HBO Max is now available to download on Samsung smart TVs. In fact, Samsung's devices are part of a very limited number of smart TVs that you can actually stream AT&T and WarnerMedia's new streaming service directly on. For those unsure of how to do this, here’s a quick explanation on where the HBO Max app is located and how to install it on a Samsung smart TV.
HBO Max launched on May 27 and immediately proved to be big news. This is not surprising considering the brands and franchises AT&T now owns - following its acquisition of Time Warner - and the potential for content to be available on the platform. However, device support is not something that’s currently as wide as it probably should be for a service like HBO Max, making it all the more difficult for consumers to access the service outside of their smartphone.
When HBO Max was announced, the company confirmed the devices that are currently compatible. While Amazon and Roku support is notably missing from the set-top box support, the smart TV category is even worse. In fact, HBO Max officially only supports TVs powered by Android TV and those made by Samsung. Although, even the Samsung support does not extend to all models with owners needing to be using a 2016 Samsung smart TV, at the very least.
Finding The HBO Max App on A Samsung TV
Providing you are using a supported Samsung TV model, then downloading the HBO Max app is actually quite simple. Unlike streaming players that typically run on either Android TV, Fire TV, Roku OS, or Apple’s tvOS, Samsung’s smart TVs run on the company’s own operating system. The result of this is that the HBO Max has to be directly downloaded from Samsung. The app itself, as well as the option to check if your Samsung TV is compatible, can be accessed via the Samsung web listing for the HBO Max app.
To access the app directly on a Samsung TV, the user will need to press either the “Home” or “Smart Hub” button on the remote and then navigate to “Apps.” This will direct the user to the Samsung app store and those new to this section may find they need to sign in to their Samsung account, or create one. Once signed in, there's a search icon in the top-right corner which can be used to search for “HBO Max.” Click on the app icon to be directed to the app's main page and then click on the “Install” button. This will initiate the download and install the app on your smart TV. If the app doesn’t show when searching, then it is possible the Samsung smart TV being used is currently not compatible with HBO Max.