HBO Max's password crackdown is getting 'aggressive' — your free ride is over

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Get ready to need your own HBO Max account ...

HBO Max logo on a TV
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

HBO Max has been discussing a crackdown on password sharing for months. The streaming service first announced it was following Netflix's crackdown with a Max password-sharing crackdown of its own back in April.

Then, in May, it revealed even more details, with Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming executive JB Perrette warning that the password sharing crackdown would hit "full steam" in the next "12-18 months."

Since that announcement, Max changed its name back to HBO Max and — apparently — forgot how to count. A mere three months after giving us 12-18 months, Perrette has returned with a more dire warning, saying the crackdown is about to get "aggressive."

“The message language right now has been a fairly soft, cancelable message," Perrette said in the call. By the end of the year, that message will become more aggressive and even force you to get your own account to continue using Max.

Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan

Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.

Here's what he's been watching lately:

Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan
Streaming Editor

Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.

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