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A small-looking picture in Max is often caused by the title’s shape not matching your screen: black bars preserve the original image instead of stretching or cropping it. If you watch at max.com and the picture is clipped or will not fill the browser display, Max also identifies a display resolution above 1080p as a possible cause. The right fix depends on which behavior you see.
Why Max may show black bars
Films and shows can use different aspect ratios—the relationship between an image’s width and height. When a title’s shape does not match your screen, Max may show bars along the edges. Bars above and below the picture generally indicate a wider image; bars at the sides can appear when a squarer image is shown on a widescreen or ultrawide display.
Those bars preserve the picture’s original proportions. Removing them by stretching would distort the image, while filling every part of the screen by cropping could cut off some of the picture. Max says it does not provide a manual aspect-ratio adjustment to remove the bars. Its playback-options guide explains when bars appear and how playback controls work.
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- Bars appear consistently with one title: They are likely related to that title’s aspect ratio. The picture may be behaving as intended.
- The picture is unexpectedly clipped or does not fill a browser display: If you are watching at max.com, check the display-resolution setting. Max lists resolutions above 1080p as a possible cause of full-screen or clipping problems.
- The issue appears unexpectedly or affects playback more broadly: Follow Max’s troubleshooting instructions for your specific device.
If you watch at max.com, check display resolution
Max’s troubleshooting guide says the highest resolution supported at max.com is 1080p. It identifies a display resolution higher than 1080p as a possible reason video may not play full-screen or may be clipped, and recommends changing the screen resolution. This guidance is specifically for max.com; it does not establish that a high resolution is the cause on every TV or in every app.
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Check your computer’s display settings and try a resolution of 1080p or lower, then reopen playback. The exact setting name and location depend on your operating system and display, so use the controls for your computer rather than looking for a universal Max menu setting.
Zooming on iPhone or iPad
Max documents pinch-to-zoom for iOS playback: move two fingers apart to zoom in, and bring them together to zoom out. Zooming enlarges the image but may crop part of the video. Max’s guide documents this gesture for iOS; it does not confirm the same control for Android, computers, or TV apps.
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Troubleshoot an unexpected app or device issue
If the picture’s behavior seems like a glitch rather than intentional bars, Max recommends updating the app and device software, signing out, and restarting. Its instructions vary by device; some include clearing the app cache or reinstalling the app.
- Open Max’s troubleshooting instructions and select the device you use.
- Follow the update, sign-out, and restart steps listed for that device.
- If the problem continues, use that device’s remaining instructions, such as clearing the app cache or reinstalling Max when those steps are offered.
These steps address unexpected app or device behavior. They will not remove black bars that are present to preserve a title’s aspect ratio.
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