HBO Max rolling out password-sharing crackdown worldwide

The initiative, which launched in the US last year, will roll out globally this year. HBO Max is asking customers to pay extra if they want to share their subscription with someone outside their household.

The announcement of a global rollout came during the company's earnings report.

- "We are in the second inning of our password sharing enforcement. It is just beginning to get scale," said JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming. "It has not expanded globally at all. That will start in 2026"


How it works
HBO Max tries to prevent devices outside the household from using the same subscription. Instead, the primary account holder will be charged an additional $8 per month (on the ad-supported tier) to share the account with someone outside the household.

The household is determined based on the home TV. Mobile devices must stream a few minutes of content on the home network – the same network that the TV is connected to – at least once a month in order to be used outside the household while traveling.

For vacation homes, users must connect at least every 90 days. It is possible to update the household location, but not too frequently, according to HBO Max.

 Also read: HBO Max and Paramount+ to merge


HBO Max says it uses a combination of IP addresses, device IDs and user activity to prevent account sharing. Initially, users will receive "soft" notifications that become more persistent over time if ignored.

It is not yet clear whether there will be any differences when the solution rolls out in Europe and elsewhere. An exact date has not been announced beyond "2026". Please let FlatpanelsHD know if you begin receiving messages from HBO Max.


Extra HBO Max members
It is only possible to add an extra member if the subscription is purchased directly through HBO Max. In other words, it is not available if you subscribe through a TV distributor or partner.

Extra members have their own account, password and profile, which can be transferred from the primary HBO Max account. Extra members can stream on one device at a time. The feature can only be set up if the person lives in the same country, although they can travel with HBO Max afterwards.

HBO Max's approach has been refined since the rollout in the United States in April 2025. Today, it broadly resembles Netflix's system against password sharing, which was introduced in early 2023.

- Source: MediaPlayNews