9 solutions to fix HBO Max downloads not working offline

Emma

January 3, 2024

“I downloaded a Harry Potter film to watch offline, but when I went back into the app it’s not even letting me see my downloads. It keeps saying “we’re having issues connecting to HBO Max right now. Please try again.” I went on Netflix and I was able to go see my downloads easily, but HBO Max is being pretty disappointing in not letting me see my downloads offline. Like what’s the point of downloading?? Can anyone help?” – user from Reddit.

Many HBO Max users complain that downloads won’t play when there is no internet commotion. Don’t worry, here we have listed 9 solutions for your to fix this issue.

1. Turn on Airplane mode

Unfortunately HBO Max only works while in airplane mode. Try the following steps on your phone or tablet:

1. Make sure you’re signed in.
2. Close the Max app.
3. Turn on Airplane mode.
4. Turn off Wi-Fi.
5. Open Max and try playing a download.

If this doesn’t help, try below solutions. The 9th solution will definitely work.

2. Update HBO Max

• Android: Open the Play Store on your Android device and search for HBO Max. If an app update is available tap Update.
• iOS: Open the App Store on your iOS device and search for HBO Max. If an app update is available tap Update.

3. Reinstall HBO Max

Delete the HBO Max app from your phone or tablet and install it again from the app store. Then open HBO Max, sign in, and try streaming again.

4. Sign out and sign back in

1. Sign out of HBO Max. To do this, tap the Profile icon  –  Settings icon , and then scroll down and tap Sign out.
2. Force quit HBO Max app.
3. Reopen HBO Max, sign in, and then try streaming again.

5.  Restart your device

To access your downloads, you may have to restart your device.

1. Hold down the power button until you’re prompted to power off your device.
2. Wait 10 seconds and then turn your device back on.
3. Open HBO Max, sign in, and then try streaming again.

6. Clear cache and data

If you’re using an Android phone or tablet or Amazon Fire tablet, try clearing the Max cache. Here’s how:

On Android phone or tablet

1. Go to Settings on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps & services – Apps.
3. Choose Max from the list.
4. Tap Storage & cache or Storage.
5. Tap Clear cache.
6. Open HBO Max, sign in, and then try streaming again.

On Amazon Fire tablet

1. Go to Settings > Apps & Games > Manage All Applications.
2. Choose HBO Max from the list of apps.
3. Tap Force Stop.
4. Tap Clear Cache.
5. Tap Clear Data.
6. Open HBO Max, sign in, and then try streaming again.

You can’t clear the cache for an app like HBO Max on an Apple device, so the easiest way to resolve a potentially corrupted cache is to uninstall the app and then reinstall it. 

7. Delete downloads and redownload

How to delete downloads?

1. Open Max app and tap the Downloads icon.
2. Choose the Download complete icon  beside a download and then choose Delete Download.

Then find the movie or show and tap the Download icon. If there is no Download icon, this means the show or movie isn’t available to download, or you have the With Ads plan.

8. Check your subscription

Max only allows Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free plan subscribers to download movies and TV shows on phones and tablets. If you have With Ads plan, the download feature is not available. Besides, if you download movies when you have Ad-free plan and then downgrade to With Ads plan of cancel your subscription, the downloads will also become unavailable.

How to check your subscription plan?

• Phone, tablet, or computer: Choose your profile and then Subscription.
• TV device: Choose the Settings icon  and then Subscription.

9. Download HBO Max movies and TV shows to MP4

The most effective solution for resolving offline download issues on HBO Max is to save movies and TV shows in the MP4 format on your device. This can be easily accomplished with Pazu HBO Max Video Downloader, which is compatible with both Mac and Windows. This powerful tool grants you the ability to download any HBO Max movie or TV show, including those from ad-supported accounts, in MP4/MKV format. Utilizing its built-in HBO Max search engine, all you need to do is input the title of the movie or TV show, select your preferred output format and quality, and initiate the download process. Importantly, the downloaded content will never expire, ensuring that you can enjoy it offline on any device, even if you cancel your HBO Max subscription.

This method allows you to enjoy HBO Max content without an internet connection. Pazu HBO Max Video Downloader specializes in downloading 1080p movies and TV shows from HBO Max to MP4/MKV on both Mac and Windows platforms. Subsequently, you can view these MP4 downloads on any device without needing the HBO Max app, and rest assured that your downloads will always be accessible.

Steps to download HBO Max movies and TV shows to MP4

Step 1: First, you need to install the software on the device whether it is Mac or Windows. After launch the software, it will redirect to the screen where you have to log in your HBO Max account.

Step 2: After logging into your account, type the show or movie you want to download in the search field and click the search icon.

Step 3: Click the gear icon on the top right corner to select the video format, codec, audio and subtitle languages, output folder, etc. 

Step 4: After doing all the changes, simply click on the download button. For movie, the downloading starts immediately. For TV show, you will be presented with all episodes. Select the seasons and episodes you want to download.

Further, if required you can change the subtitle and audio track by clicking on the gear-like icon.

To see all the downloaded items, go to the History tab. Now transfer the downloaded HBO Max movies and TV shows to your phone/tablet and watch them offline such as on your flight without any issues.