How to Watch HBO Max in the UK: Complete Guide

October 25, 2024 By Christine Margret No Comments 10 minutes

HBO Max, also known as Max, is another streaming contender in the US. The platform known for its goblin-y charm and unique shows is gaining subscribers by the day. And it seems from the demographics that people want to watch HBO Max in the UK as well.

Watch HBO Max in UK

Unfortunately, because of a contract between WBD and Sky Atlantic, Max isn’t coming to the UK till 2026. The only solution that honest, diligent, and Saturday-night-binge-loving folks like you and I have left is a VPN.

Note: Hold your horses because not every VPN will work with HBO Max. You’ll need a VPN with a good server network, great applications, and streaming speeds, like FastestVPN. Get your subscription today to watch HBO Max in the UK or anywhere else.

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Why Can’t I Access HBO Max in the UK?

HBO Max is not available in the UK, because of the contract WBD (Warner Bros. Discovery) has with Sky Atlantic. The deal signed in 2019 had a stipulation that Warner Bros. would not launch HBO Max in the UK until 2026. In return, Sky Atlantic would fund four in-demand shows on HBO Max.

The deal will expire in 2025, and Warner Bros. will definitely launch Max in the UK. It might even happen before 2026, because Sky Atlantic is suing Warner Bros. for a breach of contract. If the contract is nullified, you might see Max in the UK, sooner.

Till then, you can only go by with a VPN service or immigrate to the US. The latter seems more of an extreme move, so I’d say just stick to a virtual private network.

How to Watch HBO Max in the UK

The only solution to watch HBO Max in the UK is by changing your UK IP address into USA IP address. This will change your virtual location into the USA and HBO Max will accept your access request.

One possible way to replace your IP address is through a VPN. Here’s how to use FastestVPN to bypass geo-blocks on the Max website and platforms:

Visit and subscribe to FastestVPN
Install FastestVPN app on a supported device.
Open and login to the app using provided credentials.
Connect to US server.
Open HBO Max.
Subscribe to your favorite Max plan.
Watch Max shows and enjoy.

How to Subscribe to HBO Max in the UK

One of the ways that HBO Max filters out people outside the US is through payment gateways. Only people with a working and valid US Debit or Credit card can subscribe to Max. Fortunately, there are some ways to work around that:

Connect to FastestVPN US Server.
Go to the Google Play Store or App Store.
Download the HBO Max Application.
Click on the HBO Max Application.
Click on Sign Up.
Choose a Plan and Click on Continue.
Enter your Email Address and other info into the next page.
Click on Create Account when you’re done.
Enter your Payment Details on the Next Page.
(You can connect your Google Play or App Store account to a valid debit or credit card)
Confirm the Payment and complete the process.

Wait for the confirmation email and then log in with your new credentials. Google Play and App Store payments can help you bypass the subscription gateway problem.

Alternative Ways to Sign Up for HBO Max in UK

The only possible way to subscribe to HBO Max in the UK is through a US-based credit card. You can request any of your friends who live in the USA to do that for you. Otherwise, you can try getting a US-based virtual credit card to pay for the UK subscription.

There’s another way to subscribe to HBO Max in the UK via gift card. To get your gift card, you need to visit the My Gift Card Supply website.

Now, type HBO Max, where you see the search field. Select the $25 card value when you see the options. Buy a gift card worth $25, and your HBO Max subscription is done.

What’s Good About HBO Max?

HBO Max is the bigger and the better version of HBO GO and HBO. It’s a standalone streaming service powered by the HBO, Warner Bros. The platform offers exclusive titles, smooth applications, and a ton of other perks.

HBO Max Applications

What I personally liked about HBO Max was the streamlined applications. HBO Max has very smooth applications for different devices. You can download their silky-smooth applications on Android, iOS, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and XBox.

HBO Max Movies

The streaming service offers an incredible range of lionized titles, including The Lord of the Rings, the Snyder Cut of Justice League, Justice League (No One Liked That), and Joker.

Besides the best movie titles, HBO Max also gives you a chance to relive memories by airing exceptional TV shows like FRIENDS, Game of Thrones, Westworld, and a lot more about to land on the surface.

HBO Max Shows

Not to forget that HBO Max has various original series for its subscribers, including The Big Bang Theory, South Park, the Studio Ghibli collection, and Wonder Woman. Not only that, but HBO Max also lets you watch the entire HBO GO and HBO content libraries.

What is the Cost of HBO Max in the UK?

HBO Max is officially not available in the UK, so you have to subscribe to the service with the US prices. Max costs $9.99 per month with ads and $16.99 per month without ads.

It is slightly expensive than Netflix, Disney Plus, and Apple TV Plus. However, with the $16.99 per month plan, you can watch all your favorite content ad-free.

Can I Watch HBO Max in UK via Free VPNs?

Free VPNs and proxies cannot unblock HBO Max in the UK or anywhere else. Free VPNs use shared and minimal servers that fail to unblock streaming services like HBO Max.

Furthermore, free VPNs often lack the servers and speeds to offer a good streaming experience. Most of their IPs get blocked by streaming platforms, which often leaves you disappointed.

Finally, free VPNs often sell your data for profit, because if you aren’t paying for a product then you are the product. There have been multiple cases in the past where free VPNs have leaked user data.

Is It Legal to Use a VPN in the UK?

