HBO Max App Update for Apple TV Brings Back Native Video Player - MacRumors
Skip to Content

HBO Max App Update for Apple TV Brings Back Native Video Player

HBO Max has updated its Apple TV app to fix problems with its video playback interface that came to the fore last week following its introduction of a custom video player.

hbomax1
The new update reinstates the native tvOS video player UI, which means users should no longer face the issues with fast-forwarding and rewinding video that the custom player was seemingly responsible for.

"We just released an update to our ‌Apple TV‌ app, restoring the native tvOS video playback experience you know and love, with more improvements to come," HBO Max announced in a tweet. "Ensuring HBO Max viewers have a quality experience is our top priority and we missed the mark here. Thank you for your patience."

As pointed out by The Verge, some users on the HBO Max subreddit are still reporting some other issues to do with subtitles and thumbnail previews after updating, but the general consensus is that reverting to the native video player interface has made the app a lot more responsive to ‌Apple TV‌ Siri Remote inputs.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: HBO Max
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Betas

Monday June 15, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6 betas for testing purposes. The software comes three weeks after Apple seeded the first betas. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on what's in the...
tvOS 27 Feature

Apple Seeds tvOS 27 Beta 2 to Developers

Monday June 22, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second beta of tvOS 27 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the first beta following the WWDC keynote. The beta can be downloaded and installed through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A free developer account is required. tvOS 27 has few new features compared to the other 27 software updates, but it does add a...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Betas

Monday June 29, 2026 10:08 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6 betas for testing purposes. The software comes two weeks after Apple seeded the second betas. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on what's in the...

Top Rated Comments

67 months ago
The biggest sin on ATV is Apple not enforcing their design guidelines.

Everything started great. Consistency across all media apps, smooth, fast and responsive.

Now it’s turned into a $10 Chinese android stick experience with all manner of web based apps. And jesus wept are they clunky, especially with the swipe remote.

The damn platform is a disgrace.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
67 months ago

I do not understand why those companies even bother to invest money to come up with their own player interface when Apple gives them a finished product right there that people are already used to instead of having to deal with customer complains and wasted money.
My guess: Probably something to do with being able to track user behaviour in-app.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
67 months ago
I do not understand why those companies even bother to invest money to come up with their own player interface when Apple gives them a finished product right there that people are already used to instead of having to deal with customer complains and wasted money.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
briko Avatar
67 months ago
Thank goodness for that!

I was watching the new Conjuring movie, and I thought a ghost was playing with my Apple TV remote. It’s like the scrubber had a mind of its own. 👻
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kugino Avatar
67 months ago
companies want to show off...make their products look distinct and promote their "brand"...works if it works...when it doesnʻt, they look so stupid. hbomax rightly admitted their sins and fixed it...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Royksöpp Avatar
67 months ago
Thank god. What a disaster.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)