When HBO Max keeps disconnecting and interrupting your TV shows, it negatively affects your viewing pleasure.
This guide shows how to resolve HBO Max stopping issues and improve your streaming performance.
Why does HBO Max keep stopping?
The reason that HBO Max losing connection is likely due to an inefficient internet bandwidth optimization or a software conflict.
When your internet bandwidth is not optimized, stopping will often occur when playing content and this can result in HBO Max lagging.
You can increase your ability to reduce stopping when viewing the HBO Max app in several ways.
How to stop when the HBO Max keeps disconnecting
Method 1: Restart the HBO Max app
Restarting the app is a great idea when HBO Max keeps disconnecting.
By restarting the HBO Max app, you give the opportunity for any updates to be correctly installed and establish a new connection with the HBO Max servers.
Method 2: Sign out of the HBO Max app
Another potential quick fix to when HBO Max keeps losing connection is to sign out of your account.
By signing out of your HBO Max account before your return and log in, you may resolve any account-related issues that are causing the stopping problems to occur.
Method 3: Restart your Playback Source Device
To access the HBO Max app, you will be using a playback device to access the app.
The most common playback 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
The universal recommendation for these devices and the first step in eliminating the HBO Max stopping issues is to perform a power cycle of these systems.
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 it also clears the system cache.
Clearing the system cache and any lingering apps running in RAM can help in reducing the stopping of the HBO Max app.
Reducing the number of apps running in the background gives the HBO Max app the best performance.
This method can be super helpful if you are wondering why is hbo max not working on my tv.
Method 4: Reset your Router
This is one of the book’s oldest tricks, but it effectively reduces the stopping on the HBO Max app.
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 stopping?
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, which creates stopping.
Method 5: Update your HBO Max app
If you are playing HBO Max using a device such as a Firestick, Roku or smart TV, then I recommend updating the app if possible.
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 HBO Max? What about your phone? Is someone downloading games or apps on XBOX?
Every device that you can disconnect from your internet connection will help in stopping the HBO Max app stopping issues.
Method 7: Close any apps that are running
If you have followed our first step of restarting your playback device, then this step would have been completed for you. Otherwise, please continue to close any running apps.
How does having open apps cause the HBO Max app to freeze?
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, and then that results in stopping occurring 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 stopping 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 app to disconnect.
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. There are also fewer variables that can hinder the quality of connection.
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 stopping 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.
We understand that using a VPN can be a sensible choice, especially due to privacy concerns.
Unfortunately, using a VPN creates another dependency that can cause HBO Max to disconnect 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 the router could be the bottleneck in their home network, causing the HBO Max stopping 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 to have a 1gbps connection, but if your router can only download at 100mbps, then you’ve got a massive bottleneck and a solid explanation for why the HBO Max app is stopping.
Method 14: Check to make sure HBO Max servers are operational
When HBO Max keeps buffering or stopping, most of the issues will usually be with your network or playback device.
Before you go into the other fixes listed below, it is worthwhile to check 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, 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 stopping of the HBO Max app on your content device.
We hope that you enjoy stop-free playback.
