HBO (Home Box Office) is a premium television programming alternative to cable TV. On the other hand, HBO Go, which used to be a way to stream HBO content for free, and HBO Now, a standalone streaming service, are now combined under the HBO Max banner since 2020. With that said, HBO Max offers over 10,000 hours of TV shows, feature films, live sports, and even theatrical releases in one place, but isn’t available worldwide. Fortunately, by hiding your IP with a VPN, you can assume any location in the world. This is exactly the goal of learning how to watch HBO with ExpressVPN. So, let’s start.
Step 1. Get an active HBO subscription
You still need to have a valid account to access HBO services, even if you use a VPN. So, start by signing up for a monthly subscription to HBO Max. Alternatively, you can get a 7-day free trial they offer with a Hulu subscription. Moreover, some AT&T customers might be eligible for a free HBO Max account. If you already have one, proceed.
Step 2. Buy, download, install, and run ExpressVPN, then connect to a VPN server
Start by following steps 2 and 3 in our guide on watching Amazon Prime Video using ExpressVPN. You can also follow the practical instructions for connecting to an ExpressVPN server under step 4 too, but with one key difference. HBO Max only works in the United States and a few United States territories.
Step 3. Access HBO content
Once you see a green shield or a power-on button, you’re ready to use ExpressVPN to watch HBO content on:
- Desktop. Open the “hbomax.com” URL in your browser and sign in.
- Smartphone, tablet, and TV. Download and open the HBO Max app for Android, iOS, and iPad OS or Smart TV and log in.
- Streaming media console. Download and launch HBO Max apps for Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV Stick and log onto your account.
- Gaming consoles. Download HBO Max from the Microsoft Store (Xbox) or go to “Home page > Media tab > All Apps” (PlayStation). You still need to sign in to your HBO Max account.
I still have problems watching HBO Max. What do I do?
Couldn’t log in because of the “Not in Service Area or VPN Detected” error? Experiencing poor quality, buffering, or freezing? ExpressVPN recommends connecting to the VPN server in the United States closest to your real location. If that fails, follow the instructions under step 5, sub-steps 2 and 3 of the Amazon Prime guide we mentioned above.
Read our ExpressVPN streaming guide for a better understanding of streaming with ExpressVPN.
