HBO Max is a pretty new streaming service that hasn’t made its way to every corner of the world just yet. They plan to expand to more countries in 2022, but unfortunately, some places will still miss out. If you’re in a blocked country like China and you’re dying to watch HBO Max, you’ll have to figure out how to use a VPN.
Alright, listen up folks! I’ve got you covered if you’re trying to get access to HBO Max and stream all the awesome content they’ve got to offer. I’ll hook you up with a step-by-step guide to get you started, so you can enjoy all those prestige dramas, acclaimed HBO originals, and classic films in no time. Plus, I’ll let you in on the best VPNs for HBO Max, so you can get it all done without any trouble.
How to watch HBO Max in China with a VPN?
You can use a VPN to bypass the restriction in China and access HBO Max. VPN is a tool for protecting people’s internet traffic and keeping their identities private online. Your internet traffic will go through an encrypted tunnel that nobody can see when you connect to a secure VPN server.
This is my way to access HBO Max and I guess it’s probably the easiest way. Here are 3 steps.
Step 1: Choose the right VPN
The very first step for you is to find a VPN that can work in China. For this first step, a few things you need to be careful of.
- If you’re planning a trip to China and want to use a VPN to bypass the Great Firewall, not all VPNs are created equal. The Chinese government has gotten pretty good at blocking VPNs, so it’s important to do your research and find one that will actually work.
- Make sure to download and set up your VPN app and account before you go to China, because you won’t be able to download it once you’re there. And forget about downloading it directly from the provider’s website, because that’s blocked too.
- Before you head off on your trip, take some time to figure out what kind of VPN plan you need. I suggest going for a yearly or multi-year plan so you don’t get caught without access due to a forgotten renewal. But of course, it all depends on how long you’ll be staying in China.
Step 2: Turn on your VPN
After you’ve signed up for a VPN account and purchased a plan, you’re free to use your VPN! There are 2 crucial settings you need to know.
Choose the right server
Normally, a VPN will provide users with 100+ servers from different countries. Because the network speed could be different by region, you need to test a bit to see which countries’ servers could give you the best network speed.
Choose the right protocol
VPN protocols are sets of programs and processes that determine how that tunnel is actually formed. There will be a few protocol options for you to choose in a VPN app. There are 7 common types of protocol.
- Lightway: It’s a next-generation VPN protocol that provides the best in speed, security, and reliability.
- OpenVPN: It is a very popular and highly secure protocol used by many VPN providers.
- IPSec/IKEv2: It sets the foundation for a secure VPN connection by establishing an authenticated and encrypted connection.
- Wireguard: It is the newest and fastest tunneling protocol the entire VPN industry is talking about.
- SSTP: Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a fairly secure and capable VPN protocol created by Microsoft.
- L2TP/IPSec: It’s simply a VPN tunneling protocol that creates a connection between you and a VPN server.
- PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) was created in 1999 and was the first widely available VPN protocol. It was first designed to tunnel dialup traffic!
I remember once I was suffering a terrible, terrible network environment in China and only this Lightway protocol of ExpressVPN was able to help me access the internet, so I was really impressed!
Step 3: Enjoy HBO Max
Once you have access to the internet on your phone or PC, you’re connected to a VPN, which should enable you to access HBO Max, or download the HBO Max apps without any problems. Well, It’s surely common to experience some interruptions with your connection, so I suggest you test out the best VPN servers for yourself.
If you’re still having trouble accessing HBO Max or other blocked websites, you should contact your VPN’s customer support team for further assistance.
What is the best VPN for HBO Max?
| Number of US server cities | 16 |
| Number of servers | 3,000+ |
| Server locations | 160 |
| Maximum devices supported | 5 |
In my opinion, ExpressVPN is the best all-around VPN for unblocking HBO Max in China because it offers the best of everything from speed and security to ease of use, compatibility, and customer service.
It’s particularly well suited for use in China as it has a whopping 3,000+ servers spread across 160 locations and 94 countries.
As well as getting reliable, above-average speeds (especially when you switch on its proprietary Lightway protocol), with smart selection wizards and 24/7 live chat assistance, that goes for anybody outside the country, too.
ExpressVPN will let you be able to download the app and register an HBO Max account when you’re in China (I know because I’ve tried). You’re secure too with Bitcoin payment, P2P support, industrial-level encryption, a kill switch, DNS protection, and a clear no-logging policy.
The only limitation of ExpressVPN is that its clients are limited to five simultaneous connections, which is fewer compared to other VPN services. However, if you don’t need to connect more than five devices, then ExpressVPN is a nearly perfect choice.
Where Can You Watch HBO Max?
HBO Max was launched relatively recently in May 2020, serving as a replacement for the previously existing HBO Now and HBO Go streaming services. Currently, HBO Max is not available in China and is only accessible in the United States, as well as a select number of countries located in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.
Current List of Countries & Territories Where HBO Max Is Available:
Åland Islands, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Ceuta, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Madeira, Melilla, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Svalbard & Jan Mayen, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States (including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Uruguay and Venezuela.
Does HBO Max block VPN?
Yes, HBO Max actively works to block VPN services from accessing their platform. This is because content licensing agreements for certain TV shows and movies may only allow them to be streamed in specific countries. Using a VPN can help bypass geographic restrictions, allowing viewers to access content that may not be available in their country, but HBO Max has implemented measures to prevent this from happening. Not all VPN services are able to bypass these blocks, so it’s important to find the right one.
FAQ: About HBO Max in China
When it comes to streaming services in China, the government has some pretty strict rules about what’s allowed. So, a lot of the foreign streaming services that we’re used to might not be available. But don’t worry, there are a few options that are allowed in China like Youku, iQiyi, and Tencent Video. These services have a mix of content from both domestic and foreign providers, as well as some original shows and movies. Just keep in mind that the content might be censored and not include everything that you’re used to seeing on other streaming services.
In China, some of the most popular streaming services include Youku, iQiyi, and Tencent Video. These platforms have gained popularity due to their diverse selection of content, including a mix of licensed content from both domestic and international providers, as well as original programming. They also offer a range of features such as ad-supported free viewing, premium subscriptions with access to exclusive content, and live streaming of TV shows and sporting events. Other popular streaming services in China include PPTV, Mango TV, and Sohu Video.
