO Max app to work, you can force it to close.
It’s actually easier and faster for your phone to keep the apps running in the background.
Mostly, there’s nothing wrong with this until you start to experience a few issues.
This is especially true if you like to shuffle between several apps, which means you have multiple apps in the background.
Here’s how to force close apps on your iPhone:
- On your phone’s Home Screen, swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
- Swipe left or right to navigate app preview cards.
- Look for the HBO Max app preview card.
- Swipe it up to close it.
- Do this for all other apps.
Tip: Closing apps manually can also improve your phone’s performance and battery life.
Solution #3: Sign Out Your Other Devices from HBO Max
Your HBO Max app and account have a restriction that only allows streaming for up to 3 simultaneous devices.
When you open HBO Max on a fourth device, it won’t run since you’re going to be over the limit.
Fortunately, the app has a solution handy that will log out your HBO Max account from all devices.
Here’s how you can force sign out of other devices from your HBO Max account:
- On the HBO Max app, tap your profile on the top right.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Devices.
- Tap on Manage Devices.
- Select the Sign All Devices Out button.
Note: After performing this, you will need to sign in to the HBO Max app on your phone and other devices you use.
Solution #4: Switch Off Content and Privacy Restrictions on iPhone
Your iPhone has a parental control feature that can restrict access to certain apps. HBO Max is one of the apps that can be blocked whenever content restrictions are enabled.
This feature is certainly helpful in preventing your child from watching inappropriate content. However, it can also ruin your viewing experience.
If you believe the cause of your HBO Max not working is the parental control feature, simply disable it.
Here’s how to turn off content and privacy restrictions on your iPhone:
- Open your iPhone’s Settings.
- Tap on Screen Time.
- Go to Content and Privacy Restrictions.
- Toggle the switch to the Off position.
Note: You might be asked to enter your iPhone’s passcode to complete the settings change.
Solution #5: Use a VPN to Connect to a Country with HBO Max
If you’re traveling outside the US, you might be in a country where HBO Max is unavailable. If that’s the case, your app won’t work since it cannot connect to its servers.
However, getting access to HBO Max is impossible when you’re in a region where the service is unavailable.
All you need to do is use a VPN and connect to the US or other regions with HBO Max.
Here’s how to use a VPN to access HBO Max service:
- Open the VPN app on your iPhone.
- Choose a server in the US to connect to.
- Tap on the Connect button.
- Once you’re connected, open the HBO Max app.
VPN: If you don’t have a VPN, we recommend using Atlas VPN, as it can unblock HBO Max even when you’re out of the country.
Solution #6: Reset Your iPhone’s Network Settings
Since HBO Max is a streaming service, it will be affected by the quality of your connection.
A slow connection can cause the app to stop working if you’re using WiFi or Mobile Data.
If you’re unsure of the cause of your connection problems, one of the best ways to resolve them would be to restart your iPhone’s network settings.
Doing this will reset your WiFi and mobile connections offering your phone a fresh chance to reconnect to the internet.
Here’s how to reset your iPhone’s network settings:
- Navigate to your iPhone Settings.
- Go to General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings.
- Choose Reset Network Settings on the pop-up menu.
Note: You will need to reconnect to your WiFi after completing the reset process.
If none of these steps resolves your issue of HBO Max not working on your iPhone, you can check your phone for updates.
You may be running outdated software, which can cause other apps also to stop working.
Resetting your iPhone back to factory settings is also another option you can take.
Bottom Line
This is how you fix your HBO Max not working on iPhone issue. You’re better equipped to tackle this problem now that you know the reasons.
The solutions are simple, and you don’t need any technical expertise.
As long as you follow these steps carefully, you should be able to resolve this matter in no time.
Read Next: How to Fix HBO Max Not Working With AT&T?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.