ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max? Troubleshooting tips

When you’re at home, you should be able to access all of your favorite streaming services, HBO Max included, without restriction. But when you travel abroad, even if only for a short vacation. HBO Max isn’t available in many countries. Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, HBO’s location restrictions make accessing its content a bit trickier when traveling.

If HBO Max isn’t available in your current location, then you’ll see a message along the lines of: “Sorry, HBO Max isn’t available in your region yet” – frustrating if you’re already paying for an HBO Max subscription. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) such as ExpressVPN should help, but even the best VPNs for HBO Max can experience occasional difficulties.

This troubleshooting guide takes you through the common causes of ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max, and provides step-by-step instructions on fixing it so you can stream HBO Max shows, including The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and House of the Dragon.

Why isn’t ExpressVPN working with HBO Max?

HBO Max doesn’t hold exclusive rights to show all of its content everywhere. In many countries, local broadcasters or streaming platforms may have deals to show HBO content. These contracts prevent HBO Max from offering the same shows in those territories and can prevent you from accessing HBO Max from abroad.

As a result, HBO Max geo-blocks access from unsupported countries to avoid violating these rights agreements. The best VPNs for HBO Max, such as ExpressVPN, are supposed to help you get around the geo-restrictions. However, HBO Max actively tries to detect and block VPN traffic to enforce its regional licensing agreements. This is the most likely cause of your streaming issues.

Here’s why ExpressVPN isn’t working with HBO Max:

• HBO Max remembers your real IP address: Thanks to a cookie stored in your browser, HBO Max still has your previous IP address and location.
• You’re not connected to ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN has disconnected or you’re simply not connected to a server in a country that has access to HBO Max.
• HBO Max has blacklisted the IP address: HBO Max blocks known VPN IP addresses. Your current ExpressVPN IP may have already been blacklisted.
• You’re on mobile: It’s harder to bypass geo-blocking on mobile if the streaming app has access to your GPS, which can betray your real current location.

There’s a chance ExpressVPN isn’t working with HBO Max for one or more of the reasons above. Fortunately, they’re all easily resolved, so you can get streaming back up.

How to fix ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max

When you’re not sure what’s behind ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max, we recommend you go through our step-by-step instructions. It’s likely this will identify the issue, whatever it is, so you can watch HBO Max wherever you are in the world.

Here’s how to fix ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max:

1. Check you’re using the latest version of ExpressVPN. You should see a banner within the app prompting you to update but if you’re still not sure, you can always download the ExpressVPN app via the website.
2. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies before reloading your browser. This helps HBO Max forget your previous IP address. It should then acknowledge the new IP address and location provided by ExpressVPN.
3. Sometimes you need to connect to more than one ExpressVPN server to find one that works with HBO Max. Some IP addresses have already been used by other ExpressVPN subscribers and are blocked by HBO Max.
4. Streaming services tend to use stronger location checks on mobile. Browsers can more easily be fooled by VPNs. Although it’s possible to spoof your GPS location on mobile, it’s far easier to switch to desktop and access HBO Max that way.
5. Hopefully one of the above steps has done the trick but if not, it’s a good idea to get in touch with ExpressVPN’s excellent customer support. They’re available 24 hours a day via live chat and email, making it easy to get help as and when you need it.

Whether a VPN such as ExpressVPN works with HBO Max can change at short notice. We’ve found it to work consistently with HBO Max over the years but if there’s simply no workaround at present, your next best bet is trying an alternative. For this reason, we’ve provided a roundup of the best VPNs for HBO Max further below.

Using a different VPN but still having issues getting HBO Max working? Read our complete troubleshooting guide.

How to access HBO Max with ExpressVPN

We’ve gone through the causes of ExpressVPN not working with HBO Max, as well as the steps you can take to fix the problem. Below, we provide a short step-by-step guide on getting set up just in case it’s your first time using ExpressVPN.

Here’s how to use ExpressVPN to access HBO Max from anywhere:

1. You probably already have an ExpressVPN account but if not, sign up with ExpressVPN, selecting your preferred subscription tier and duration.
2. Download and install the ExpressVPN app that’s compatible with your streaming device if you haven’t already. Depending on your subscription tier, you can have 10, 12, or 14 simultaneous connections.
3. Open ExpressVPN’s app and log in if prompted. You can then connect to a server in a country that has HBO Max. For example, a server in the US for a US IP address.
4. Go to HBO Max. If ExpressVPN now works with HBO Max, then you should now be able to log in and stream its content regardless of where in the world you’re traveling.
5. Any trouble? We recommend you consult our list of fixes further above. These include clearing your cookies and switching servers to change your IP address.

Alternative VPNs for streaming HBO Max

Although it’s far from ideal if your current VPN isn’t allowing you to watch HBO Max, the good news is that there are some great alternatives to be found.

Here are the best ExpressVPN alternatives for HBO Max:

1. NordVPN: Our top choice for streaming HBO Max. Also works with Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Large server network, fast and consistent speeds, and specialty servers.
2. Surfshark: Works well with HBO Max and many different Netflix libraries. No device connection limit and high-speed servers for seamless streaming. Many extra features.
3. Total VPN: Reliable VPN service coupled with a top-rated antivirus. Servers in countries worldwide for easily accessing HBO Max. Desktop and mobile apps are easy to use.
4. Proton VPN: A privacy-first provider with one of the largest server networks and very fast speeds for streaming HBO Max. One of the better unblockers of streaming services.
5. IPVanish: One of the best VPNs for streaming. A growing server network, reliable unblocking, and fast speeds. Unlimited simultaneous connections and numerous extras.
6. CyberGhost: Large server network covering 100 countries. Can be used to access HBO Max and Netflix US. Fastest VPN we’ve tested and has specialty streaming servers.
7. PureVPN: Successfully accessed HBO Max, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer in testing. Fast for streaming with strong security and a 10-device simultaneous connection allowance.

VPN with HBO Max: FAQs