HBO Max subscribers may occasionally encounter a ‘content not available’ message when using the service, resulting in the inability to watch show episodes, movies and other videos. Whether the issue can be fixed by the user will depend on what’s causing the problem. In some cases, it can be the app or the device used, while in other cases, subscribers may need to wait on an official fix to roll out.
HBO Max costs $9.99 or $14.99 depending on whether opting for the ad-supported or ad-free plan. Regardless of the plan, subscribers can occasionally run into various issues including problems with the picture quality or streaming on too many devices at the same time. Although some of these issues are a limitation with the service in general, there are times when there’s an actual problem that needs to be fixed.
It is sometimes possible to encounter a ‘Content Not Available’ error message when attempting to watch a video. For some users, the message may actually display as ‘Can’t Play Title’ along with a message that reads “sorry, we’re having trouble playing this video.” Regardless of the language used, the result is typically the same – the inability to watch a show episode or movie. While this should be an uncommon experience for most subscribers, there are a few things to check to rule out any local issues when the problem surfaces.
The first thing to check is whether the problem is actually affecting the service as a whole or just that video. The easiest way to do this is to try and play a different video. If other episodes, shows, or movies work fine, then the problem is likely to be isolated to that one video. In this case, it is likely to be fixed in due course. If enough people are already experiencing the problem with the single video, then HBO Max is likely to be aware of the problem and working on a fix. If wanted, a subscriber can also contact HBO Max to let them know about the problematic video. Alternatively, subscribers can try restarting the app to see if that clears the problem. Another option is to check if the same video can be watched on a different device in the meantime.
Other potential ‘can’t play video’ fixes
If the problem is with every video checked, then there’s a bigger issue at play. In these situations, the best option is to double-check the service is working on another device. HBO Max is compatible with a number of smart TVs, streaming players, and other devices, and quickly checking that the service is working on another device can help to identify the cause. If the issue is only present on the one device, then it is worth closing the app completely and relaunching it to see if that fixes the problem. If not, it may be worth checking for any available app updates, or uninstalling the app and reinstalling it again. It could be the case that there’s suddenly something wrong with the app and downloading a fresh copy might help to clear any lingering problems, including a ‘content not available’ error message.
If the issue is present on multiple devices, and affects all videos, then it may be worth quickly checking the internet. If all of these devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and encountering the same connection issue, checking the internet will quickly rule out any problems in the home. The easiest way to do this is to check another streaming app on the same device. If other apps load and videos can be played, then there’s unlikely to be anything wrong with the internet connection.
In these situations, the issue is likely to be with HBO Max and there’s not exactly a lot that a subscriber can do. HBO Max has encountered widespread problems in the past where videos cannot be accessed and the only option for subscribers is to wait until the problem has been resolved by the service. As this old Twitter reply from HBO Max highlights, even after a widespread issue has been resolved, it is still possible that consumers will encounter the same problem and will need to restart the app to clear the ‘can’t play video’ issue on their device.
HBO Max ‘content not available’ summary
HBO Max subscribers may occasionally encounter an issue where they are unable to watch a video. In many of these cases, the app or the HBO Max website will display a ‘Content Not Available’ or ‘Can’t Play Title’ error message when attempting to play the episode or movie. This can sometimes be the result of a problem with an individual video and the easiest solution might be to try and watch the same video on a different device.
If the problem is with multiple videos, then the app could be the issue and potential fixes include restarting the app, checking for any available updates, reinstalling a fresh version of the app, and checking that the internet connection is working as it should be. If it is a problem with the HBO Max service in general, then the subscriber will almost certainly need to wait for the problem to be fixed by HBO Max.
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