The Party is Over: HBO Max Password Sharing Coming To An End

Warner Bros. Discovery has officially confirmed plans to intensify its crackdown on password sharing for its streaming service, HBO Max (known as Max in several regions). This move marks the end of unrestricted account sharing outside of single households, as the company seeks to align its policies with emerging industry standards.

The announcement was reinforced during the company’s most recent earnings presentation, where executives clarified that the enforcement of these restrictions will be accelerated globally throughout the year.

The strategy aims to curb the use of accounts by individuals who do not reside in the primary subscriber’s household. This initiative follows a trajectory similar to that of Netflix, which saw a significant revenue boost after implementing similar restrictions.

Warner Bros. Discovery initially began testing these measures in the United States in August 2025. Following the success of those trials, the model is now being prepared for a wider rollout across international markets, including Brazil and Europe.

Under the new regulations, subscribers who wish to share their account with someone living at a different address will likely be required to pay an additional fee for an “extra member” profile linked to the main account. This shift is part of a broader effort to strengthen streaming revenues amid an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

In addition to the policy change, Warner Bros. Discovery announced a shift in its financial reporting. Moving forward, the company will cease the disclosure of detailed quarterly subscriber numbers for HBO Max, adopting a stance similar to other industry giants like Disney+ and Netflix.

Despite this change in transparency, the company has set an ambitious target to reach 150 million total subscribers by the end of the year. The transition reflects a pivot toward prioritizing profitability and average revenue per user (ARPU) over raw subscriber growth.