Raising HBO Max parental controls: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
HBO Max parental controls are built around Kid profiles, each with its own rating limit, and a PIN that stops a child from switching to another profile, according to HBO Max's international help pages; US menus may differ. Those pages also describe a parent code needed to leave a Kid profile. Apple's App Store rates the HBO Max app 13+, listing frequent profanity, realistic violence, horror, and sexual content across the library. The service was called Max from 2023 until July 2025.
HBO Max at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 13+; Google Play: Teen - –Contact with other players or strangers
No messaging listed by the App Store - ✓Purchases with real money
Plans $10.99–$22.99 a month in the App Store - –Paid random items
None found - ✓Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
App Store: realistic violence, horror - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None found
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Streaming service by Warner Bros. Discovery: HBO series, Warner films, and more |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 13+ — frequent profanity, realistic and cartoon violence, horror, drug references, sexual content, weapons source |
| Google Play | Teen — Diverse Content: Discretion Advised source |
| Parental controls | Kid profiles with rating limits, profile PINs, a parent code to exit Kid profiles source |
| Plans (US) | In the App Store: Basic With Ads $10.99, Standard $18.49, Premium $22.99 a month source |
| Name | Called Max from 2023; renamed HBO Max on July 9, 2025 source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is HBO Max?
Short answer: Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service, with HBO series, Warner Bros. films, and other shows.
It was renamed from Max back to HBO Max on July 9, 2025, Axios and other outlets reported. The library includes many series rated TV-MA. The App Store lists no messaging or chat.
HBO Max parental controls: what's in it
Short answer: Kid profiles, PINs, and a parent code, according to HBO Max's international help pages; US menus may differ.
- Kid profiles: each has its own allowed ratings and birth date, edited from Manage Profiles.
- PIN: adding a Kid profile asks for a PIN, which can be required to switch profiles.
- Profile PIN: an optional PIN that keeps household members out of a profile.
- Parent code: a four-digit code needed to exit a Kid profile, one per account.
Is HBO Max safe for kids? The ratings
Short answer: The app is rated 13+ on Apple's App Store and Teen on Google Play.
Apple lists frequent profanity, realistic and cartoon violence, horror, mature themes, drug references, sexual content, and weapons. Apple says some content may be rated higher and is managed through in-app controls. In the App Store, plans cost $10.99 a month with ads, $18.49 for Standard, and $22.99 for Premium. We found no government action against HBO Max.
The habit kids may copy: the big kids' show
Older siblings' shows play in the same app as the cartoons. Kids notice the titles and the posters.
Try tonight: the calm ending
When the show ends, before anyone reaches for the remote, try a shared pause: "Show's over. Big breath in, big breath out. What's next?" In our program, this is the lesson "The Pause Button": stop, breathe, choose.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
Does HBO Max have parental controls?
Yes. Kid profiles with rating limits, profile PINs, and a parent code to exit a Kid profile, according to HBO Max's international help pages; US menus may differ.
What age rating is the HBO Max app?
Apple's App Store rates it 13+ and Google Play rates it Teen.
Is Max the same as HBO Max?
Yes. The service was called Max from 2023 and was renamed HBO Max on July 9, 2025.
How much does HBO Max cost?
In the App Store, Basic With Ads is $10.99 a month, Standard $18.49, and Premium $22.99, as of October 2026.
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