How to Fix HBO’s Not in Service Area Message [2024 Guide]

HBO Max might be “The One to Watch,” but there’s definitely one thing that you don’t want to be watching on the platform when you’re excited for some screen time: the “Max is Not Available in Your Region” error message.

Screenshot of the "Max is not available in your region" error message.

With so much to watch – from classics like The Wire to more recent hits like The Flight Attendant – you’ll want to take HBO Max with you no matter where you travel in the world. Unfortunately, HBO is unavailable in many countries around the world. To avoid running into the error message when you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need a VPN.

Most VPNs won’t work with HBO, but CyberGhost does. Our VPN makes it easy to get an IP address from your home country, which means you can watch your favorite shows and movies without restrictions while you’re traveling abroad. We even have streaming-optimized servers for HBO Max that we test regularly to ensure you can always access the platform.

How to Watch HBO Max with a VPN in 3 Steps

Skip the glitches and error messages when you watch HBO Max abroad with CyberGhost VPN.

  1. Become a Ghostie. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
  2. Download the app for your device and connect to a streaming-optimized server for HBO Max.
  3. Enjoy smooth, secure access to HBO Max!

Why You Need a VPN to Fix HBO’s Not in Service Area Message

When you’re traveling abroad and HBO Max detects that you’re in a country where the service isn’t offered, you’ll see the “Not Available in Your Region” error message. Not ideal when you plan an evening in to binge the latest season of White Lotus or Succession.

There’s no need to rethink your itinerary to keep up with your favorite content while you’re away. HBO Max uses your IP address to determine your location, so all you need to do is use a VPN to get an IP address from your home country and make it look like you’re watching from there. Once you’re connected to the right server location, you can log in to your HBO account and stream as usual.

Where Is HBO Max Available?

Right now, HBO Max is only available in the US, Latin America, the Caribbean, and some European countries

Here’s a full list of the countries and territories outside of the US where you can access the platform:

Latin AmericaThe CaribbeanEurope
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Curaçao
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Montserrat
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Andorra
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
Greenland
Hungary
Moldova
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

HBO Max has different content libraries for different countries. For example, The Batman is streaming in the US, but isn’t available in Romania. If you’re traveling in another country, you can connect to a CyberGhost VPN server in your home country and unlock your regular library.

Why Choose CyberGhost VPN for Watching HBO Max

Streaming-Optimized Servers for HBO Max

HBO Max often blocks IP addresses that are associated with VPNs, which can be a problem when you’re traveling abroad. 

CyberGhost VPN has streaming-optimized servers for HBO Max in the US, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Spain. These servers are tested regularly to ensure you can always access the platform, so you can watch episode after episode of everything from True Detective to Girls without having to deal with location error messages.

Stream Seamlessly in HD

CyberGhost VPN gives you ultra-fast connections for smooth, picture-perfect streaming. We have a massive server network with 10-Gbps servers in busy locations, which means you don’t have to put up with busy servers slowing your connection down during peak hours.

Our VPN encryption also helps you hide your online activity to avoid ISP throttling. When your ISP can’t see what you’re doing, it can’t selectively slow you down. 

Watch Unrestricted, Anywhere

Work, school, and public Wi-Fi networks sometimes block streaming websites because they use a lot of data and bandwidth (and because they can be distracting). 

CyberGhost’s strong VPN encryption ensures that no one can see what you’re doing online. This allows you to get around network restrictions to stream HBO shows without any interruptions.

You can choose to activate the Wi-Fi protection feature to automatically connect the VPN whenever you connect to an unsecured network, shielding you from cybercrooks and snoops. 

Access HBO Max on Any Device

To keep you watching wherever you are, CyberGhost VPN has native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV Stick. You can also set up our VPN on your router to watch on Apple TV, Roku, and other popular streaming devices that aren’t compatible with VPN apps. 

You can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously with a single CyberGhost subscription. This means that you and everyone else in your household can enjoy HBO Max separately or together.

How to Create an HBO Max Account

Creating an HBO Max account is easy. Just follow these simple steps:

  1. Get CyberGhost VPN and install it on your streaming device.
  2. Launch the app, sign in, navigate to For Streaming, and connect to a streaming-optimized server for HBO Max in your country.
  3. Go to the HBO Max website and click on Sign Up Now.
  4. Choose the plan you want and click Continue.
  5. Enter your email address, name, and surname, and create a password for your account before clicking Continue.
  6. Select your payment method (debit/credit card or PayPal), enter your details, and click Start Subscription.
  7. Navigate to the HBO Max library, find a title you like, and start watching!

If you want to sign up via the HBO GO app while traveling abroad, you may also need to change your location on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your home country, in case the app is not available to download where you are.

