Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Guides

How to get HBO Max on your Fire TV

By
 

HBO Max is the company’s latest streaming platform, bringing content from WarnerMedia Entertainment together, including New Line Cinema, DC Entertainment, Cartoon Network, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Crunchyroll, and more. However, this major player has yet to officially make it to Amazon’s Fire TV, among other platforms. Here’s how to get HBO Max on your Fire TV with only a bit of tweaking.

Recommended Videos

Want to know what we think of HBO Max before diving in? Check out our full-featured review of the latest streaming platform from WarnerMedia.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more

Allow Fire TV to install unofficial apps

To get HBO Max onto an Amazon Fire TV device, we are going to sideload the application. This means that we will install it without going through the official Amazon store. Doing this is safe and doesn’t alter or damage the hardware or operating system in any way. Before we proceed, we must say that allowing apps to be installed from outside the store can cause potential security concerns, so please proceed with caution.

Step 1: Turn on your Amazon Fire TV.

Step 2: Head to the Settings menu.

Step 3: Select the My Fire TV option.

Step 4: Choose Developer Options.

Step 5: Toggle on ABD Debugging.

Step 6: Also toggle on Apps from Unknown Sources.

Step 7: If a warning appears, select Turn On.

Your Fire TV will now be able to install applications from unknown sources. After the HBO Max installation is complete, you may wish to switch off both the ABD Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources settings.

Amazon Fire TV Stick
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Prepare to download HBO Max

We will use an application known as the Downloader to retrieve a copy of the HBO Max app from the web, but we must first ensure that HBO Now is not installed. If you already have HBO Now installed, hover over the app on your home screen, and press and hold the Menu button. When given the option, select Uninstall to remove the app.

When you are ready, follow these steps to download and install the Downloader app.

Step 1: Press and hold the Home button on your remote to access your home screen.

Step 2: Select the Apps option.

Step 3: Use the search bar to search for Downloader.

Step 4: Select Downloader and choose Install.

Step 5: Once ready, it will appear on your home screen.

Download the HBO Max app to Fire TV

Our next step is to locate a site that offers the HBO Max app for Fire TV to download — this is the site we recommend. You can also find your own source by searching Google for “HBO Max APK,” and then follow the steps below to download and install HBO Max. You may want to create a short link to it using a URL shortener like Bitly, as you’ll have to input the URL manually.

Here’s how to do this using our recommended site:

Step 1: Open the previously installed Downloader app from your home screen.

Step 2: If prompted, select Allow.

Step 3: Select the Browser option on the left side.

Step 4: Navigate up to the address bar.

Step 5: Select the Clear button to erase what is entered.

Step 6: Enter the provided URL from above (or your URL or Bitly short link), then click Go.

Step 7: Once a window with an HBO Max logo appears, select Install.

HBO Max Home Theater TV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Accessing your HBO Max content

Lastly, here is how to reap the rewards of your effort and enjoy the content HBO Max has to offer. It is important to note that the HBO Max app will appear on your home screen with the older HBO Now logo — this is just a quirk of the sideloading process.

Step 1: Navigate to your home screen and locate the HBO Now app.

Step 2: Click on the app to open it.

Step 3: Sign in to HBO Max. If you do not have a subscription, you’ll need to sign up on the web.

Step 4: Kick back and enjoy your favorite television shows and movies.

When the official HBO Max app releases

When the official HBO Max app launches on Fire TV, you’ll want to uninstall the unofficial app that we just installed. You will then be able to download the official app from the Fire TV App Store. Until then, enjoy HBO Max using the sideloading trick above.

Troubleshooting HBO Max

If you run into any trouble during the installation process, use this checklist to ensure that your Fire TV is ready to sideload the application. If you overlooked a part of the process, use the guide above to make any needed changes.

  • Ensure that you have allowed both ABD Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources.
  • Remove the official HBO Now app before proceeding with the installation process.
  • Make sure that you are entering the correct URL into Downloader.
  • Do not attempt to purchase an HBO Max subscription through the app.
  • Remember, HBO Max will display as HBO Now on your home screen when installed.
Michael Archambault
Michael Archambault
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

How is this possible? Sansui’s 55-inch 4K OLED TV is only $600
Sansui 55-inch OLED TV

You're going to have to give me a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor. See, my colleague Caleb Denison just sent me a message and I'm still in disbelief: "Guys, Walmart has the Sansui OLED at $600 right now -- which is just bonkers." And he's right on all counts. Walmart (and Amazon) do indeed have Sansui's new 55-inch 4K OLED TV, and it is currently selling for $600, and yes, this is bonkers.

Unboxing the New Sansui 55-Inch OLED TV

Read more
The Roku Channel app gets more functionality on Google TV
The Roku Channel app on Google TV.

When I think about Roku, I generally picture my Roku Ultra streaming box or a Roku Streaming Stick and the clean, zippy OS it provides. Roku doesn't end there though. The Roku Channel has more than 350 live channels available for free to anyone that downloads the app. It's (not surprisingly) available on any Roku streaming device or TV, but last year The Roku Channel app also became available on Google TV.

Roku has some updates on the way to improve the way The Roku Channel integrates with Google TV, mainly through its visibility on the home page and search functionality. Instead of having to navigate and search for Roku content within the app, Google TV will now show recommendations from Roku in the Google TV live TV tab. Selecting those recommendations will launch you directly into The Roku Channel app to the desired show or movie. Content will also show up when searched through Google TV's built-in search field.

Read more
How to cut the cord: quitting cable for streaming services
Roku Pro Series TV

If you're tired of paying too much for a cable subscription that doesn't deliver the shows you want to watch, then it may be time to cut the cord and head for greener pastures with streaming. Unlike the early days of streaming, the most popular streaming services and smart TVs now deliver access to huge amounts of content with VOD libraries, along with great new exclusive movies and shows. Even better, some streaming services also offer live streaming, which means you can still catch every new episode of your favorite shows without being hit with an expensive cable subscription.

Of course, having tons of options doesn't actually make figuring out which streaming service is right for you any easier. After all, Hulu + Live TV is different from Netflix, and when you start considering the options that Amazon Prime Video delivers, things get even trickier. When you throw streaming devices into the mix, it complicates everything even more. Have no fear, as we've got all the details you need to make an informed decision. Let's dig in.
Internet speed and streaming

Read more