How to get HBO Max on Fire Stick using Android TV APK

If you’re stuck at home like most of us, you might be happy to know that HBO Max is now up and running. The newest streaming service by HBO is available for a monthly price of $14.99 in the US across several platforms including Android TV, Apple TV, YouTube TV, Google Chromecast, PS4, Xbox One, select Samsung TVs, and Chromebook.

But if you’re one of the 70 percent of the people in the US who use either a Fire TV device or Roku to stream content, then you would be disappointed that HBO Max isn’t available on either of them. But there are a couple of ways around that. Follow these methods to install the HBO Max app on Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick.

How to watch HBO Max outside the US

Before you proceed to install the new HBO Max app on your Fire TV device, you will have to take care of the following requirements.

Uninstall the HBO Now app from your Fire TV device

Step 1: On your Fire TV device, go to the Settings screen by using the remote to scroll to the right and then pressing on it.

Step 2: Inside the Settings screen, locate the Applications icon and click on it.

Step 3: Select the ‘Manage Installed Applications’ option.

Step 4: Scroll and locate the HBO Now app from the list. After you locate the app, click on it, hit ‘Uninstall’ and confirm the process by click on ‘Uninstall’ again.

The HBO Now app that was previously installed on your Fire TV device will now be removed.

Enable installing from Unknown sources

Step 1: On your Fire TV device, go to the Settings screen by using the remote to scroll to the right and then pressing on it.

Step 2: Inside the Settings screen, scroll to the right and click on My Fire TV.

Step 3: Locate and click on Developer Options.

Step 4: Click on ‘Apps from Unknown Sources’ and then press on ‘Turn On’ to enable it.

Turn ON ADB Debugging (for Method 2)

Step 1: On your Fire TV device, go to the Settings screen by using the remote to scroll to the right and then pressing on it.

Step 2: Inside the Settings screen, scroll to the right and click on My Fire TV.

Step 3: Locate and click on Developer Options.

Step 4: Click on ‘ADB Debugging’ and then press on ‘Turn On’ to enable it.

What’s missing from HBO Max at launch

Method 1: Using the Downloader app

You can use this method if you want to download the HBO Max app directly onto your Fire TV device and install it. All of these steps are to be done on your Fire TV device.

Step 1: On the homepage of your Fire TV device, scroll to the left and search for “Downloader”. Alternatively, you can use the Alexa button and ask the assistant to search for “Downloader”.

Step 2: When the Downloader app shows up in search results, download it by clicking ‘Download’. This will install the app directly from the Amazon Appstore.

Step 3: After the app has been downloaded, open it from your home screen.

Step 4: Move the cursor to the address bar at the top, type the URL given below and then press the enter key:

https://t.ly/uAO3

To avoid mistype, the last two letters in the URL above are O3 (not zero 3). If the above URL doesn’t work, try the full drive link given below.

Full link: Google Drive full link | Shortened link: t.ly/uAO3

Step 5: Download the APK file for HBO Max that’s available on the link above. You need to download version 50.1.0.64 only, given on the link above. Filename: HBO Max APK Android TV 50.1.0.64 (June 10, 2020). 

  • Old versions (just in case anyone needs it):

Step 6: After your download is complete, select the file and click on Install.

You have successfully installed the HBO Max app on your Fire TV.

Head over to your home screen and the app will be available for you.

Method 2: Using the Apps2Fire app

Step 0: Keep your Amazon Fire TV device turned ON and connected to your home WiFi network.

Note: For this method to work, your Android device as well as your Fire TV streaming device should be connected to the same WiFi network. 

Step 1: Download and install the HBO Max app on your Android device from this link.

  • Filename: HBO Max APK Android TV 50.1.0.64.apk

Step 2: Download and install the Apps2Fire app from Google Play on your Android device. Once installed, open the app.

Step 3: When the Apps2Fire app opens, tap the three-dot button at the top right corner and select ‘Setup’.

Step 4: Tap on the ‘Network’ button.

In the next screen, you will be greeted with a list of devices that are connected to your local WiFi network.

Step 5: Select your Fire TV device from the list.

You can distinguish it from other devices as the Fire TV device will usually have “amazon” in its name.

In case you couldn’t find your device or have several Amazon devices connected to your network, you can find your Fire TV’s IP address by heading over to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Network on your Fire TV and then selecting the device with the right IP address on the Apps2Fire app.

Step 6: After your Android phone is connected to your Fire TV device, tap on the ‘Local Apps’ tab at the top and select the HBO Max app (that you installed in Step 1) from the list.

Step 7: Tap on Install.

The HBO Max app will now install on your Fire TV device. When the installation finishes, you can open the app on your TV to get started.

Are you facing the ‘Unsupported Version’ error?

If you installed the older APK (dated May 28), then you might be facing the ‘Unsupported Version’ error when opening the HBO Max app on your Fire TV device. The error reads “Unsupported Version – Update your HBO Max app to get the latest features“. You cannot automatically update the app since the HBO Max app isn’t officially supported on Fire TV devices.

To solve the issue, you will have to download the latest version of the HBO Max (Android TV) app which is version 50.0.1.45 (Download from DownloadMirror | Download from Google Drive). We have updated the links to the new version in the guide above as well. If installing the latest version over your current app doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling the app from your Fire TV and then proceed to install the new APK.

Can’t use controller after installing HBO Max?

Well, in case your Fire TV controller has stopped working after installing HBO Max, then it means you have installed a wrong version of the app. It seems you installed the HBO Max phone app instead of its Android TV variant.

