To watch HBO Max on your iPad, download the free HBO Max app from the App Store, open it, and tap Sign In with your HBO Max account, or Subscribe if you’re new. Then choose who’s watching and tap a show or movie to play it. HBO Max says the app needs iPadOS 16.4 or later.
The steps below come from HBO Max Help: Install HBO Max on supported devices, Sign in to HBO Max, AirPlay HBO Max to your TV, Download HBO Max shows and movies, and Troubleshoot the HBO Max app. Plan names and download limits are HBO Max’s US details and can change.
How to watch HBO Max on iPad
- Open the App Store on your iPad.
- Search for HBO Max, choose it, and tap the download button.
- Open the HBO Max app.
- Tap Sign In and enter your HBO Max email or mobile number, or tap Subscribe to start a new account.
- Choose who’s watching, then tap a show or movie to play it.
Result: the title starts playing on your iPad. HBO Max says that if your subscription has expired, you’ll be prompted to renew it when you sign in.
Signing in: provider accounts and other options
- Email or phone: HBO Max asks for your account email (then your password) or your mobile number (then a 6-digit code sent by text).
- Through a provider: if you get HBO Max through an internet, mobile, or TV provider, HBO Max says to choose create an HBO Max account and then choose your provider. The provider steps are the same on a phone, as shown in how to set up HBO Max on an iPhone.
- Connect Accounts: on iOS devices, HBO Max may offer to sign you in automatically on devices that use the same iCloud account.
- Switch accounts: tap your profile at the upper right, tap Sign Out, then sign in again.
Watch HBO Max on your TV with AirPlay
- Connect your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV or AirPlay 2-compatible TV, and make sure AirPlay is turned on there.
- Open HBO Max and start watching something.
- Tap the screen, then tap the AirPlay icon.
- Choose your TV.
Result: the video plays on your TV. HBO Max notes that installing its app on the TV itself is the easiest option if one is available. For an Apple TV, follow our steps to install HBO Max on an Apple TV. See also how to watch iPad videos on your TV. If you have a Chromecast instead of an Apple TV, see how to cast HBO Max to a Chromecast.
Download shows to watch offline
HBO Max says downloads work on iPad with the Standard and Premium plans (Basic with Ads has none). Standard allows 30 downloads at a time and Premium allows 100. The iPhone app works the same way, so see how to download HBO Max movies on an iPhone for the full walkthrough.
- Sign in on your iPad while you’re online, ideally on strong Wi-Fi.
- Find a title with a Download icon beside its description.
- Tap the Download icon and wait for it to finish.
- To watch, tap the Downloads icon and choose the title.
Result: the title plays without an internet connection. HBO Max says unwatched downloads expire after 30 days, and once you start one you have 48 hours to finish it. You can renew an expired download when you’re back online.
Why won’t HBO Max work on my iPad?
HBO Max suggests trying these in order:
- Update: in the App Store, search for HBO Max and tap Update if it appears. Then go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Check your speed: HBO Max needs at least 5 Mbps. If you’re on cellular data, try Wi-Fi.
- Sign out and restart: sign out of HBO Max, turn the iPad fully off, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on, and sign in again.
- Reinstall: delete the app, install it again from the App Store, and sign in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch HBO Max in Safari on my iPad?
HBO Max’s install page points phone and tablet users to the app and lists HBOMax.com for computers, so the app is the supported way to watch on an iPad.
Can my iPad play HBO Max if it’s older?
HBO Max lists iPadOS 16.4 or later. To check your version, go to Settings > General > About; if your iPad can’t update to 16.4, it won’t meet HBO Max’s requirement.
Related Guides
- How to watch Netflix on iPad
- How to watch Amazon Prime Video on iPad
- How to update your iPad
- How to re-download purchased movies on iPad
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.