Does HBO Max keep logging you out? Your preferred device could be to blame. Here are 5 ways to stay signed in.
Can you think of anything more frustrating than having your favorite streaming platform keep kicking you out? It’s bad enough if you have a short password, but if you’re like me, and like to use Pentagon-like access codes to avoid hacking, it’s even worse.
When something like this keeps happening, it can quickly outweigh the benefits you get from subscribing to your favorite streaming service, even with all the exclusive content it has to offer.
You’d be surprised at how many people experience this problem every single day. In fact, it’s much more common than you think.
If you’re reading this, you’re currently a part of that statistic, and are looking for a solution.
Well… look no more!
I had this issue not too long ago, and in order to fix it, I had to gather useful information, and do thorough research. Today, I want to share my findings to help you get back to normal.
Below, you will find a list with the most common causes behind this occurrence, and some easy fixes you can try. I’m sure that, if you follow them to a tee, you’ll be able to stay logged in for good.
Does that pique your interest? Let’s take a look!
Before we explore the actual fixes you can try, I want to be completely honest with you. Sometimes, your only choice will be waiting, as you could keep being logged out due to an error on HBO Max’s end.
That being said, even if that’s the case, they usually patch things up in less than 24 hours. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it’s much more likely that the explanation can be found on your side of the fence.
Here are some things you can try:
Sometimes, HBO Max and your modem don’t get along
Alright, let’s kick off this list with something external.
Believe it or not, your modem could be the reason why you’re struggling to stay signed in, as communications between the unit and HBO Max could be compromised.
I won’t get all technical with you, but, in a nutshell, modems and internet-capable electronic devices have their own language for communication. Most of the time, this communication flows smoothly and uninterrupted; however, on some rare occasions, they can stop understanding each other.
Now, this is easier to fix than it sounds. More often than not, all you need to do to reestablish appropriate communication between both devices, is restart the modem.
Solution: Oftentimes, a simple approach will work. Just unplug your modem from its power source, wait about a minute, and then plug it back in. This is the method most technicians use, as it’s highly effective.
That being said, some instances might require you to take the longer route, and use the actual reset button. In order to do this, you’ll need some patience, and a paperclip or a thin toothpick. Please follow these steps:
Once you have completed this process, wait about 5-10 minutes and log into HBO Max again. If everything went well, the nightmare should be over!
There might be some problems with your payment method
I can’t tell you how many times my credit card has expired on me before I could update my payment methods on the platform. The payment process is so easy and automatic, that failing to pay attention to it, is very easy.
If you’re anything like me, there’s a very good chance that your payment method is also about to expire, which could create some issues around your ability to sign in to HBO Max.
Logic would dictate that the streaming service would wait until your plastic is unusable before notifying you that something’s wrong, However, this is not always the case.
In some instances, you could be able to log in briefly, watch a couple of shows, and then be signed out continuously, as there’s no updated payment method registered in HBO Max’s records.
You can think of this as an accidental “period of grace”.
Moreover, this could also happen if you’ve signed in to other devices without confirming it’s you who made the attempt, or exceeded the maximum amount of simultaneous users per account.
Solution: It’s very likely that the streaming service has already notified you via email that your payment method has expired. Please make sure to check your inbox and spam folder.
Alternatively, you can check your payment methods directly in the platform. Please follow these steps to do it:
For Windows:
For IOS:
This one, you might not be too happy to hear about.
Some YouTube TV users have reported being constantly logged out during the last few months, and no one really knows why.
I’m sure the people at HBO Max are hard at work trying to resolve this issue as soon as possible, but sadly, until then, it looks like it will persist for this provider’s subscribers.
Which begs the question. What are your alternatives?
Well, as I said at the beginning of this section, this might not be what you want to hear, but you’ll probably have to subscribe to HBO Max through your internet provider, or by signing up directly to avoid this issue.
I get how this can be frustrating, as you’re now in a position where you’ll have to pay extra for a service that should be included in the cost of your YouTube TV. But unfortunately, as of today, there seems to be no way around this.
As soon as there’s a fix, I’ll be the first to let you know!
Your VPN could be interfering with the platform’s processes
We all love the idea of being able to access international shows and movies, right? VPN’s have made this a possibility for quite some time now, which is why we love them.
But nothing’s ever free.
Some streaming services are stricter than others in terms of allowing their subscribers to use VPN’s, and HBO Max has been known to be rather opposed to this idea.
I guess, up to a certain point, it makes sense. Having people from other countries stream shows restricted to the US, for example, can mess up the company’s metrics, and make it harder for them to create content their subscribers in a specific region will like.
That being said, I also understand the desire to access foreign content, which is why I’d recommend making sure your VPN of choice is not the reason behind your current problems.
Solution: If you’re reading this from outside the US, and HBO Max is already available in your country, try signing in without using your VPN, and stream a couple of shows for a few days.
Provided that you’re not being logged out constantly anymore, the answer is clear. You either need to stop using your VPN for this platform, or find one that works better.
The problem might be unrelated to you
Remember at the beginning when I told you that some of the causes behind this problem were unrelated to you?
Well… this is one of them.
Even with their millions of dollars of investment in infrastructure, technology, and development, sometimes, large streaming companies can have technical difficulties.
And if you think about it, it makes total sense.
After all, their servers are carrying the load of billions of people streaming millions of shows simultaneously 24/7. Sooner or later, something’s bound to fail!
Solution: The best way to tell whether HBO Max’s servers are down, is by following these steps:
The higher the spikes, the more likely you are to be experiencing issues
If you determine that the streaming service is, in fact, having trouble, your only option is to wait. Normally, even in the most severe scenarios, everything should be up and running within 24 hours, if not sooner.
Having to keep signing in to your favorite streaming platform, greatly defeats the purpose of having subscribed to it. Convenience.
Luckily, as I hope you have learned in this piece, addressing the culprits behind your unfortunate situation should not be very time-consuming, nor especially difficult.
More often than not, keeping an eye on your VPN, resetting your modem, and making sure your payment methods are up-to-date, should do the trick.
Thank you for reading. We strive for excellence and love providing people with answers to their everyday technical problems. If you found this article helpful, you’ll love the new content we upload every week. Make sure to stay tuned!
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.