Using a UK VPN for streaming content is legal. A VPN encrypts your traffic to maintain online security. It also helps you unblock geo-restricted content from anywhere as long as it has a good server range worldwide.

You can use it to hide your history or cloak your presence from the government and no one will bat an eye. However, at the same time, if you use VPNs to do something illegal, it would still count as a crime.

How to Watch HBO Max in UK on Different Devices

You can watch HBO Max in UK on different devices, like iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Apple, and Android TVs. However, the process is a bit different for every device. Here are complete guides for all of the different devices.

Watch HBO Max in the UK on Android Devices

Watch HBO Max in the UK on Android devices easily with the following steps:

Go to the Google Play Store.
Download FastestVPN.
Login and connect to a US server.
Go to the Play Store again.
Search for HBO Max.
Download and Login using your credentials.
Start streaming.

Stream HBO Max on Apple devices in the UK

Here’s how you can watch HBO Max on Apple devices in the UK:

Find FastestVPN on the App Store.
Download the VPN on your iOS device.
Subscribe to the Lifetime Plan.
Login with your credentials.
Connect to a US server.
Logout of your iCloud account.
Create another account.
Select the USA location.
Now, head to Apple App Store.
Install the HBO Max app.
Create an account or log in.
Search for a show of your choice.
Start streaming.

Watch HBO Max on Amazon Fire TV in the UK

You can watch HBO Max on Amazon Fire TV in UK by following the steps below:

Install the FastestVPN on Amazon Fire TV.
Connect to a US server.
Go to the home page of your Fire TV.
Look for a tab that says Add Apps.
Search for HBO Max.
Download the App and Install it.
When it’s done, open the HBO Max application.
Login with your account credentials.
Start streaming like there’s no tomorrow.

Stream HBO Max on Apple TV in the UK

You can stream Max from the UK on Apple TV by using the guide below:

Install FastestVPN on Apple TV.
Connect to a US server.
You can find the App Store on 4th Gen or Later Apple TVs.
Go to the App Store.
Search for HBO Max.
Download the Application.
Open and Log In with your credentials.
Start streaming normally.

Watch HBO Max on Windows in the UK

Watching HBO Max on Windows is easier than breathing. Here’s how you do it:

Download FastestVPN on Windows device.
Login using your credentials.
Connect to a US server.
Open your browser.
Go to the official HBO Max website.
Click on Sign Up or Login.
Finish the process by creating your Max account.
Start streaming your favorite shows.

Note: If you don’t want to download the VPN app, we also have convenient browser extensions. You can get the FastestVPN extension from the Chrome Web Store.

Stream HBO Max on MacOS in the UK

You can also watch HBO Max in the UK on your MacOS devices. Here’s how you do it:

Download and Install FastestVPN on MacOS.
Login with your credentials.
Connect to a US server.
Go to the app store.
Search for HBO Max.
Download the application.
Login using your credentials or create a new account.
Stream your favorite HBO Max UK shows and movies.

Can’t Access HBO Max with a VPN: Try These Fixes

No matter how perfect a VPN is, it can still cause problems. You can fix most of these problems easily as long as you know how to fix them. Here’s how you do it:

Blocked VPN IP: Sometimes a VPN IP gets blocked when you try to access HBO Max in the UK. It happens when the IP detection system detects your real IP. If it happens, simply disconnect your VPN and then reconnect to get another IP address.
Protocol Problems: Certain protocols could cause a connection failure, like the IKeV2 in China. If your VPN refuses to work, try switching the connection protocol to WireGuard or OpenSec.
App Issues: Sometimes the installer packages for certain apps don’t work properly, which causes connectivity issues. In cases like these, we recommend reinstalling the app and updating older versions to the newest build.
Clear Your Cache: Certain websites use cookies to track your location. The only way to solve this issue is to clear your cache. You can clear it by going to settings, privacy & security, cookies, and clear.

If you still face trouble, contact the FastestVPN 24/7 support team. Our support can work around the clock to help fix your problems.

FAQs - Watch HBO Max in UK

When did HBO Max launch?

HBO Max is one of the most recent streaming services. It landed on 27- May 2020. The service is accessible in the USA only and had plans to launch in the UK. However, following an agreement with Sky Atlantic the launch was delayed till 2026. Sky Atlantic sued HBO Max for "multiple material breaches" of their co-funding agreement.

When will HBO Max launch in the UK?

According to the current news, HBO Max might launch in the UK around 2026. HBO Max has not launched in the UK because of an agreement between Sky Atlantic and WBD (Warner Bros Discovery). The agreement will end in 2026, which means we'll have to wait till then to get HBO Max in the UK.

Is HBO Max on Sky UK?

No, HBO Max is not available on Sky UK because of their previous agreement with HBO Max. According to this agreement, Sky and HBO Max would co-fund a certain number of popular shows and movies every year. Naturally, Max shows and movies is not available on Sky UK.

Conclusion: Watch Max in the UK

HBO Max is one of the top media streaming services that are only accessible in the USA. It offers a massive collection of not-to-be-missed movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, because of geo-blocks the platform and its services are unavailable for everyday users outside the US.

The only way to gain access is by using FastestVPN. We give you a list of US servers that make streaming HBO Max in the UK a breeze. Get your subscription today by clicking on the button below.