Is your HBO Max audio out of sync? You might have to call your internet provider. Try these 6 steps to fix this.
There’s no denying that streaming services have not only made our lives easier, but also provided us with a myriad of content to watch whenever we want.
Whether you’re in the mood to jump out of your seat watching a horror movie, or cry your heart out enjoying a rom-com, your favorite platform has got your back.
That being said, even with all this technology, you can still encounter issues that were unheard of with DVDs and VHS tapes.
I’m talking, of course, about out-of-sync audio.
Having this happen is not only inconvenient, but awfully anticlimactic. And the worst part is that it can occur on any streaming platform.
If you’re reading this, you’re no stranger to what I’m saying, and I get how frustrated you must be. Lucky for you, I found a way to solve this problem once and for all, and today, I want to share my findings with you.
Below, you will find a list of the most common causes behind this occurrence in HBO Max and some steps you can follow to address them. I’m certain we’ll get to the bottom of this together.
Sounds good? Let’s go!
Before delving into the actual steps you can follow, it’s important to understand what the sources of the problem could be.
In most cases, the platform’s app or your Internet connection could be to blame. However, sometimes, the problem lies on the company’s end, and there’s little to nothing you can do. Patience is a virtue, and you’ll certainly need it today.
Without further ado, here are 6 steps you can try to get your audio back in sync:
Ok, let’s start off with the simplest explanation.
Maybe there’s nothing wrong with the platform or your Internet connection. Maybe the show you’re trying to watch is simply having issues at the moment.
You see, while all the content in HBO Max is stored on the same servers, every movie and show has its own “space” and is partially independent of others. This is why sometimes one show will not load, but another one will.
If this is the case, you’ll have to be a little patient and watch something else while the movie or show you were streaming before stops having difficulties syncing.
Solution: Not much to do here. You could take a walk outside if the weather is nice! By the time you get back home, everything should be back to normal.
Assuming that the particular show or movie you were trying to watch was not to blame, we can safely move on to the next possibility.
A faulty internet connection.
Even if your provider is the most reliable company on the planet, sooner or later, it’s bound to fail. We may know how to harness the technology, but we’re far from perfecting it.
Now, don’t throw your modem in the bin just yet. I may have exaggerated the gravity of the situation. More often than not, you should be able to solve this without calling a technician, as a simple reset could do the trick.
Solution: In order to do this, you’ll need a paperclip and a steady pulse. Here’s how you can reset your modem.
Make sure to keep an eye on the unit’s lights
As you can imagine, streaming platforms are made of up hundredths of thousands of lines of code that work perfectly in harmony to provide you with an amazing experience.
And while they rarely encounter any issues or bugs, when they do, it can be catastrophic.
A bug in HBO Max’s code could create several issues, ranging from out-of-sync audio, to login problems and even general interruption of the service.
When this happens on the company’s end, there’s very little you can do, but when it occurs on yours, fixing it is very easy.
Solution: If you’re streaming through their webpage on either your computer or smartphone, all you have to do is close your browser and reopen it. On some rare occasions, you might have to restart your device, but try the browser fix first.
Provided that you’re using the app, try closing and reopening it. Unless something’s wrong with HBO Max’s servers, your audio should now be back in sync.
Enjoy!
What if I told you a trip to the App Store could be the answer to your prayers?
These days, smartphones have come so far, that they pretty much update themselves automatically. However, this is not a perfect science, and sometimes, these devices can allow for some apps to become outdated.
You might think that failing to update an app such as HBO Max is not a big deal, and I can’t blame you, as I used to think so too.
However, it turns out that it is, in fact, a big deal. Keeping an outdated version of the platform installed on your phone or computer is a surefire way to experience out-of-sync audio.
And while most developers try to keep as much backward compatibility as they can with every update, it’s not always possible.
The good news is that keeping your app updated is both free and quick.
Solution: If you like streaming your favorite shows on your computer, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t need to update anything! HBO Max does not have a desktop app, so you’ll always watch from their webpage.
In case you’re watching from an IOS device, here’s what you need to do:
In most cases, you won’t need to do this, as you’ll be prompted with an update notification as soon as you open the app, but hey, better safe than sorry, right?
Remember earlier when I was talking about how something could go wrong on the company’s end? Well… this is what I meant.
Even with their multimillion-dollar infrastructure in technology and programming, streaming companies can encounter server issues now and then. Something as apparently unimportant as a bug or a faulty hard drive can wreak havoc and give you a hard time.
When this happens, your hands are tied, as there’s nothing you can do about it. But don’t worry, the hardworking people at HBO Max’s should have things up and running in less than 24 hours.
Solution: A couple of years ago, checking on the status of the platform’s servers would have been a Herculean task. But luckily, these days it’s pretty simple, all you have to do is follow these steps:
The higher the spikes, the more likely you are to be experiencing issues
Lastly, let’s rule out the possibility of your device being to blame.
This is highly unlikely, but not impossible. On some rare occasions, both the servers at HBO Max and your Internet connection are fine, but your phone, computer, or tablet could be malfunctioning.
The best way to tell whether this is the problem is to try streaming the show or movie you were watching, on a different device.
I usually stream from my gaming console, and whenever I experience any issues, I give it a go on my computer. If you have a Smart TV or any other Internet-capable device, you might want to try streaming from there.
Should the audio be back in sync, the answer’s clear. Something’s wrong with your preferred device.
Solution: In this case, I’d advise troubleshooting the suspicious device and pinpointing the source of the problem. Try testing the Internet connection between it and your modem, and, if you’re using the app, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.
If none of that works, it might be time to call a technician. They’ll certainly know what to do and likely provide you with a solution that won’t break the bank.
Watching your favorite show with out-of-sync audio is as anticlimactic as it gets. Not only does this situation spoil emotionally-packed scenes, but also makes an immersive experience impossible.
Luckily, as I hope you’ve learned in this piece, addressing most of the causes behind this problem is easy and not very time-consuming.
More often than not, making sure to check on the status of HBO Max’s servers, and resetting your modem, should do the trick.
Thank you for reading. If you found this article helpful, you’ll be glad to know that we upload new content weekly. Stay tuned and be the first to check it out! You never know when a little extra knowledge will come in handy.
Detective Anderson is a grizzled veteran of policing the internet’s cyber-streets. After decades of experience busting illegal floppy disk rings and underground dial-up connections, Anderson has now been placed in charge of the more modern Tech Detective team.
