If you’re having trouble watching HBO Max with your VPN, don’t panic. There’s a very simple workaround.
In this article, we outline the reasons why you’re having trouble watching HBO Max outside the US (with your VPN) and give you the simple steps you need to fix that.
See also:
- How to watch HBO Max outside the US: The EASY way! (May 2022)
- ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max? Here’s some EASY fixes you can try! (May 2022)
HBO Max not working with VPN: Quick guide
If you just want a quick fix, and don’t want to learn why HBO Max might not be working with your VPN, follow these steps.
Total Time: 3 minutes
Delete your cookies
Cookies (sometimes) store information that websites use to determine your location.
If HBO Max not working with your VPN is a one-off, deleting your cookies is the first thing you should try.
Connect to a different server (in the USA)
HBO blocks IP addresses, not VPNs.
If deleting your cookies didn’t work, then connecting to a different server in the US, with a different IP address, is the next thing you should try.
Upgrade your VPN
If steps 1 and 2 don’t work it means HBO Max has managed to blacklist all of your current VPN’s server IP addresses.
If this is the case, then you only have one option left: you need to upgrade your VPN.
I recommend NordVPN ($3.49/month), or Ivacy ($1.33/month) if you want to spend a bit less.
Both offer 30-day money work with HBO Max and are industry-leaders at unblocking streaming services.
See also: BBC iPlayer not working with VPN? Here’s how to fix that!
Why has HBO Max stopped working with my VPN?
If you’re VPN has suddenly stopped working with HBO Max, it means that the VPN server and IP address you normally use has been blacklisted by HBO Max (we explain how this happens below). The easiest (and best) workaround you can try is to connect to simply switch servers and try to connect via another one – but below are also some things to try with your current VPN (these are not guaranteed to work though).
Note: If you’re using one of the lower-end VPNs – IPVanish, TunnelBear, HotSpot Shield, Buffered, etc – there’s a strong chance that all of the US server IPs have been blacklisted by HBO Max.
How does HBO Max detect and blacklist VPNs?

Since 2016, online streaming services – Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc -starting actively detecting and blacklisting VPNs.
The way streamers detect and blacklist VPN IP addresses is pretty simple. It’s basically a numbers game.
A normal IP represents a standard residential internet connection. Which means there’s likely to be between 1-8 users connected to the internet at any given time. Which creates the potential for up to nine simultaneous connections to HBO Max (for example). This would be deemed and acceptable.
A VPN Server’s IP address is more likely to be abnormal. This is because there are potentially hundreds/thousands of users connecting to the internet through it. When an abnormal number (8+) of users connect to HBO Max at the same time via the same VPN IP, it gets blacklisted.
It’s as simple as that.
HBO Max not signing in VPN
If you’re using a VPN and HBO Max isn’t signing in. You might be coming across problems like the loading wheel endlessly rotating or the streaming service never loads, then the IP address you’ve been given by your VPN has been blocked.
Recently HBO Max has upgraded and improved its VPN detection methods. While the process is essentially the same as the one HBO Max has always used (explained above) the streaming service has got better at detecting VPN IP addresses.
This is why its crucial you use a premium VPN when trying to watch HBO Max outside its broadcast territories. Premium VPNs like NordVPN ($3.49/month) are much more likely to stay one step ahead of HBO Max’s VPN blocking techniques.
Using NordVPN ($3.49/month) means you won’t come across issues watching HBO Max like you have with your current VPN, and it will allow you to reliably watch HBO Max anywhere in the world.
How to fix HBO Max not working with VPN
There are a few things you can try if your existing VPN isn’t working with HBO Max:
- Clear cookies
- Start a Live Chat via your VPN’s website and ask if it has specific HBO server
- Switch to a laptop or desktop PC (VPNs perform best on these platforms)
If the above doesn’t work you’re left with no option but to change your VPN provider. I recommend going with NordVPN ($3.49/month) because it’s the best service on the market by a long way. However, if you want to save a few dollars each month, any of the other VPN featured below will get the job done too.
- NordVPN ($3.49/month)
- Ivacy ($1.16/month)
- ExpressVPN ($6.66/month)
- Private Internet Access ($2.85/month)
All four of these VPN-providers are excellent at keeping their Servers and IPs open to all of the major online streaming services. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, HBO Max. It supports them all.
The reason for this is twofold. First, they all keep the number of users connected to its server below the blacklisting threshold. NordVPN has 2,000 servers in the US – which makes the job a lot easier.
More importantly, these VPNs play a game of Cat and Mouse with online streamers. The rules are easy. When one of the VPN’s IP addresses is blocked, they react by shutting it down and replacing it with a fresh (unblacklisted) IP address. Simple, but also, really effective.
What’s the Best VPN for HBO Max?
1. NordVPN
The BEST VPN of 2022

Pro
- Fast servers
- No logs
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 6-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
SPECIAL OFFER – $3.49/month
2. Ivacy
The BEST low-cost VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- Dedicated streaming servers
- 5-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- Sometimes runs slow
- Occasionally blocked by streaming sites
SPECIAL OFFER: 7-DAY TRIAL ($0.99)
3. ExpressVPN
A very reliable and fast VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
SPECIAL OFFER – 3-MONTHS FREE!
4. Private Internet Access
The BEST mid-range VPN for streaming!
Pros
- Fast and reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 48 server locations
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 82%!
30-day money-back guarantee
5. CyberGhost

Pros
- 1-day free trial
- Reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 7-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
- Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
30-day money-back guarantee
VPNs Blacklisted by HBO Max
All VPNs are technically blacklisted by HBO Max. However, the good ones – like NordVPN, Private Internet Access, Ivacy and ExpressVPN – have workarounds in place. The VPNs that don’t will remain blacklisted. From our tests, the following VPNs are currently blacklisted by HBO Max and do not have reliable workarounds in place.
- TunnelBear
- PureVPN
- IPVanish
- HideMyAss
- Windscribe
- HotSpot Shield
- VyprVPN
- Buffered