Subtitles stuck ON and cannot be disabled when casting from iPad to Chromecast

[CristobalVila]

Description:
Since a couple of days ago, subtitles are always enabled when casting HBO Max content from an iPad to Chromecast devices, and cannot be turned off. The subtitles control appears disabled (greyed out) during casting.

This issue does NOT occur when watching directly on the iPad, where subtitle controls work normally.

Environment:

• Device: iPad
• App: HBO Max (latest version)
• Casting target: Chromecast (2 different devices tested)
• Chromecast connected to TV
• Chromecast connected via Denon amplifier to projector
• Network: Same Wi-Fi network for all devices

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Open HBO Max app on iPad
2. Play any series or movie
3. Start casting to a Chromecast device
4. Attempt to change or disable subtitles

Expected Result:
User should be able to enable/disable subtitles while casting, or at least inherit the subtitle state set on the iPad before casting.

Actual Result:

• Subtitles are always displayed (forced ON)
• Subtitles button is disabled (greyed out)
• No way to change subtitle settings during casting

Reproducibility:
100% (tested on multiple contents and two different Chromecast devices)

Workarounds Attempted:

• Reinstalled HBO Max app
• Restarted Chromecast devices
• Restarted iPad
• Issue persists

Additional Notes:

• The issue started very recently (approx. 1–2 days ago)
• Occurs only when casting via Chromecast
• Subtitle controls work correctly when watching directly on the iPad
• Issue occurs consistently across different Chromecast setups, suggesting it is not device-specific

Impact:
Severely affects usability, especially when watching dubbed content where subtitles are unnecessary

Please advise if this is a known issue or if a fix/workaround is available.

[frarcos · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I've recently encountered the same issue when casting from an iPhone to Chromecast. Subtitles appear to be permanently enabled, and the subtitle control is greyed out, making it impossible to turn them off during casting.

As a temporary workaround, I found that it’s possible to effectively hide subtitles by adjusting their appearance in the HBO Max settings. By setting both the text opacity and background opacity to 0%, the subtitles become invisible on screen.

This solution isn't ideal, since these settings apply at the account level rather than per device or per title, but it at least allows for an uninterrupted viewing experience until a proper fix is implemented.

Hope this helps in the meantime.