Password Sharing Has Become Even More Challenging — Max Implements New Restrictions
Sharing your streaming account credentials is becoming progressively more challenging. This week, Max (previously HBO Max) has emerged as the latest service to enforce stricter rules on password sharing, following the lead of Netflix and Disney+.
On Tuesday, Max launched a new feature known as the Extra Member Add-On. This update is evidently designed to limit password sharing by imposing charges on users who allow access to individuals outside their household. Similar to policies implemented by other streaming platforms, Max now mandates that users pay if someone not residing at their address wishes to utilize their account.
The Extra Member Add-On will be priced at $7.99 each month. However, there are certain restrictions: the additional member may only stream from a single profile on one device at any given time, and each account can accommodate only one Extra Member. On a positive note, Max will permit users to transfer an existing profile to the new add-on, maintaining watch history and personalized preferences.
In a press statement, JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, portrayed the changes as advantageous for users.
“Extra Member Add-On and Profile Transfer are two significant Max advancements, intended to provide viewers with a new approach to enjoying our top-quality content at an excellent value,” Perrette remarked. “These updates offer a straightforward method for subscribers to include a new member to their account or for individuals outside the household to effortlessly transfer their profile and continue enjoying Max.”
Navigating Max’s New Password Policies
Regrettably, there is no uncomplicated workaround for Max’s new regulations. If you wish to share your account with someone outside your residence, you will need to pay for the Extra Member Add-On. This option can be found within your subscription settings. Should you be transferring a profile, the system will guide you through the process during the add-on purchase.
As is the case with numerous streaming services today, the remedy to most account limitations appears to be straightforward: pay more. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others have all instituted comparable strategies to monetize shared accounts, and Max is no different.
Max has already increased pricing in recent months. As of last summer, the ad-free plan is priced at $16.99 monthly, while the Ultimate ad-free plan costs $20.99. The ad-supported tier is available for $9.99 each month. Now, adding someone outside your household will incur an additional $7.99 monthly charge.
To complicate matters further, Max has been consistently removing content from its library since its merger with Discovery+ in 2023. Fan-favorite shows and movies have vanished without notice, indicating that even after increasing your payment, access to the content you initially subscribed for may not be guaranteed.
In summary, if you intend to continue sharing your Max account, be ready to pay — and don’t be taken aback if your preferred show disappears from the platform regardless.