You may occasionally notice HBO Max lagging while watching TV shows or movies.
We have made a guide to assist you and provide simple tips to improve your playback quality.
Why is my HBO Max lagging?
The cause of HBO Max lagging is likely caused by inefficient internet bandwidth optimization.
When your internet bandwidth is not optimized, lagging often occurs when playing content.
You can increase your ability to reduce lagging when viewing the HBO Max in several ways.
Here are some tips on how to make stop HBO Max from lagging:
How to stop HBO Max lagging on TV
Method 1: Reset your router
My go-to trick to try in this situation is to reset my home internet router.
How do I reset my router?
The easiest way to reset your router is to unplug it from the wall socket for 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
This action will “power-cycle” your router and provide more bandwidth to increase your ability to play content faster on the HBO Max app.
Why does resetting your router reduce the HBO Max app lagging?
Think of all the devices that are and have been connected to the router. I’m sure that in today’s digital world, quite a few devices are connected to the router.
Your router is like a mini-PC and will slow down as more tasks are added.
Having all those devices connected will reduce the bandwidth available to the HBO Max app and subsequently throttle your download speed, creating lagging.
Method 2: Restart the HBO Max app
Restarting the HBO Max app if you are experiencing lag issues is a good idea.
Restarting the HBO Max app allows any updates to be installed correctly and establishes a new connection with the HBO Max servers.
Method 3: Sign out of the HBO Max app
Another potential quick fix to the HBO Max lagging problem is to sign out of your account.
By signing out of your HBO Max account before you return and log in, you may resolve any account-related issues causing the lagging problems.
Method 4: Restart your streaming device
To access the HBO Max app, you will be using a streaming device to access the app.
The most common streaming devices for the HBO Max app are:
- Smart TVs
- Content Devices such as HBO Max, Firestick, or Roku
- Games Consoles such as PlayStation and XBOX
- A PC or MacBook Laptop
To fix any lagging issues with the HBO Max app, performing a power cycle on your device is recommended.
To perform a power cycle of the devices, unplug them for 60 seconds before plugging them back in.
This restart allows any updates downloaded in the background to install and start successfully and clears the system cache.
Clearing the system cache and any lingering apps running in RAM can help in reducing the lagging of the HBO Max app.
Reducing the number of apps running in the background gives the HBO Max the best performance.
Method 5: Update your HBO Max app
If you are playing HBO Max using a device such as a Firestick, Roku, or smart TV, I recommend updating the app if possible.
If you have an LG Smart TV, there are ways to access the HBO Max app.
Method 6: Disconnect other devices in your home from the internet
If you cannot reset your router for any reason, I would try and disconnect none essential devices from the internet.
Is someone in your home watching Netflix? What about your phone? Is someone downloading games or apps on XBOX?
Every device you can disconnect from your internet connection will help stop the HBO Max app lagging issues.
Method 7: Close any apps that are running
This step would have been completed if you had restarted your playback device.
Otherwise, please continue to close any running apps.
Did you know they are also ways to get the HBO Max app on your LG TV?
How does having open apps cause the HBO Max app to lag?
Imagine your internet connection to your HBO Max application like an artery in your body. The more games and apps running are like blockages in your arteries. Sorry for the weird analogy!
Those blockages impede your ability to play content faster, resulting in lagging when watching the HBO Max app.
Method 8: Decrease Video Quality
Check in the HBO Max app options when watching content if there is a toggle for video quality.
The higher the quality of content you play, the more likely it is that lagging will occur.
Try to decrease the video quality, especially if the quality is set to 4K.
Method 9: Update your device software/firmware before downloading
Whether you are using a TV, Content Device, or Games console, updating your firmware or software to the latest version can help prevent issues from arising over time.
Sometimes updates can be missed, or an installation can be interrupted and cause issues with your playback device.
Old firmware or a partial installation could cause the HBO Max to lag.
Ensuring you have the latest software on your devices gives you access to new apps and an improved viewing experience.
Method 10: Use an Ethernet cable rather than Wi-Fi
It is almost always true that you will get a better download speed when you use an Ethernet (Wired Connection) rather than Wi-Fi.
Wired connections transmit data quicker and with less interference.
Wi-Fi connections are slower and generally have a slower response time.
The distance from your playback device, along with the walls, floor, and ceilings, can all deteriorate the quality of your internet connection, causing the HBO Max app lagging issues.
I always use a wired connection when available, and you should too!
Method 11: Disable any Ad blockers or VPNs
VPNs and Ad blockers can negatively affect the playback performance of the HBO Max app.
Your connection to a VPN will always limit the speed at which you can play content.
Unfortunately, using a VPN creates another dependency that can cause HBO Max to lag if there are any problems or limited speed.
Method 12: Upgrade your Internet Connection
Not everyone has access to high download speed through their ISP (Internet Service Provider), but for those that do, consider upgrading your internet connection.
It is pretty straightforward that a 100mbps connection will have a slower download rate than a 1gbps connection.
Method 13: Upgrade your Router
This option will not apply to everyone, but for some gamers, the router could be the bottleneck in their home network, causing the HBO Max app lagging problems.
If you have consistently upgraded your internet speed through your ISP but are still using an older router, you may wish to check your router’s maximum download speed.
It’s all good having a 1gbps connection, but if your router can only download at 100mbps, you’ve got a massive bottleneck and a solid explanation as to why the HBO Max app is lagging.
Method 14: Check the HBO Max servers are operational
When HBO Max keeps buffering, most issues will usually be with your network or playback device.
It is worthwhile checking that there are no issues or outages with the HBO Max platform.
Method 15: Contact HBO Max Support
If you have tried all the tips above and nothing has worked, then you can contact HBO Max app support for further assistance.
Conclusion
If you have followed the guide, then you would have been successful in reducing the lagging of the HBO Max on your content device.
We hope that you enjoy lag-free playback.
