Download shows and movies

You can download shows and movies on your phone or tablet and watch them later when you're offline.

How do I download something?

To download something, you need:

Here's how to download a show or movie:

  1. Open HBO Max on your phone or tablet.
  2. Choose an episode or movie that you want to download. Most shows and movies are available to download.
  3. Tap the Download icon (arrow pointing down).
    Downloads are only available with the Ad-Free plan. Which plan do I have?
  4. The Download Progress icon (animated circle) updates to show you the progress. Tap this icon to pause or resume downloading.

The Download Complete icon (check mark) appears when the download is finished. Tap the Downloads icon (arrow pointing down, bottom edge) to see all of your downloads.

Your account can have up to 30 downloads at one time across all profiles and devices (expired items are not counted).

Once you start watching a download, you have 48 hours to finish watching it before it expires. Once expired, you can renew or delete the download.

  • Audio and subtitles. You can choose your audio and subtitle language once you start watching. For some shows and movies, you may need to choose a language before downloading.
  • SD card storage. Titles that you download are stored on your device's internal storage (downloads can't be saved to an SD card).
  • Copies. Your account can have up to 5 copies of the same show or movie (across all profiles and devices).
How do I watch my downloads?

To view your downloads:

  • Tap the Downloads icon (arrow pointing down, bottom edge) (bottom edge), and then tap one of your downloads. (If you don't have a Downloads icon, make sure you're signed in.)

You can play downloaded titles when traveling to other countries. To learn more, see Watch HBO Max while traveling.

  • How many? Your account can have a total of 30 downloads (across all profiles and devices). Once your account has 30 downloads, you'll need to delete downloads on a device before you can download something. To see which mobile devices have used your account, see Manage Devices.
  • Expiration. Unwatched downloads expire after 30 days or 48 hours after you start watching (or when the show or movie leaves the HBO Max service). Once expired, you can renew or delete a download.
  • Lock icon. Your Downloads list shows all downloads on your device regardless of which profile started the download. Kid profiles can't watch downloads that are restricted by parental controls (these downloads will appear with a lock icon (closed padlock)).

Downloads are only available with the Ad-Free plan. If you switch to the With Ads plan, you can't play titles that you already downloaded. Which plan do I have?

Why can't I play a download?

If you're having trouble playing a download, try the following:

  1. Make sure you're connected to the internet and signed in (your profile should appear in the upper right).
  2. Close the HBO Max app.
  3. On your phone or tablet, turn on Airplane mode or turn off WiFi.
  4. Open HBO Max.
  5. On the Downloads screen, tap one of your downloads.

If this doesn't help and you're using an Android phone or tablet, try the following:

Android: Clear the cache

Try clearing the HBO Max cache. Here's how:

  1. Go to Settings on your Android device.
  2. Tap Search and type HBO Max.
  3. Choose HBO Max from the search results.
  4. Tap Storage & cache or Storage.
  5. Tap Clear cache.
  6. Open HBO Max, sign in, then try playing one of your downloads.
Download over a mobile network

Because downloads use a large amount of data, downloading is limited to WiFi connections by default. You can, however, download shows and movies over your cellular network if you'd like. Here's how:

  1. Open HBO Max on your phone or tablet, then tap your profile (upper right).
  2. Tap the Settings icon (cog, upper right) and tap or scroll to Downloads.
  3. Turn off Download over Wi-Fi Only.

This setting applies to all profiles on your phone or tablet.

Change the download quality

By default, shows and movies are downloaded using the highest quality for your device.

To change your download quality:

  1. Tap your profile (upper right) and then the Settings icon (cog, upper right).
  2. Tap or scroll to Downloads.
  3. Tap Download Quality and then choose:
    • Highest quality: Download the highest quality (larger files, more time to download).
    • Fastest download: Download a lower quality (smaller files, less time to download).

This setting applies to all profiles on your phone or tablet. The highest download quality is 1080p.

How do I renew downloads?

When a download expires, you'll need to renew it before you can watch it. Here's how

  1. Open HBO Max and tap the Downloads icon (arrow pointing down, bottom edge).
  2. Tap the ! icon on your expired download and then tap Renew (an internet connection is needed to renew a download).

Why did my download expire?

  • Unwatched downloads expire 30 days after downloading (or when a show or movie leaves the HBO Max service). To find out when your downloads will expire, go to your Downloads list ((arrow pointing down, bottom edge)).
  • Once you start watching a download, you have 48 hours to finish watching it before it expires.
  • You can renew a download multiple times. Downloads that are no longer available on the HBO Max service will automatically expire and can't be renewed.
How do I delete downloads?
  1. Tap the Downloads icon (arrow pointing down, bottom edge).
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Swipe left on a download and tap X.
    • Tap the Edit icon (paper and pencil). Then, tap X to delete a download. To delete all downloads, tap Clear all. When you're done editing, tap Done.
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