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How to Fix HBO Max Download Not Working [8 Valid Methods]

Phoebe Clinton
February 2, 2023

When you have subscribed to HBO Max plans and access the download functionality to enjoy the video viewing offline, but only find HBO Max download not playing. Get annoyed? Wait! We have collected some very simple methods workable to help you fix HBO Max download not working. Now, read the blog and figure out the possible reasons causing this issue and find the appropriate ways to get it solved!

Method 1. Check HBO Max Service

When you discover HBO Max not working to play the downloads or fail to download video content, firstly, you should consider whether there is something wrong with the HBO Max server. If the problem happens because an error occurred on HBO Max’s end, it won’t be possible to get it solved by yourself. To make sure if the server of HBO Max runs normally, you are able to use tools like Downdetector to check its status.

When you have ensured that the server of HBO is down, you can only wait for it to recover. But if it runs as usual, consider the following methods to fix HBO Max download not working instead.

Method 2. Update the HBO Max Version

You should know that the outdated version of the HBO Max app would always occur some unexpected bugs while used. Hence, consider whether this is the cause leading to the HBO Max download not working on your device. To update it to the latest version, simply go to App Store on iOS and Google Play Store on Android and submit "Update". Once you get the latest HBO Max app installed, try to play the downloads or download your desired HBO Max movies again and you probably discover that the error is fixed.

Method 3. Check If You Have an Ad-Free Plan

It should be noted that HBO only offers the download feature to those who have subscribed to the Ad-free plan. For subscribers of HBO plans with ads, you will find no download options provided to save the videos for offline viewing. Hence, the way to fix the HBO Max download not working problem is by updating your subscription plan to the ad-free option. Before processing this, check the plan you have subscribed to by following the steps below:

STEP 1. Log in to HBO Max in the app or on the official webpage.

STEP 2. Select "Account" or go to "Settings" to check the subscription status.

STEP 3. From the page, you will find the current plan you have subscribed to and your billing period.

Method 4. Change the Download Quality

When your device lacks sufficient storage, it would have trouble downloading more videos within it. Hence, except for deleting unused apps on your device, you are able to try downgrading the output quality of the HBO Max videos to reduce the occupation of the device storage (by default, HBO Max would set the highest quality available for your device to download the videos for you).

Thus, to change the download quality to a lower level, just follow the steps below:

STEP 1. In the HBO Max app, navigate to "Profile" > "Settings" > "Downloads".

STEP 2. Select "Download Quality".

STEP 3. If it has set the "Highest quality" option, switch to "Fastest download" to let HBO Max keep the videos offline at a lower quality but smaller sizes.

Method 5. Delete Unnecessary Downloads

Remember that HBO Max has limited the number of available downloads for each account - it is only possible for a single account to keep up to 30 downloaded videos at max. Hence, if you have exceeded this limitation, the HBO Max download not working issue would surely occur. To keep the downloading features working, you are required to delete those watched videos and them save the new ones instead.

To delete HBO Max downloads, simply navigate to "Profile" > "Downloads" within the HBO Max app, and then select "Edit" and choose those you don’t need any more to remove with one click.

Method 6. Disable Your VPN

If you have used a VPN service to bypass the regional limitations and access HBO video streaming services, consider whether you have selected a stable connection. Sometimes the VPN would run unstably and make your network delay, causing the HBO Max to download not working error. To fix it, simply turn off the VPN. If you are outside the regions that support HBO Max video streaming, just change to another better VPN for using the service stably.

Method 7. Renew the Downloads

Your downloads saved in the HBO Max app would get expired after a certain period according to HBO’s offline service rules. For example, you are only available to keep the video downloads for 48 hours after starting playing it, or 30 days before you begin to watch. To make the expired HBO Max downloads work again, you are required to renew them manually by following the steps below:

STEP 1. Navigate to the "Downloads" section in the HBO Max app.

STEP 2. Scroll the list and access the expired video you desire to renew to make it playable again.

STEP 3. Tap the "Expired" icon and select "Renew" to complete the renewal process.

Note:

Only subscribers of the HBO Max Ad-free plan can process the video renewing within the app.

Method 8. Turn on Flight Mode

If the well-downloaded HBO Max videos still fail to play and you receive the error message calling you to check the connection, consider whether there is something wrong with your device network setting. Under such conditions, try to play the download by turning on Airplane mode.

Step 1. Make sure your devices have connected to a stable network connection.

Step 2. Sign in to your HBO Max account and after that, close the HBO Max app.

Step 3. Now, turn on the flight mode or turn off your Wi-Fi.

Step 4. Then, open the HBO Max app and try to play your downloads within the app.

This method helps you to remove the interruption caused by the unstable network connection, which is workable for many users to fix the HBO Max download not working issue successfully.

Bonus Tip: Download HBO Max Movies Without the HBO Max App

Getting tired of the download limitations and viewing errors in the HBO Max app? Consider an alternative to getting HBO videos for watching offline without hassle!

The desktop software MovPilot HBO Video Downloader is able to help remove limitations by stripping the DRM encryption from the videos, and converting them to mainstream MP4, MKV files for preservation offline. No matter whether you have an HBO Max plan with ads or a free plan, you are able to download videos from HBO without the amount limitation, and keep them offline permanently without expiration.

With MovPilot HBO Video Downloader, you are actually getting a more convenient way to enjoy HBO videos offline!

Key Features of MovPilot HBO Video Downloader

Built-in browser available to access all HBO Max videos to download instantly;
Mainstream formats such as MP4 and MKV are provided;
Available to preserve offline videos at up to HD 1080p resolution at max;
Preservation of full subtitles as well as audio tracks with optional languages as you desire;
Improve the performance at 5X speed to batch download HBO Max videos simultaneously.

Also, with an intuitive interface, you will discover MovPilot HBO Video Downloader, an easy-to-grasp software, to download videos from HBO Max. Here will guide you how:

STEP 1. Launch MovPilot HBO Video Downloader on desktop and process the login via your HBO account.

STEP 2. Once access the main interface of the downloader, simply enter keywords or directly paste the exact URL to search for the HBO videos you desire to download.

STEP 3. Then, click the gear icon on the upper-right corner to customize the output settings such as the format, quality, and audio/subtitle language for outputting the videos.

STEP 4. Back to the video result page and select those you desire to keep offline. Simply tap the download icon after them to start the process right away.

Conclusion

When you unexpectedly encounter with the HBO Max download not working error, the 8 provided solutions in this blog are valid to help. If you still find the issue unfixable, try MovPilot HBO Video Downloader to remove the limitations and keep HBO videos offline for watching outside the official platform. It may be the best and one-step method to get the problem solved. Now, give it a try!