HBO Max App Update for Apple TV Brings Back Native Video Player - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
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

Where is the New Apple TV Feature

Next Apple TV's Chip Revealed in Latest Leak

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:19 am PDT by
The next Apple TV 4K will be equipped with an A19 or A19 Pro chip, according to evidence in Apple's code uncovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. In particular, the device's model identifier points towards the A19 generation of chips. Accordingly, the next Apple TV would have 8GB or 12GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the current 2022 model with the A15 Bionic chip. Other rumored upgrades for...
iOS 27 Feature Cool

Apple Releases New iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27 Public Betas

Monday August 31, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
Apple today released the sixth public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The sixth betas come a week after Apple seeded the fifth betas and a few hours after the eighth developer betas. You can get started by signing up on Apple's beta website and then opting in to the public beta by...
Apple TV Remote Icon

iOS 27 to Upgrade Apple TV Remote App in Two Ways

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:33 am PDT by
Apple has updated the design of the virtual Apple TV Remote for the iOS 27 Release Candidate, which was released yesterday, and there are two new features that have been added to the iPhone app's interface. First up, Apple has added a new button to the top-right corner of the Remote UI with a glyph showing four squares. Pressing the button pops out an app menu similar to the Apple TV home...

Top Rated Comments

69 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)
69 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
69 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
69 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
69 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
69 months ago
Thank god. What a disaster.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors