HBO Max playback options and settings

There are a number of playback options available in HBO Max.

Which device are you using?

To see your playback options, tap the screen when you're watching something.

Play/Pause

Tap the Play/Pause button (middle of the screen) to toggle between play and pause.

Skip/Forward

Tap the skip button beside the Play/Pause button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

Progress bar

The progress bar shows you where you are in what you’re watching. You can tap anywhere on the bar, or tap and drag your location (the dot). The elapsed time appears in the lower-left corner followed by the total time.

Volume

To adjust the volume, use the volume buttons on your phone or tablet.

Picture in Picture (iOS only)

You can use Picture in Picture to watch HBO Max while you use other apps on these iOS devices:

  • Apple iPad (with iOS 9+)
  • Apple iPhone (with iOS 14+)

Here’s how to use Picture in Picture:

  1. When you're watching something, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen (the Go Home gesture on iOS). What you’re streaming shrinks and continues to play.
  2. Start another app. When you do this, the playback window stays on top.
  3. Tap the Play icon (triangle) to continue watching.

To learn more, see Picture in Picture on iPad or Picture in Picture on iPhone.

Pinch to Zoom

You can use the Pinch-to-Zoom gesture to make shows and movies fill the screen on your phone or tablet. To do this, move 2 fingers apart to zoom in and together to zoom out. Watching shows and movies while zoomed in may cause the video to appear cropped.

Options at the top right of the screen

Chromecast

Tap the Google Cast icon (rectangle with WiFi symbol) to stream HBO Max from your phone or tablet to your TV. To learn more, see Cast to your TV using Chromecast.

Chromecast is not available with the Mobile plan (not available to new or returning subscribers). Learn more about plans.

AirPlay (iOS only)

Tap the AirPlay icon (rectangle and triangle) to stream HBO Max from your iOS device to your AirPlay-2 compatible device. To learn more, see Stream using AirPlay.

AirPlay is not available with the Mobile plan (not available to new or returning subscribers). Learn more about plans.

Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks

Tap the Audio and Subtitles icon Audio and Subtitles icon to change the subtitles, captions, or audio track. To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks.

Stream over a mobile network

By default, streaming is limited to WiFi connections. If you have a 3G or faster cellular connection, you can stream over your cellular network using your mobile data. Here's how:

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

To see your playback options, click the screen when you're watching something.

Play/Pause

Click the Play/Pause button (along the bottom) to toggle between play and pause. You can also press the Spacebar.

Skip/Forward

Click the skip button beside the Play/Pause button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds. You can also press the left or right arrow key.

Progress bar

The progress bar shows you where you are in what you’re watching. You can click anywhere on the bar, or click and drag your location (the dot). The elapsed time appears in the lower-left corner followed by the total time.

Chromecast

Choose the Google Cast icon (rectangle with WiFi symbol) to stream HBO Max from your computer to your TV. To learn more, see Cast to your TV using Chromecast.

Volume

To adjust the volume, hover your mouse over the Sound icon (speaker) and then click and drag the sound level (the dot) on the volume bar. You can also press the up and down arrow key.

To mute the volume, click the Sound icon (speaker) or press M. To unmute, click the Sound icon or M again (the volume returns to the previous level).

You can also use the volume controls on your computer.

Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks

Click the Audio and Subtitles icon Audio and Subtitles icon to change the subtitles, captions, or audio track. To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks.

Full screen

Click the Full-screen icon (arrows pointing outward) to expand what you're streaming. To exit full screen, click the button again or press the Esc key.

Here are the playback options you can adjust when watching on your TV:

Play/Pause

When you're watching something, here's how to toggle between play and pause:

Android TV

Press the D-pad center button on your Android TV remote.

Apple TV

Press the touch surface or the Play/Pause button on your Apple TV remote.

Claro Box TV (Brazil only)

Press the D-pad center button on your Claro Box TV remote. Or, press the Play/Pause button above the D-pad.

LG Smart TV

Press the D-pad center button on your LG Smart TV remote. Or, press the Play/Pause buttons below the D-pad.

PlayStation console

Press the X button on your PS controller.

Roku

Press the Play/Pause button on your Roku remote.

Samsung TV

Press the D-pad center button on your Samsung TV remote.

Xbox console

Press the A button on your Xbox controller.

Fast forward or rewind

While you’re watching something, here’s how to fast forward and rewind:

Android TV

Press and hold the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Press the same button again to increase speed (up to 4x), or press the opposite button to decrease speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

Apple TV

Press and hold the left or right side of the touch surface to fast forward or rewind (on your Apple TV remote).

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the left or right side of the touch surface to skip forward or backwards 10 seconds.

Claro Box TV (Brazil only)

Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Or, press the Forward/Rewind buttons below the D-pad. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

LG Smart TV

Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Or, press the Forward/Rewind buttons below the D-pad. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

PlayStation console

Press the R2 button to fast forward and the L2 button to rewind.

Roku

Press the Forward/Rewind button on your Roku remote. Press the same button again to increase the speed (up to 4x), or the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the Play/Pause button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

Samsung TV

Press the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind. Press the button again to increase the speed (up to 4x) and press the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the D-pad center button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left or right button to skip forward or backwards 15 seconds.

Xbox console

Press and hold the D-pad right button to fast forward and the D-pad left button to rewind (or the Left or Right bumper). Press the same button again to increase the speed (up to 4x), or the opposite button to decrease the speed. Press the A button to resume playback.

Skip Forward/Backwards

Press the D-pad left button to skip backwards 15 seconds and the D-pad right button to skip forward 15 seconds.

Restart a show or movie

To start what you're watching over from the beginning:

Apple TV
  • Press the touch surface (first-generation remote) or clickpad center (second-generation remote), and then choose From Beginning.
Other devices
  1. Go back to the movie or episode description screen.
  2. Choose the Restart icon Restart icon. The show or movie will start playing from the beginning.
Progress bar

The progress bar shows you where you are in what you're watching. The elapsed time appears in the lower-right corner followed by the total time.

While you’re watching something, here’s how to use the progress bar:

Android TV

Press the D-pad center button on your remote, then press the D-pad right button to go forward and the D-pad left button to go backwards on the progress bar.

Apple TV
  • 1st Gen Remote: Press the touch surface, then swipe left or right to go forward or backwards on the progress bar.
  • 2nd Gen Remote: Press clickpad center, then rest your finger on the edge of the clickpad until a ring icon appears on screen, then rotate clockwise to go forward or counter-clockwise to go backwards.
Claro Box TV (Brazil only)

Press and hold the D-pad right to go forward and the D-pad left to go backwards on the progress bar.

LG Smart TV

Press the D-pad center button on your remote, then press the D-pad right button to go forward and the D-pad left button to go backwards on the progress bar.

PlayStation console

Press the X button on your controller, then press the L1 button to go backwards and the R1 button to go forward on the progress bar.

Roku

Press the Play/Pause button on your Roku remote, then press the Rewind button to go backwards and the Forward button to go forward on the progress bar.

Samsung TV

Press the D-pad center button on your remote, then press the D-pad right button to go forward and the D-pad left button to go backwards on the progress bar.

Xbox console

Move the Left stick on your controller, then use the Left or Right bumper to go forward or backwards on the progress bar.

Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks

Choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble) to change the subtitles, captions, or audio track. To learn more, see Subtitles, captions, and audio.

Skip Intro

When you start watching something, you may see a Skip or Skip Intro button in the lower-right corner of your screen. Choose this button to skip the content that plays before your show or movie. To learn more, see Skip Intro.