(11 Fixes) HBO Max Not Working On Samsung TV [Updated 2023]

So you heard that HBO Max just uploaded a new season of your favorite series.

You excitedly turned on your Samsung TV. You launched the app.

And when you tried to stream…

It won’t even play. Ugh!

I know exactly how that feels.

And I’ve got solutions for you.

Continue reading to discover:

11 effective fixes get HBO Max to work on your Samsung TV.
How to easily reset the HBO Max app by clearing its cache and data.
How to do a modified power cycle on your Samsung TV to resolve app issues.
How to reset your Samsung TV’s connection to stream HBO Max without a hitch.
And much much more…

Why is HBO Max not working on my Samsung TV?

HBO Max isn’t working on your Samsung TV because of network connection problems. You may reset your modem and router to fix your internet. In addition, you’re also likely experiencing a temporary glitch in either your TV or the app. Doing a power cycle on your Samsung TV should resolve the issue.

HBO Max not working on Samsung TV: 11 fixes

#1: Check if HBO Max is down

In a perfect world, every streaming service is up at all times. No outages. No service interruptions. We can stream to our heart’s content non-stop.

Unfortunately, that can’t be the case.

Streaming services do experience technical issues from time to time. And HBO Max is certainly no exception.

Especially since they already have over 75 million subscribers. Only 2 years after launching.

The more people use the app, the more strain on the servers.

So if HBO Max isn’t working on your Samsung TV…

Verify first if the issue is on the app’s end.

You may try streaming from HBO Max through their official website.

Or use the app through your laptop or smartphone.

If it’s not playing on any device, then there’s a problem on their end.

In addition, you may also check if HBO Max is down by visiting the following sites:

These websites offer an accurate, real-time update on the app’s status.

And if it’s indeed down?

Simply wait until the service resumes. Rest assured that HBO Max’s personnel are on top of the issue.

Their outages don’t last long. So you only need to wait for a while before relaunching the app.

#2: Check if you’re having network connection issues

According to HBO Max, you need at least 5 Mbps to stream in High Definition (HD). And at least 50 Mbps for Ultra High Definition or 4K.

They don’t have an option for Standard Definition (SD) as of 2022.

So if you’re struggling to stream, it’s likely because of internet connection issues.

Check your internet speed

Now the first thing you need to check is your internet’s actual speed.

You can do that by following these steps:

Go to Google’s Home Page.
Type in “speed test”.
You’ll see a box with a Run Speed Test button. Click it to find out exactly how fast your internet is.

And if it’s slower than the average speed in your internet subscription…

You may perform a power cycle on both modem and router.

A power cycle is the process of rebooting or resetting your device. It’s simple. But fixes many technical issues.

How to do a power cycle on your modem and router

Unplug your modem and router from the outlet.
Wait for about 30 seconds.
Plug your modem and router back in.

Wait for all light indicators to be steady. The “Internet” light on your modem should be green.

Then relaunch the HBO Max app. See if you’re now able to stream.

#3: Reset your Samsung TV’s network connection and then reconnect

In addition to resetting your modem and router…

You may also reset your Samsung TV’s network connection.

When you do this, your Samsung TV will forget your home network. And your network’s password will be deleted.

This is another fix for WiFi issues. And the steps are easy to follow.

Note: The steps may slightly vary depending on your Samsung TV model.

How to reset your Samsung TV’s network connection and reconnect

Click the Home button on your Samsung remote and go to Settings.
Navigate to General.
Click Network.
Scroll down to the Reset Network option. Then click it.
You’ll be prompted to confirm. Click Yes. And wait for the process to finish.

You’ll see a message box confirming that your TV’s connection has been reset.

Now click the Network Settings button on the same message box. Then follow the reconnection steps.

How to reconnect your Samsung TV to your WiFi

You’ll now be asked to select your network type. Select Wireless.
Look for your home network and click it.
Enter your password and click OK.

For many users, following those steps are enough to fix their TV’s internet issue.

And if you’d like a visual guide, you may refer to this video below:

You might also like: Samsung TV Won’t Stay Connected To WiFI: 11 Fixes

#4: Perform a modified power cycle on your Samsung TV

Now it’s also possible that your Samsung TV is glitching. That’s why it couldn’t properly play the HBO Max app.

All Smart TVs do experience temporary malfunction from time to time. And the easiest solution would be to perform a power cycle.

But Samsung has what they called a modified power cycle.

“What makes it different from the usual power cycle?”

The difference is that you’ll also have to press and hold the TV’s power button.

“Why so?”

Because it helps drain any remaining electricity on the TV.

Now, this is how to do Samsung TV’s modified power cycle:

Unplug your Samsung TV from the outlet.
Press and hold the TV’s built-in power button. Do this for about 15 seconds.
Plug the TV back into the outlet.

Once it has completed its reboot, relaunch the HBO Max app.

#5: Clear the HBO Max app’s cache

On your Samsung TV, every app installed stores temporary files called cache.

With HBO Max, cache files include your recent searches. Recently watched videos. Movies or series that you watched and paused midway.

