Do you experience Buffering issues on HBO Max? Here’s The Easy Fix!
The last thing you want to do on a busy day at work or school is to wait around for a movie streaming service to work during your watch party.
The HBO Max streaming service was released in May 2020, making it one of the newest platforms on the market. Currently, HBO’s platform is available only in the US. However, there are reports that the platform will be released globally.
The HBO On Demand service lets you watch movies and TV shows from HBO, including Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, The Sopranos, and more.
HBO Max has been experiencing streaming quality issues and buffering issues according to reports from several users. HBO Max should supposedly offer HD and 4K UHD movies and TV episodes with minimal to no lag to its users. also, check our guide on Fix ‘Can’t Connect’ Error on HBO Max.
Although some internet connections are decent, some users suffer from unstable stream quality while viewing their favorite shows.
Today, this article will explain how to resolve HBO Max Buffering issues.
Let’s get started!
How to Fix HBO Max Buffering issues [Samsung TV, Apple TV, Firestick, Cromecast]
1. Check and Reset Your Internet.
Your network connection may also be the cause of HBO Max buffering issues. The buffering problem on HBO Max is caused by slow or unstable internet connections.
Check your network’s bandwidth by performing a speed test using Speedtest.net.
You should restart your router if the result indicates that the issue with your network is causing the issue.
Once that has been performed, you can run another test to make sure everything is now reaching the indicated speed in your monthly plan. If your network is running slowly, ask your provider to resolve the issue.
HBO Max also requires at least a 5 Mbps connection for smooth outages. Upgrade your plan if you are below the necessary bandwidth to avoid further inconveniences in the future.
Must Read: How to Fix HBO Max won’t Load or Play Videos
2. Check HBO Max Servers.
The content delivered to HBO Max’s users is primarily provided by HBO Max’s servers. If you are getting random error messages on the platform, it could mean that HBO Max’s servers are down.
It is possible to confirm this by visiting third-party sites like Downdetector, which provide information about the current status of HBO Max’s servers and past problems it has faced.
As long as HBO’s servers are down, all you can do is wait. You can’t fix any server-related problems yourself.
Otherwise, follow the remaining steps below if HBO Max’s servers are working fine.
Must Read: HBO Max Sound not Working? Here’s The Fix!
3. Try Watching Another Show.
On HBO Max, movies and other shows may be unavailable for a period of time due to temporary errors. If you are experiencing buffering issues on HBO Max, try watching another show from the media library to verify if the issue is with the platform as a whole.
If the error message still appears, please check the media library by playing random shows.
You may be experiencing an issue with your initial title only if other shows are working fine. Follow the final step below to report the issue to HBO Max.
4. Check If Your Device Is Supported
HBO Max can only be accessed through a streaming device compatible with HBO Max. You can check the Help Center to see if your system is listed on their list of compatible devices if you are unsure whether HBO Max works with your current device.
Try checking if you own any other devices that are compatible with HBO Max if HBO Max not working on your device. If you have the budget, you can also access HBO Max through any browser, or you can purchase a supported device.
Read: How to Fix HBO Max Not Working on Samsung Smart TV
5. Re-Login to Your Account.
There may have been a bug or glitch that caused HBO Max’s servers to go down, or your account data may have been corrupted. For this situation, we recommend signing out of your current session and waiting for a few minutes before signing back in.
Here’s how to sign out of your HBO Max account on your mobile device:
Step 1: Go to the HBO Max app on your home screen and tap the Profile icon.
Step 2: Then, tap the Gear icon to open the Settings page.
Step 3: To end your session, click the Sign Out button at the bottom of the page.
To stop your current HBO Max session on your browser, follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit HBO Max’s website using your browser.
Step 2: Then, click on your profile icon to access your Account Menu.
Step 3: Finally, click the Sign Out button to log out of your account.
After logging out of your HBO Max account, wait for two to three minutes before logging back in.
Check if the buffering issues still occur after using HBO Max for a few minutes.
6. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Step 1: Click on the Tree Dot of your browser and click Settings.
Step 2: Then, go to Privacy & Security and click on Clear Browsing Data.
Step 3: Now, include ‘Cached Images and Files’ and ‘Cookies and Other Site Data’ in the process and set the Time Range to All Time.
Step 4: Finally, hit the Clear Data button to start the process.
Step 5: If the error message still occurs, go back to HBO Max and check if it occurs there as well.
7. Run Malwarebytes
A device infected with malware or viruses could display error messages on any platform. The presence of viruses on your system can consume your bandwidth and resources, resulting in applications like HBO Max reporting error messages.
Please download the Malwarebytes software on your device and use the ‘Full System Scan’ tool to confirm this. The program will search for and automatically remove all infected files throughout your directory.
The Malwarebytes Software is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS users.
8. Clear HBO Max App Data on Android
Clear your HBO Max app’s data on a device with an Android operating system so that no corrupted files are used.
To delete HBO Max app data from your Android device, follow the steps below.
Step 1: First, open the Settings on your Android device.
Step 2: After that, tap on HBO Max under the Apps tab.
Step 3: Next, tap on the Storage tab and tap the Clear Data button.
It will be necessary for you to re-login to HBO Max after clearing the HBO Max app data. After getting the app up and running, check if the error still appears for several minutes.
9. Update HBO Max App
As part of its commitment to maintaining a functioning application on all devices that HBO Max supports, HBO Max releases timely updates. Try to see if a new update can fix any error messages you receive on HBO Max.
The following steps explain how to update HBO Max on Android:
Step 1: Launch the Google Play Store from your app drawer.
Step 2: Select My Apps & Games from your Profile.
Step 3: Finally, find HBO Max and tap Update.
You can update HBO Max on your iOS device by following the instructions below:
Step 1: From your home screen, tap the App Store.
Step 2: Then locate HBO Max in your Profile.
Step 3: The last step is to install HBO Max’s latest version by tapping on the Update button.
To learn how you can update HBO Max on Set-top boxes, Android TVs, and other similar devices, please visit the Help Center.
After you have updated HBO Max, try watching several shows to see if the error message still appears.
10. Turn off VPN
When streaming movies over VPNs such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu, there is a possibility that the VPN will interfere. A VPN allows you to bypass restrictions imposed by your ISP or other platforms on your network and protects your privacy.
However, there are some VPNs that work inefficiently and can cause network slowdowns, especially if you connect to a slow server.
11. Reinstall HBO Max.
You can try reinstalling HBO Max if your update failed. When the server went down or during an update failure, it is possible that some installation files became corrupt. It’s a good idea to install HBO Max again to make sure that you have a working copy.
Follow the steps below to reinstall HBO Max on Android:
Step 1: First, Find HBO Max by opening your application drawer.
Step 2: Hold down the app icon until the options menu appears.
Step 3:Then, tap Uninstall after which HBO Max will be deleted.
Step 4:To do this, go to the Google Play Store and reinstall HBO Max.
Here’s how you can reinstall HBO Max on iOS:
Step 1: From the home screen, tap and hold HBO Max’s icon to select it.
Step 2: Then tap on Remove App.
Step 3: Then open your iOS device’s App Store and reinstall HBO Max.
To reinstall HBO Max on Smart TVs, Consoles, or Set-top boxes, please visit the Help Center and look for the specific instructions for your device.
Check if the buffering occurs after reinstalling HBO Max by playing a few shows.
12. Report the Problem to HBO Max
In this case, we suggest you consult the experts if none of the methods you have tried so far worked.
HBO Max’s team may need to give your account or device extra attention due to a severe issue. To report a problem, visit HBO Max’s Help Center and contact customer service.
Result
Please include the details of your account, your device, and a screenshot of the error on your report so HBO’s team can help you.
We have completed our guide for fixing the ‘Buffering issues on HBO Max’. You can leave your questions and concern in the comments section, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Please share this guide if it helped you. 🙂
