HBO Max is one of the mainstream subscription video-on-demand services in the US. Launched in May 2020, it features libraries from HBO, Warner Bros., and other partner channels. As of March 2022, HBO Max grew its global subscriber count to 76.8 million.
However, some users have experienced their HBO Max app crashing on their streaming device, console, or smart TV. This happens while the app is loading or while playing media content. In this guide, we’ll show you why HBO Max keeps crashing on your device and how to fix it.
Read this guide to know more.
Table of Contents
“Why Is My HBO Max Not Working?”—Most Common Reasons
Several reasons can cause the HBO Max app to crash on your device. First, you’ll need to ensure that your device is compatible with the app. Here is the list of devices that are supported by HBO Max:
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 4 and PS5
- Samsung Smart TV (2016 and greater)
- Contour Stream Player and Cox Contour 2
- Xfinity 1 and Flex
Also, here are some common reasons why the HBO Max app does not work on your device:
- Slow Internet Connection – When accessing the HBO Max app, ensure that you have a stable internet connection. If it’s too slow, the app won’t load as fast and will crash constantly. The app requires at least 25 Mbps of internet download speed to stream 4K HDR content.
- Server Outage – You’ll experience server maintenance on streaming services from time to time. This can only happen in a specific area and will temporarily prevent users from accessing the HBO Max app. You can check this link for server updates or the social media pages of HBO Max.
- Outdated App Version – Like other apps, the HBO Max app will release updates on all supported devices. If automatic app updates are not enabled on your smart TV, chances are it will crash or not work properly on older versions.
- Corrupted Cache Data – Cache data is kept temporarily on your device to increase its performance and load better once you use it. If the cache on the HBO Max app is not updated, it can cause problems later on.
Sometimes HBO Max is working, but keeps buffering & is generally laggy. We have an article which asks Why is HBO Max So Slow? and provides several fixes.
How to Fix HBO Max App When it Keeps Crashing
If the HBO Max app on your smart TV keeps crashing, here are some fixes that you can try. Remember to follow each fix individually and see which one is effective on your smart TV.
Fix #1: Power Cycle your Smart TV and WiFi Router
By power cycling your smart TV, you’ll temporarily close all background apps and processes that might be causing this issue. It will also help in resetting the TV’s internal components, in case they’re acting up.
To power cycle your smart TV, follow these steps:
- Turn off your smart TV and unplug its power cable from the socket.
- Wait for twenty minutes to drain most of its power. During this step, you can also press the Power button on the TV for ten seconds to help drain more power.
- Then, plug its power cable back in and turn on your smart TV.
- Launch the HBO Max app and check if it’s still crashing.
You can also power cycle your WiFi router in case you’re experiencing slow internet speeds. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Turn off your WiFi router and unplug its power adapter from the socket.
- Wait for one minute and plug the power adapter back in.
- Turn on your WiFi router and let your smart TV connect to it automatically.
- Open the HBO Max app and check if the problem is fixed.
If the WiFi speed is still too slow, try disconnecting other devices from the network. Also, try connecting your smart TV to the router via Ethernet cable. This way, your network’s bandwidth will be allocated exclusively to your smart TV.
Fix #2: Clear the App Cache on your Smart TV
As mentioned earlier, an app’s cache can cause issues once it has not been updated for a while. It also consumes your smart TV’s internal memory, which is supposed to be allocated for other apps you might install.
Depending on your device, follow the steps below on clearing the HBO Max app cache:
Roku TV
- Open your Roku TV and using the remote, press the Home button five times, Up button once, Rewind button twice, and Forward button twice.
- Your Roku TV will now clear its cache and reboot.
- Once it’s done, launch HBO Max and see if it works normally.
Android TV
- Open your Android smart TV and navigate to Settings > Apps.
- Find HBO Max and select it from the list of installed apps.
- Select Clear App Cache and reboot your Android TV.
- Launch HBO Max and check if the problem is fixed.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Turn on your smart TV with the stick connected. Go to the Home screen.
- Navigate to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
- Choose HBO Max and select Clear Cache.
- Reboot your smart TV and open the HBO Max app. Check if it’s still crashing.
Clearing the app cache is also recommended if your Disney Plus downloads are not working.
Fix #3: Reinstall HBO Max on your Smart TV
Another solution that you can do is to reinstall the HBO Max app on your smart TV. This will delete all user and app data, which can cause problems if they’re outdated. It will also prompt your smart TV to download the latest version of the app.
Reinstalling an app can be different from one smart TV to another. Refer to the steps below on how to reinstall HBO Max on various devices:
Roku TV
- Open your Roku TV and go to the Home screen.
- Below the Apps grid, find HBO Max and select it.
- Go to Options > Remove Channel and choose Remove to confirm.
- Then, reboot your smart TV and go to the Home screen.
- Select Streaming Channels and search for the HBO Max app.
- Choose it and select Add Channel. HBO Max will now be installed on your smart TV.
- Launch the app and log in to your account. Check if it still crashes.
Android TV
- Open your Android TV and go to its Home screen.
- Navigate to Settings > Device and select Downloaded Apps.
- Find HBO Max and select Uninstall.
- After rebooting your smart TV, launch the Google Play Store and search for HBO Max.
- Select it and choose Install.
- Then, set up your account and see if the issue is solved.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Open your smart TV with the Fire Stick connected.
- Go to Settings > Applications and choose Manage Installed Applications.
- Find HBO Max and select it. Then, choose Uninstall.
- Reboot your smart TV and use the Find button on the Fire TV home screen. Select Search and type in HBO Max.
- Choose its app icon and select Download.
- Set up your HBO Max account and see if the problem is fixed.
Fix #4: Factory Reset Your Smart TV
If all fixes above didn’t work, the last thing that you can do is to factory reset your smart TV. It effectively deletes all installed apps and user data. It also resets all settings to their factory defaults. Here’s how you can factory reset your smart TV on various brands or streaming devices:
Roku
- Select the Home button on the Roku remote.
- Go to Settings > System > Advanced System Settings.
- Choose Factory Reset Everything and follow the rest of the on-screen steps.
- Once reset, you can set up your Roku device and install the HBO Max app. Check if it still crashes.
Android TV
- Press the Home button on the remote and go to Settings.
- Navigate to Device Preferences > Reset and select Factory Data Reset.
- Choose Erase Everything. Your Android TV will now proceed to reset.
- Once it’s done, set up your smart TV and install the HBO Max app. See if the issue is solved.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Go to the Home screen and select Settings.
- Choose My Fire TV and select Reset to Factory Defaults.
- Wait for the reset to finish. Then, set up your Fire TV Stick and install HBO Max. Check if it is still crashing.
Final Thoughts
The HBO Max app is a great way to watch Warner Bros. and HBO content. You can also opt to subscribe to other partner channels such as Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, BBC Studios, and others.
However, it’s possible that the HBO Max app can crash while you’re streaming content or logging into your account. Hence, these fixes can hopefully guide you on fixing the HBO Max app on your smart TV when it’s freezing.