Do I Need an American Credit Card to Watch HBO Max?

If you’re subscribing from the US, the platform gives you the choice of paying with either a US debit or credit card, or PayPal. HBO Max accepts payment by these methods in most countries in its service area. If you’re in the Netherlands, you can also pay using iDEAL.

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch HBO Max?

Most free VPNs can’t access HBO Max because the platform actively blocks IP addresses it associates with VPNs. If you happen to find one that works, it’s probably only a matter of time  before it gets blocked. You’ll probably also find that it’s too slow for streaming, doesn’t have a server in your country (meaning you may not be able to access certain shows), or limits your bandwidth, cutting you off mid-show. 

CyberGhost VPN has streaming-optimized servers for HBO Max which ensure that you can access the platform without any error messages. You get fast speeds for flawless streaming, and we never limit your bandwidth, so you can binge-watch to your heart’s content. Try CyberGhost VPN risk free with our 45-day money-back guarantee.

Enjoy HBO to the MAX

Now you know how to fix the not in service error message, you can plan your next movie marathon or box set binge. Whether you want to catch up on True Detective, or rewatch Game of Thrones, get CyberGhost VPN for secure and seamless access, and get watching.

Can I use a VPN to watch HBO Max from a different country?

Some HBO Max viewers connect to a VPN server in the US to watch from another country. While we don’t snoop on our users’ online activity, this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.

Rest assured that CyberGhost VPN never logs your browsing data and your activity is always private, but you should always comply with all relevant terms and applicable law, including copyright.

FAQ

Is HBO Max region locked?

Yes, HBO Max is only available in the US, Latin America, the Caribbean, and some countries in Europe. If you’re traveling abroad and try to access the service from outside of these locations, you’ll get the “Not Available In Your Region” error message. There’s an easy solution to this problem. Connect to a CyberGhost VPN server in your home country to retain access to the platform wherever you are.

Why is HBO Max not working?

If HBO Max isn’t working, try updating the software or the app.
Other factors may affect the app’s performance, the most common being slow connection speeds, HBO server issues, or browser incompatibility. If you’re trying to watch at school or in the office, your Wi-Fi network may block HBO Max. If this happens, you can use CyberGhost VPN to regain access. It encrypts your connection so the network can’t detect when you connect to HBO, allowing you to bypass the block.

How do I change my HBO Max region?

The easiest way to change your HBO Max region is by using CyberGhost VPN. When you’re traveling abroad, you can connect to one of our VPN servers in your home country to change your IP address and make it look like you’re watching from home. This lets you access HBO Max without any error messages.

Can HBO Max detect a VPN?

HBO Max uses strong VPN detectors to root out IP addresses that might be connected to VPNs and block them. CyberGhost VPN has streaming-optimized servers that are designed to help you bypass this detection and stream HBO Max unrestricted.

Do you automatically get HBO Max if you have HBO?

Yes. If you subscribe to HBO through your TV, internet, or wireless provider, or the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Roku, you can access HBO Max. Similarly, if you subscribe to HBO through some other streaming service, like Hulu and Amazon Prime, you automatically qualify for the full HBO Max catalog.

Why is HBO telling me it’s not available in my region?

HBO is only available in specific countries. If you’re outside of the US, Latin America, the Caribbean, and certain European countries and you try to access the platform, you’ll see the HBO Max “Not Available in Your Region” error message. If you’re traveling abroad, you can regain access to HBO with CyberGhost VPN. Connect to one of our streaming-optimized servers for the platform in your home country, and you’re good to go.

How do I bypass the HBO Max location error?

The best way to bypass the HBO Max location restriction when you’re traveling abroad is to use a VPN. CyberGhost VPN has servers in many countries where HBO Max is available, including the US, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Spain.

Why is HBO Max saying it can’t connect?

There are two main reasons why HBO might be telling you that it can’t connect: the service itself may be offline or there may be issues with your internet connection. 
It’s best to make sure that your Wi-Fi is working properly, close any HBO apps or web pages, and clear the cache on your device or browser before checking again. If this doesn’t work, it’s likely that HBO is down and you’ll have to wait for the service’s developers to fix the issue.

Why is HBO Max not letting me stream?

You’ll be blocked from streaming HBO Max if you’re traveling in a destination where the service isn’t available. To resolve this issue, connect to one of CyberGhost VPN’s streaming-optimized servers for HBO Max to stream HBO Max content without a hitch.

Leave a comment

It worked for a couple of days an now it seems HBO detects it is outside the allowed territories and it just crash, no matter what you do the site doesn’t load

Reply

Please approve: Hi Ren, that doesn’t sound right, I suggest contacting our 24/7 Customer Support team. They’re always ready to help through live chat and email.

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