HBO Max audio issues
Audio for shows and films on HBO Max is available in stereo, 5.1 surround sound, or Dolby Atmos depending on your subscription plan. HBO Max automatically plays the highest quality audio available for your device and subscription plan.
To change the audio language, go to Subtitles, captions, and audio.
Dolby Q&A
You can watch select titles with Dolby Atmos audio on supported devices with the Premium plan. To find out if a title is available in Dolby Atmos, choose the title in HBO Max and look for Dolby Atmos on the description screen.
Supported Dolby Atmos devices
All devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors, and any other connected devices).
Amazon Fire TV
Android TVs
EE TV Box Pro
Hisense VIDAA TVs
iPhone and iPad
4K LG Smart TVs
NOW Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search
PlayStation 5
Roku Ultra, Roku Ultra LT, Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Express 4K, Roku Premiere, Roku 4K TVs, Roku 8K TVs, Roku 4
Samsung 4K TVs (in select countries)
Sky Glass, Sky Glass Air, and Sky Stream
Xbox console
Virgin Media Stream Box
Dolby Digital Plus audio is available on the following devices:
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Google Chromecast Ultra
Hisense VIDAA TVs
LG Smart TV
Roku
Samsung TV (models that support Dolby Digital Plus in select countries)
Sky Q
Xbox console
Troubleshooting
Before you begin, try playing a different show or film. If the sound issue is limited to a particular show or film, please contact us and let us know.
If you're still having audio issues, choose your device below:
Here are some things to try:
Turn up the volume using the volume up button on your phone or tablet.
Plug in headphones to check if there's sound.
Try turning off Bluetooth on your device to make sure your device isn't sending audio to a Bluetooth accessory (in Settings on your Android or iOS device).
Make sure the Do Not Disturb option on your device is turned off.
Try restarting your phone or tablet.
Here are some things to try:
Check the volume control in HBO Max on your computer to make sure the volume isn't muted or set low.
If you're using external speakers, check your speaker cables and the volume control.
Check your computer's audio output device.
Update your browser to the latest version. To find out how to do this, go to Troubleshoot HBO Max.
Try another supported device.
Try switching the audio setting on your device to stereo sound. To do this, on your Amazon Fire TV go to Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio > Dolby Digital Output and then choose Dolby Digital Plus OFF.
More things to try:
Update the HBO Max app. To do this, open the app store on your device and search for HBO Max. If there's an app update available, choose update or download. For more help, find your device on the Troubleshoot HBO Max page.
Restart your device. Unplug your streaming device (e.g., Apple TV), wait a minute, and plug it back in again.
Disconnect and reconnect both ends of your HDMI cable.
Try reversing the ends of your HDMI/optical cable or try using a different cable.
Try using another HDMI port on your TV or receiver.
Make sure your TV monitor and sound system also support Dolby Atmos audio.
Note For Dolby Atmos audio, all devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors, and any other connected devices).
By default, Apple TV uses the best audio format available. If surround sound isn't working, try changing the audio format to Dolby Digital 5.1. To do this, on your Apple TV go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format and turn on Change Format. Here you can choose Dolby Digital 5.1 (instead of Use Best Available).
If changing the audio format to Dolby Digital 5.1 doesn't help, try changing the Audio Format to Stereo. For more info about audio settings, go to Apple's Play audio in Dolby Atmos or surround sound article.
More things to try:
Update the HBO Max app. To do this, open the App Store on your device and search for HBO Max. If there's an app update available, choose update or download. For more help, find your device on the Troubleshoot HBO Max page.
Restart your device. Unplug your streaming device (e.g., Apple TV), wait a minute, and plug it back in again.
Disconnect and reconnect both ends of your HDMI cable.
Try reversing the ends of your HDMI/optical cable or try using a different cable.
Try using another HDMI port on your TV or receiver.
Make sure your TV monitor and sound system also support Dolby Atmos audio.
Note For Dolby Atmos audio, all devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors, and any other connected devices).
Try checking for updates and switching the audio. Here's how:
Make sure your software is up to date by pressing the Home button on your Roku remote, then go to Settings > System > Software Update > Check now.
Try switching the audio on your Roku to stereo. Press the Home button on your Roku remote, then go to Settings > Audio > Digital output format > Stereo.
For more info, go to Roku's Surround sound article.
More things to try:
Update the HBO Max app. To do this, open the app store on your device and search for HBO Max. If there's an app update available, choose update or download. For more help, find your device on the Troubleshoot HBO Max page.
Restart your device. Unplug your streaming device (e.g., Apple TV), wait a minute, and plug it back in again.
Disconnect and reconnect both ends of your HDMI cable.
Try reversing the ends of your HDMI/optical cable or try using a different cable.
Try using another HDMI port on your TV or receiver.
Make sure your TV monitor and sound system also support Dolby Atmos audio.
Note For Dolby Atmos audio, all devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors, and any other connected devices).
Go to Settings > Display & Sound, then scroll to the right and choose HDMI audio. Set HDMI audio to 5.1 uncompressed, then choose Bitstream Format and set it to Dolby Digital.
More things to try:
Update the HBO Max app. To do this, open the app store on your device and search for HBO Max. If there's an app update available, choose update or download. For more help, find your device on the Troubleshoot HBO Max page.
Restart your device. Unplug your streaming device (e.g. Apple TV), wait a minute and plug it back in again.
Disconnect and reconnect both ends of your HDMI cable.
Try reversing the ends of your HDMI/optical cable or try using a different cable.
Try using another HDMI port on your TV or receiver.
Make sure your TV monitor and sound system also support Dolby Atmos audio.
Note For Dolby Atmos audio, all devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors and any other connected devices).
Here are some things to try:
Try switching the audio on your device to stereo sound.
Update the HBO Max app. To do this, open the app store on your device and search for HBO Max. If there's an app update available, choose update or download. For more help, find your device on the Troubleshoot HBO Max page.
Restart your device. Unplug your streaming device (e.g. Apple TV), wait a minute and plug it back in again.
Disconnect and reconnect both ends of your HDMI cable.
Try reversing the ends of your HDMI/optical cable or try using a different cable.
Try using another HDMI port on your TV or receiver.
Make sure your TV monitor and sound system also support Dolby Atmos audio.
Note For Dolby Atmos audio, all devices must support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 (your TV, streaming device, audio/video receiver, cables, adaptors and any other connected devices).
'There's a problem with your device setup' message
If you're getting this message, go to Device setup error.
