How to Stream HBO Max on Discord? [Without Black Screen]

If you want to know how to stream HBO Max on Discord, you’ve landed on the right page. If you are an HBO Max subscriber looking to gather around your friends and host a watch party, you no longer need third-party software. Just sign in to your Discord, and you are ready to roll. 

On Discord, you can share live streams through voice and video calls on channels. While primarily designed to share game streaming, it can also serve as an online platform to share live movies and TV shows during voice and video calls. This feature allows you to create a virtual space where you can enjoy movies together, while still being able to maintain the communication, not much different than a room full of people watching a movie together. 

So how do you stream HBO Max on Discord? What are the requirements and limitations? This guide will cover all these queries. So stay tuned. 

Can You Stream HBO Max on Discord?

Yes, you can. Thanks to the Discord Go Live feature, now, you can stream videos from any source and watch them with a group of people in real-time on a voice or video call. It allows you to create an immersive movie-watching experience where the physical location of the viewers is irrelevant. 

Anyone with a Discord account can now stream HBO Max TV shows and movies without installing any third-party programs or extensions. However, a word of caution: it’s not smooth sailing. 

You can stream HBO Max only through the Discord app on your Windows and Mac computers. Before streaming, make sure you have the latest version of the Discord app installed.

Keep in mind that streaming platforms like HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount, etc. impose strict privacy policies and Digital Rights Management limitations to curb unauthorized access to their content. So, not only it’s illegal and unethical to stream HBO Max on Discord, but it also quite tricky. 

Although the process is relatively straightforward, you may need to adjust a few settings on your Discord or web browser to have seamless streaming without any display or audio hiccups. 

Requirements for Streaming HBO Max on Discord

To stream HBO Max on Discord, there are some basic prerequisites you need to fulfill. Let’s take a look at them first. 

See also  How to Turn Off Subtitles On Apple TV?

1. You need an active HBO subscription to stream its content on Discord. If you are not a member yet, visit the official website and create an account first.

2. Obviously, a Discord account is needed, which, fortunately, is free to create.

3. A reliable internet connection with above-average speed is a must to stream HBO Max on Discord. Also, make sure all your watch members have a proper internet connection as well.

4. Both the host’s and viewer’s devices must be compatible with Discord’s latest version to enjoy uninterrupted HBO Max streaming.

5. The Discord app must have the necessary device permissions and privacy filters to use the screen-sharing feature. To adjust these settings, go to your Discord account settings.

NOTE: With a free Discord account, you can only stream a 720p video at either 15 or 30 frames per second. To stream a high-quality video, you must have a Discord Nitro subscription for $9.99/month, which will allow you to stream in the same resolution as the source at a smoother 60 frames per second.

How to Stream HBO Max On Discord?

Once you have everything in order, you are ready to stream HBO Max on Discord. Follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome and go to https://www.max.com/. Sign in using your email and password.

2. Browse through the content library and pick a title to stream. When you are on the Play Now screen, minimize the Google Chrome window.

3. Launch the Discord app and sign in to your account. 

4. Choose the Server where you wish to stream the HBO Max movie you chose. If you don’t have access to the server, click on the ➕ icon to create a new one.

5. Now click on the icon located next to your Discord name in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

6. On the Settings page, scroll the left-side menu to access the ACTIVITY SETTINGS.

7. Click on Registered Games. You will notice a screen with the message No game detected.

8. Click on Add it and pick Google Chrome from the list. If you are using any other browser, it will be visible on the list as well. Click on Add Game to finish.

9. Exit the Settings menu by clicking on the ❌ icon. This will take you to the Discord main screen.

10. Right above your name, you will notice A Google Chrome icon with a computer screen next to it. Click on it to go to the Share Screen menu.

11. On the Screen Share menu, pick the channel you want to broadcast the movie, choose video quality, and adjust the resolution and frame rate.

12. Click on Go Live to start the HBO Max stream. A floating window with Google Chrome where HBO Max is open will appear on the screen. Go back to Google Chrome and play the content you chose. 

13. To end the streaming, click on the ❌ button located in the corner of the streaming window. You can also click on the End Call button located above your user name. 

How to Fix HBO Max Discord Black Screen?

As I explained previously, due to HBO’s privacy and DRM limitations, you might encounter several technical issues when streaming its content through the Discord app. One of the most common issues is the appearance of a black screen the moment streaming begins. This is simply HBO’s way of telling you that you cannot share unauthorized access to its content with other people.

While it’s necessary to abide by the platform’s terms of use and privacy policy, you can employ a couple of tweaks to remove the black screen and enjoy uninterrupted streaming. 

All you have to do is disable the hardware acceleration feature to bypass the DRM limitations. Here is how you do it:

1. Turn off Hardware Acceleration in Discord

  • Stop the current stream by clicking on the End Call button.
  • Go to Settings ➡ ACTIVITY SETTINGS ➡ Registered Games and remove Google Chrome streaming by clicking on the ❌ icon.
  • Now, scroll down to access APP SETTINGS and click on Advanced
  • Use the toggle switch to turn off Hardware Acceleration and click on Okay to continue
  • Restart Discord and use the steps mentioned in the previous section to create a new stream. 

2. Turn off Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome

  • Launch Google Chrome and click on the icon located in the top-right corner of the screen. 
  • From the drop-down menu, select Settings
  • On the left side menu, scroll down and click on System.
  • Turn off the toggle switch next to Use hardware acceleration when available
  • Click on Relaunch.

Google Chrome will restart with the new settings. Sign in to your HBO Max account and repeat the process. Your stream should have a proper display and sound now. 

See also  Top 10 AI Image Enhancer in 2024

FAQs

1. Is it legal to stream HBO Max on Discord?

No. streaming HBO Max content on Discord is illegal and violates the platform’s privacy policies. 

2. Why is there no sound in the HBO Max stream on Discord?

HBO Max stream on Discord may encounter audio issues due to reasons such as outdated drivers, limited app permissions, and malfunctioning audio devices. 

3. How to Stream HBO Max on Discord Mobile?

Streaming HBO Max on Discord Mobile is not available due to special copyright protections. For the best experience, use Discord on a Windows or Mac computer.

4. Does HBO Max have a watch party?

While HBO doesn’t officially support the watch party feature, you can download third-party browser extensions to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows with your long-distance friends. 

Final Word

As you can see, it’s not complicated at all. Just follow the steps outlined in this guide and stream HBO content on Discord in a few seconds. Now, a movie get-together with your long-distance friends is just a few clicks away. The best is to connect with your group through a video call and stream the movie you want. This way, you will be able to see each others’ reactions, creating a highly immersive and unique online movie-watching experience. 

So what are you waiting for? Gather your gang on Discord, create a channel, and begin your movie party today!

Leave a Comment