The purpose of cache is to speed up the app.

But sometimes, cache files can also get corrupted. And it may cause apps to malfunction.

That’s why another way to get HBO Max to work is to clear its cache.

Here’s how you can do that:

Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
Navigate to Support and click it.
Select Device Care.
Select Manage Storage.
Highlight the HBO Max app and click View Details.
Click the Clear Cache option.
Click the Close button to exit.

#6: Clear the HBO Max app’s data

Now if clearing the HBO Max app’s cache doesn’t work…

You may then go ahead and clear its data.

Doing this will delete your account details. So you’ll have to sign back in again.

And like many streaming services, HBO Max allows download for offline viewing. But when you clear the app’s data, your downloads will all be deleted.

So it’s essentially a reset of the app. It’ll be like what it was when you first installed it.

The process is similar to clearing caches. It’s as follows:

On your Samsung remote, press Home then click Settings.
Go to Support and select it.
Click Device Care.
Click Manage Storage.
Navigate to the HBO Max app. Then click View Details.
Select the Clear Data option.
Select the Close button to exit.

#7: Install available updates for the HBO Max app

HBO Max regularly releases updates for their app.

Some of these updates are to enhance the app’s features. While others are to fix persisting bugs.

And one likely reason you can’t play the app on your Samsung TV is that it’s outdated.

Fortunately updating apps on your TV is really easy.

I’ll be providing the steps on how to manually update your HBO Max. As well as how to set the updates to automatic.

How to manually update

Press the Home button on your Samsung remote and go to Apps.
Click the Settings icon.
Highlight the HBO Max app and click it to show the menu options.
Scroll down and click View Details.
You should see an Update button if there are available updates to install. Click it.

How to get automatic updates

Click the Home button on your remote and navigate to Apps.
Select Settings.
Click the Auto Update option to toggle it on.

With this, you won’t have to worry about your HBO Max app becoming outdated. Updates should automatically install in the background.

#8: Update your Samsung TV’s firmware

It’s also important that your Samsung TV’s firmware is up to date.

This is to avoid glitches or temporary malfunctions. So you can run apps without trouble.

To update your Samsung TV’s OS, do the following steps:

Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
Navigate to support and click it.
Select Software Update.
If there are updates available, you’ll see the Update Now option. Click it if you see it.

The download and installation of updates should begin. Your Samsung TV will reboot multiple times during the process.

In addition, you may also choose to receive updates automatically.

You may follow the first 3 steps above.

And then, instead of clicking Update Now, click Auto Update.

As long as your Samsung TV’s online, you’ll never miss out on updates again.

#9: Delete then reinstall the HBO Max app

When clearing cache and installing updates don’t work…

Then consider deleting and then reinstalling your HBO Max app.

One possible reason it’s not working…

It may not have been installed properly. There may have been interruptions. Or glitches on your TV during the installation process.

So doing a clean reinstall should fix that.

How to delete the HBO Max app

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote.
Navigate to the HBO Max app.
Press the down arrow button on your remote to show the menu.
Select Remove.
You’ll be prompted to confirm this. Select Remove again to complete the deletion.

Now it’s best to perform a power cycle on your Samsung TV first before reinstalling it. You may refer to Fix #4.

How to reinstall

On your Samsung TV remote, press the Home button.
Go to Apps.
Click the Search icon. It’s the one with the magnifying glass.
Type in “HBO Max”.
Once you’re on the HBO Max page, click Install.

After a successful installation, you’ll see an Open button. Click that to launch the app.

#10: Reset your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub

Smart Hub is Samsung’s menu system.

It’s the interface that you’re using to easily navigate through apps.

And when one or more apps are glitching, you may consider resetting Smart Hub.

Doing so will revert all the apps you installed on Samsung TV back to initial settings. Your app account details and settings will be completely erased.

That’s why this should be one of your last options. Especially if it’s only the HBO Max app that isn’t working.

But here are the steps to reset it:

Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
Scroll down to Support then click Device Care.
Click the Self Diagnosis option.
Select Reset Smart Hub.
You’ll be asked to enter your TV’s PIN. If you didn’t set one, enter 0000.

#11: Do a factory reset on your Samsung TV

As the absolute last resort, you may perform a factory reset on your Samsung TV.

Whereas resetting Smart Hub would only affect your installed apps…

Factory resetting would erase all of your info. Including your Samsung account. As well as your personal settings and preferences.

So always proceed with caution.

Note: Make sure to close all apps first before proceeding. Otherwise, the reset option will be grayed out.

These are the steps to do it:

Press the Home button on your remote and go to Settings.
Select General.
Select Reset.
Enter your PIN or 0000 if you didn’t set one.
Select Reset again to confirm.
Click OK.

The reset process should automatically begin.

Bonus: Contact HBO Max for technical support

So have you tried all the troubleshooting steps?

And are you still having issues streaming from the HBO Max app?

If yes, then your next best move will be to contact HBO Max’s tech support.

You may reach out to them via phone through this number: 1 855 442 6629.

You may also contact them through their social media pages.

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