Fixing the issue is simple. Remove the HBO Max app on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick first of all. Then, give the device a restart. When it’s back on, install the Fire Stick app using the link given in method #1 above.


Were you able to install HBO Max on your Fire TV device by following the aforementioned guide? Let us know in the comments below if you have an easier method to install the app on your Fire TV.

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Ajaay

Ambivalent, unprecedented, and on the run from everyone's idea of reality. A consonance of love for filter coffee, cold weather, Arsenal, AC/DC, and Sinatra.

30 Comments

  1. It installed, though the app is non responsive, thoughts?

  2. Tried the Apps2Fire. App installs and starts on firestick, no remote control functions. 🙁 No functional control!

    1. Were you able to fix the issue? We have updated the link to HBO Max app, try that. It would not result in the non-responsive app. Let me know.

      1. I installed filling the directions in method 1. I made sure it was the version you said. It opens but the remote will not control it at all.

  3. I can get the app to install and open but the icon won’t appear anywhere in the home screen or in recents. Any idea how to get the icon to appear? I can open via managing my apps, but no icon…

    1. I had the same problem. But for some reason now the HBO NOW icon is back but when I click on it HBOmax opens

  4. Method 1 – Downloader. 06/17/2020 10am CST.

    “sorry, you can’t view or download this file at this time”
    “Too many users have viewed or downloaded this file recently….. wait 24 hours … try again

  5. When I do the first option and try to download the APK file, it keeps spinning and looks like the download never finishes. I’ve even left it to download for hours and no file ever shows up. I don’t have an Android so I can’t try option #2.

    1. Did you try the Google Drive link?

      1. Yes, I tried both the full and shortened links.

  6. For the downloader app. I went to settings and turned off APK Auto install. Once I did that hbo max downloaded and I was able to watch it on the fire stick. However after watching for awhile a message came up saying I needed the latest version but it wouldn’t let me download it

    1. Same! was working until today.

    2. The apk file from downloadmirror.co listed in this article is not the latest version. I found the latest (version 50.0.1.45) at apkmirror.com

    3. Hello, same problem here: the trick worked perfectly until now, I get a message saying ‘Unsupported Version – Update your HBO Max app to get the latest features.” Any fixes available? Thanks again!

  7. Okay, I am having the same problems as some of the others.. I am doing
    this, this afternoon (5/31). So, I assume I should have the updated
    version of hbomax. I used Method 2.. I do not have an icon anywhere for
    hbomax. I have to go to “Manage Installed Applications” to find it, and
    open it up. When I open it up, the remote does not work for the app. I
    do not have any other hbo installed. Please help me. It’s frustrating to
    be staring straight at the app, but not be able to use it. Lol. I’m
    even Okay, with having to go to “Manage Installed Applications” to get
    it. If you can help with icon showing up though, that would be great
    too. I appreciate any help I can get with being able to use the remote
    inside the app, and possibly getting an icon to show up!! Thanks in
    advance!!!

    1. I guess my Fire TV is different from others. I’ve just now tried Method 1, and I am looking at the error message “An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection.”, when I click on the blue “Continue” button for installing the app from downloadmirror.co .

    2. I have unistalled and reinstalled the APK hbomax, and restarted my fire tv so many times this afternoon, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve done them both. I’m looking at hbomax right now after a fresh re-install, and I still can’t use the remote.

    3. Oh, and I Am using the APK hbomax link above to install hbomax. I’m not installing the wrong hbomax. Please help me figure out how I can use my remote! Thanks!

      1. Hi Shelly, were you able to fix the problem? Let us know if you still need any assistance.

  8. Workaround for the HboMax icon no showing on the home screen. I installed HboNow, The icon will be HboNow but it will open HboMax. Hope this helps.

    1. Did you install hbonow, from the fire tv, or some other way? I’ve also tried to install (from the fire tv), but when I click on hbonow, (after searching “hbo” in Search in my fire tv…), hbomax, Automatically opens up. No chance to “install” hbonow or nothing! It just opens up to hbomax, and it does Not show up under my recent apps, either. I’d be happy with a hbonow icon, but nope..my fire tv doesn’t want me to have any kind of hbo icon, if I’m going to have hbomax on it. Lol.

  9. Adam wrote, and I second, “Hello, same problem here: the trick worked perfectly until now, I get a message saying ‘Unsupported Version – Update your HBO Max app to get the latest features.” Any fixes available? Thanks again!”

    1. We have updated the post with the newer version of the app, which is 50.0.1.45. So, you got to download the new version of the app and install that ow to fix the error.

  10. Link in downloader isn’t working. I click on download now and nothing happens. Is there a fix?

    1. Added a mirror link through Google Drive (and its shortened URL). Let me know if you face any issues.

  11. I got HBOMax installed and it opens but I can’t do anything within the app. Any advice?

    1. Did you have HBO Now installed before this? Anyway, uninstall the app. Restart your Fire Stick. And the install the HBO Max app again. It should work now. Let us know.

  12. I’m attempting option 1, I get to the url for downloading the file. I get a message that it cannot be scanned, with a button “Download Anyway”. I click this, but the file will not download. I am stuck here.

  13. No,get. An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection.
    when downloading HBO Max APK Android TV 50.1.0.64 using method 1

  14. I can now watch Friends on my Sharp Roku TV with my fire stick! You are the best! I knew someone would know a workaround. Thank you so much for posting these directions. I had to do the second method with apps2fire. Thank god I have an android phone. Thanks such much again for this post!

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